https://static.wixstatic.com/media/54770c_fe25916bfa5248af874e338f2cd333dd~mv2.png Importing, in its simplest form, means bringing goods into the United States from another country. This is a fundamental aspect of international trade, and it involves various processes like customs clearance, paying duties and taxes, and complying with regulations. Importing often involves navigating customs procedures, paying duties and taxes (like customs duty), and complying with regulations set by various government agencies. Documentation: Proper documentation, such as a commercial invoice and a bill of lading, is essential for customs clearance. Regulations: Importers need to be aware of and comply with regulations related to product safety, labeling, and other requirements specific to the goods being imported. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulates imports and enforces customs rules. The FDA regulates the import of food, drugs, cosmetics, and other products. Importers may need to obtain licenses or permits depending on the type of goods being imported. #internationalshipping(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/internationalshipping) #shipping(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/shipping) #import(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/import) #export(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/export) #customsclearance(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/customsclearance) Feel free to reach out to us for more information!

Release Date Tue, 03/17/2026 https://static.wixstatic.com/media/54770c_0ceaeac6d9614b07b3c69bdb262f5d5b~mv2.webp NORFOLK, Va. – Electric bikes are exploding in popularity across the United States, especially in cities, coastal communities, and tourist areas, and so are injuries to riders. With summer approaching, Customs and Border Protection officers continue to scrutinize imports that potentially threaten consumer safety, including a recent import of 35 e-bikes that arrived in Hampton Roads, Va., recently that failed to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. CBP officers initially inspected a shipping container of e-bikes on Jan. 7 after the e-bikes arrived from China. Officers observed that the e-bikes came partially assembled and lacked required certification labels and safety markings. Officers detained the e-bikes for further investigation. CBP officers contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for a compliance determination and on Jan. 20, NHTSA determined that the e-bikes failed to comply with motor vehicle safety standards. NHTSA recommended that CBP refuse entry CBP officers seized the shipment of e-bikes on Feb. 27 after the importer, an e-bike shop in Hampton Roads, declined to export the e-bikes to another country. “We know that injuries to electric bike riders continue to rise. Customs and Border Protection officers will continue to partner with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to protect e-bike riders and others on the road by denying the importation of noncompliant and potentially unsafe e-bikes,” said Keri Brady, CBP’s area port director for the Area Port of Norfolk-Newport News, Va. Importation of a nonconforming vehicle is prohibited under (49 USC 30112)(https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.govinfo.gov%2Fcontent%2Fpkg%2FUSCODE-2009-title49%2Fpdf%2FUSCODE-2009-title49-subtitleVI-partA-chap301-subchapII-sec30112.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CSTEPHEN.SAPP%40cbp.dhs.gov%7C11aecf3ffbc043b25d4508de8435393e%7Ce4b16b844c564f279af730345a161ad4%7C0%7C0%7C639093561466862439%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=EgQamwvAFAOVSTn4qJ88ffdJ8HO7MqvEPCOPHb69uSE%3D&reserved=0). To be lawfully imported, a vehicle must be originally manufactured to comply with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards, and vehicles must bear a label certifying such compliance that is permanently affixed in a prescribed location by the vehicle’s original manufacturer. The internet marketplace and global supply systems have made it easier to purchase products from foreign markets. CBP urges consumers to do their due diligence and ensure that the product they intend to purchase complies with all applicable U.S. safety and import laws. If you are interested in importing vehicles to the United States, visit NHTSA’s website to learn rules governing the lawful importation of vehicles,(https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle) and read through some answers to common vehicle importing questions and concerns.(https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs) CBP's border security mission is led at our nation’s Ports of Entry (https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry)by CBP officers and agriculture specialists from the Office of Field Operations. CBP screens international travelers and cargo and searches for illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit consumer goods, prohibited agriculture, invasive weeds and pests, and other illicit products that could potentially harm the American public, U.S. businesses, and our nation’s safety and economic vitality. See what CBP accomplished during "a typical day.(https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/typical-day-fy2024)" Learn more at www.CBP.gov.(http://www.CBP.gov) Follow the Director of CBP’s Baltimore Field Office on X @DFOBaltimore (https://x.com/DFOBaltimore)for breaking news, current events, human interest stories and photos, and CBP’s Office of Field Operations on Instagram @cbpfieldops.(https://www.instagram.com/cbpfieldops/) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 67,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust. (Source: Norfolk, Va., CBP seizes non-compliant and potentially unsafe e-bikes from China | U.S. Customs and Border Protection)(https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/norfolk-va-cbp-seizes-non-compliant-and-potentially-unsafe-e-bikes)

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fb0dd43d5798471d9580871bb45d94e2.jpg For new exporters, the very first step in compliance is understanding your product and where it’s going. Everything else in export compliance builds from this foundation. Step 1: Classify Your Product • Determine how your product is controlled under U.S. export regulations (such as the Export Administration Regulations (EAR)). • Identify the Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) or confirm if it falls under “EAR99.” • The classification determines whether you need a license, depending on the destination, end use, and end user. Step 2: Know Your Customer and Destination • Screen all parties (buyers, freight forwarders, end users) against government restricted-party lists. • Check if the destination country is subject to embargoes or sanctions. Sanction List Search: https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/ (https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/) Step 3: Determine Licensing Requirements • Based on product classification and destination, find out if you need an export license. • Apply for licenses early to avoid delays in shipment. ✅ In short: The first step is knowing what you’re exporting, to whom, and where. Once you have this clarity, you can build the rest of your compliance program with confidence. #internationalshipping(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/internationalshipping) #shipping(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/shipping) #import(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/import) #export(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/export) #customsclearance(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/customsclearance) #newexporter(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/newexporter)

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5efd91ceb2334b4aa63e177d144f4168.jpg Welcome to export compliance, a topic that may be a small segment of your overall organization’s compliance programs, however, if not properly addressed could create major challenges. This document contains information on the elements of an effective Export Compliance Program (ECP) and how to build a program suitable for your company or organization. The purpose of an ECP is to create a series of procedures that help organizations operate their export activities in accordance with the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Though these guidelines are written specifically to assist with compliance with the EAR, requirements from other regulations can also be incorporated into your ECP. Having an effective ECP helps organizations integrate requirements from export controls with their business operations. This minimizes risks of violating the EAR and streamlines export operations. Download the file below to view full details. #internationalshipping(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/internationalshipping) #shipping(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/shipping) #import(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/import) #export(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/export) #customsclearance(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/customsclearance) #newe(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/newimporter)xporter

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_61e8a26eecf0424e8089c605a72762ca~mv2.jpg Your Responsibility and Liability The Internet has made it easy to find and purchase items from almost anywhere in the world. However, many people are discovering that getting a foreign-bought item successfully delivered to the United States is much more complicated. When goods move from any foreign country to the United States, they are being IMPORTED. There are specific rules and regulations that govern the act of importing - and they can be extremely complex and confusing - and costly. That artisan cheese from Italy may be a snap to find and buy on the Internet, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection could seize your purchase because certain regulations prohibit the importation of dairy products from particular countries without a permit. Your great auction purchase of gorgeous linen products? Depending upon the country of origin, quota restrictions could hold them up in CBP for a long time. And storage charges in such cases can be expensive. In other words, "Buyer, Beware." When you buy goods from foreign sources, you become the importer. And it is the importer - in this case, YOU - who is responsible for assuring that the goods comply with a variety of both state and federal government import regulations. Importing goods that are unsafe, that fail to meet health code requirements, or that violate quota restrictions could end up costing you quite a bit of money in fines and penalties. At the very least, such goods would be detained, and possibly destroyed, by CBP. Knowing what is admissible is just part of the story. The other part is knowing how to import. Depending upon what you are importing and its value, the procedures can be very complicated. It does not matter whether you bought the item from an established business or from an individual selling item in an on-line auction. If merchandise, used or new, is imported into the United States, it must clear CBP and may be subject to the payment of duty as well as to whatever rules and regulations govern the importation of that particular product into the United States. Checklist Keep the following questions in mind before you buy something from a foreign source. The answers will have far-reaching CBP implications (explained below) that could influence your decision to buy. • Can the goods be legally imported? Are there restrictions on, or special forms required, for your purchase's importation? • Are you buying the item(s) for your personal use or for commercial purposes? • Will you be responsible for shipping costs? If so, you should discuss with the seller how your purchase will be shipped. The choices are freight, courier service or international postal service. If you're not careful, transportation and handling costs could far outweigh the cost of your purchase. Sometimes, the seemingly cheaper methods can be more expensive in the long run because they are more susceptible to theft, misdeliveries and logistical problems. • You should discuss with the seller what the exact delivery arrangements will be. If the seller does not make arrangements for postal or door-to-door delivery, you will either need to hire a customs broker to clear your goods and forward them on to you, or go the port of entry and clear them yourself. • Can you trust the seller to provide accurate information about the item being shipped in the Customs section of the shipping documents? Giving misleading or inaccurate information about the nature of the item and its value is illegal. And it is the importer - YOU - who could face legal action and fines for this violation! The following is a brief primer on the various factors that can impact the clearance of your goods through CBP. Resource: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/internet-purchases (https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/internet-purchases) #internationalshipping(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/internationalshipping) #shipping(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/shipping) #import(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/import) #export(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/export) #customsclearance(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/customsclearance) #newimporter(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/newimporter) Feel free to reach out to us for more information!

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_26a95731dff1495c8edcd12a7c977793~mv2.jpg Pursuant to the General Notice (90 FR 34665 [l(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:*2F*2Fwww.federalregister.gov*2Fdocuments*2F2025*2F07*2F23*2F2025-13869*2Fcustoms-user-fees-to-be-adjusted-for-inflation-in-fiscal-year-2026-cbp-dec-25-10/1/010001984362eba9-40628307-bef6-41e0-a2c4-44d4b95898cd-000000/D6g_hOqcM8dLpshZVWYi51kNhT0o-VNJ6nD0F7zi3-I=415__;JSUlJSUlJSU!!KOeSaYKwmg!U_N9IkGXEsOpco4XupoAB3uwHd3ViXdQisepFoQ-rjalonAjohQNs38Bg_o-J3VtxpvZGqgqiLmwBRXu_w$)inks-1.govdelivery.com](http://links-1.govdelivery.com))(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:*2F*2Fwww.federalregister.gov*2Fdocuments*2F2025*2F07*2F23*2F2025-13869*2Fcustoms-user-fees-to-be-adjusted-for-inflation-in-fiscal-year-2026-cbp-dec-25-10/1/010001984362eba9-40628307-bef6-41e0-a2c4-44d4b95898cd-000000/D6g_hOqcM8dLpshZVWYi51kNhT0o-VNJ6nD0F7zi3-I=415__;JSUlJSUlJSU!!KOeSaYKwmg!U_N9IkGXEsOpco4XupoAB3uwHd3ViXdQisepFoQ-rjalonAjohQNs38Bg_o-J3VtxpvZGqgqiLmwBRXu_w$) published July 23, 2025, adjustments to certain customs user fees and corresponding limitations, as codified in 19 U.S.C. § 58c, will take effect on October 1, 2025. These adjustments are being made in accordance with the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act of 2015 (FAST Act), Public Law 114-94. The General Notice may be accessed at:https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/23/2025-13869/customs-user-fees-to-be-adjusted-for-inflation-in-fiscal-year-2026-cbp-dec-25-10 (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/23/2025-13869/customs-user-fees-to-be-adjusted-for-inflation-in-fiscal-year-2026-cbp-dec-25-10)[l(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:*2F*2Fwww.federalregister.gov*2Fdocuments*2F2025*2F07*2F23*2F2025-13869*2Fcustoms-user-fees-to-be-adjusted-for-inflation-in-fiscal-year-2026-cbp-dec-25-10/2/010001984362eba9-40628307-bef6-41e0-a2c4-44d4b95898cd-000000/AOxZxO1S-ubDxvW2H12DS23ovLcc-yl3nnvcPicwSS8=415__;JSUlJSUlJSU!!KOeSaYKwmg!U_N9IkGXEsOpco4XupoAB3uwHd3ViXdQisepFoQ-rjalonAjohQNs38Bg_o-J3VtxpvZGqgqiLk-5dYAMA$)inks-1.govdelivery.com](http://links-1.govdelivery.com)(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:*2F*2Fwww.federalregister.gov*2Fdocuments*2F2025*2F07*2F23*2F2025-13869*2Fcustoms-user-fees-to-be-adjusted-for-inflation-in-fiscal-year-2026-cbp-dec-25-10/2/010001984362eba9-40628307-bef6-41e0-a2c4-44d4b95898cd-000000/AOxZxO1S-ubDxvW2H12DS23ovLcc-yl3nnvcPicwSS8=415__;JSUlJSUlJSU!!KOeSaYKwmg!U_N9IkGXEsOpco4XupoAB3uwHd3ViXdQisepFoQ-rjalonAjohQNs38Bg_o-J3VtxpvZGqgqiLk-5dYAMA$) Key Points 1. The Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) ad valorem rate of 0.3464% will NOT change. 2. The MPF minimum and maximum for formal entries (class code 499) will change. • The minimum will change from $32.71 to $33.58; and • The maximum will change from $634.62 to $651.50. Other Changes 1. The fee for Informal Entry/Release, automated and not prepared by CBP personnel (class code 311a), will change to $2.69. 2. The Express Consignment Carrier/Centralized Hub Facility fee will change to $1.34 per individual waybill/bill of lading. • An individual air waybill is the bill at the lowest level, and is not a master bill or other consolidated document. See 82 FR 50523 [li(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:*2F*2Fwww.federalregister.gov*2Fdocuments*2F2017*2F11*2F01*2F2017-23878*2Fprocedures-to-adjust-customs-cobra-user-fees-to-reflect-inflation/1/010001984362eba9-40628307-bef6-41e0-a2c4-44d4b95898cd-000000/g-lZHS_XZpfSFyKIDm_g387HjrOLM8jYDica67YmWSk=415__;JSUlJSUlJSU!!KOeSaYKwmg!U_N9IkGXEsOpco4XupoAB3uwHd3ViXdQisepFoQ-rjalonAjohQNs38Bg_o-J3VtxpvZGqgqiLkAMuNAsQ$)nks-1.govdelivery.com] (http://links-1.govdelivery.com)((https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:*2F*2Fwww.federalregister.gov*2Fdocuments*2F2017*2F11*2F01*2F2017-23878*2Fprocedures-to-adjust-customs-cobra-user-fees-to-reflect-inflation/1/010001984362eba9-40628307-bef6-41e0-a2c4-44d4b95898cd-000000/g-lZHS_XZpfSFyKIDm_g387HjrOLM8jYDica67YmWSk=415__;JSUlJSUlJSU!!KOeSaYKwmg!U_N9IkGXEsOpco4XupoAB3uwHd3ViXdQisepFoQ-rjalonAjohQNs38Bg_o-J3VtxpvZGqgqiLkAMuNAsQ$)Nov. 1, 2017). 1. The Commercial Vessel (class code 485) or Commercial Aircraft (class code 495) Passenger Arrival customs fee will change to $7.39 per passenger. 2. The Commercial Vessel Passenger Arrival from Exempt Areas (class code 484) customs fee will change to $2.59 per passenger. 3. The Commercial Truck Arrival fee (class code 492) will change to $7.35.  • The Commercial Truck Arrival Fee is the CBP fee only; it does not include the fiscal year 2026 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Agricultural and Quarantine Inspection (AQI) User Fee ($13.45) that is collected by CBP on behalf of USDA to make a total Single Crossing Fee of $20.80. See 7 CFR 354.3(c) and 19 CFR 24.22(c)(1). • Once eighteen Single Crossing Fees have been paid and used for a vehicle identification number (VIN)/vehicle in a Decal and Transponder Online Procurement System (DTOPS) account within a calendar year, the payment required for the nineteenth (and subsequent) single-crossing is only the $13.45 AQI fee and no longer includes CBP's $7.35 Commercial Truck Arrival fee (for the remainder of that calendar year). 1. The Dutiable Mail fee (class code 496) will change to $7.39. Please see the General Notice for the full list of fees that are changing. #internationalshipping(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/internationalshipping) #shipping(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/shipping) #import(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/import) #export(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/export) #customsclearance(https://www.connectlogisticsus.com/blog/hashtags/customsclearance) Feel free to reach out to us for more information!