ABOUT
Welcome to U.S. Customs & Trade Law, PLLC (“USCTL”), a Tacoma, Washington law firm that focuses exclusively on the compliance and enforcement dimensions of U.S. import-export transactions and the redress of trusted traveler program issues. We hope the content set forth on this website serves as a useful introduction to and overview of the firm’s people, practices, and policies.
USCTL provides importers, exporters, manufacturers, research universities, trade associations, brokers, sureties, freight forwarders, entrepreneurs, and travelers with expert counsel and representation on customs and trade matters arising under the regulatory authority of U.S. Customs & Border Protection (“CBP”) and its
partner government agencies (“PGAs”) 
or otherwise coming within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Court of International Trade. In researching the compliance elements, screening the issues, drilling down on the rationales, and framing the arguments that underlie our advice and advocacy, we look to and harness the full spectrum of political and economic factors, agreements, statutes, regulations, reports, opinions, orders, determinations, rulings, recommendations, directives, guidelines, publications, treatises, and data analytics that inform U.S. customs and trade law.
Examples of matters handled by the firm include: classification, valuation, origination, and marking reviews; binding ruling, internal advice, commodity jurisdiction, advisory opinion, and scope ruling requests; free trade agreement and trade preference program claims; foreign trade zone and bonded warehouse applications; PGA import-export requirement assessments; manifest confidentiality requests; trademark and copyright recordations; AD/CVD order/proclamation and third country case number screenings; product exclusion requests/objections; export authorizations and approvals; OFAC clearances; holds and detentions; protests and applications for further review; CF 28, CF 29, and informed compliance letter responses; prior/voluntary disclosures; investigations and verifications; audits; trade violation reporting; penalty, seizure (merchandise and currency), and liquidated damage claims; offers in compromise; trusted traveler redress requests; internal compliance program development/training; Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (“C-TPAT”) enrollments; Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) requests; and import-export document translations. USCTL aims, through the provision of this specialized counsel and representation, to help clients reduce or defer duties, establish and maintain positive working relationships with CBP and PGAs, minimize compliance risk, avoid costly fees and penalties, bolster supply chain security, curtail business disruptions, accelerate production and sales cycles, expand market access, and strengthen bottom lines.
The delivery of legal, economic, and relational value is at the core of USCTL’s practice philosophy. Consistent with the foregoing, we are committed to leveraging our expertise and resources, agile operating profile, and flexible fee structure for the purpose of furnishing ethically-grounded, results-oriented legal services in a personalized, expeditious, and cost-effective manner. To learn more about how USCTL can help you navigate the complex matrix of laws, regulations, judicial precedents, administrative rulings, and other interests that directly and indirectly govern the cross-border movement of goods, services, and currency, click on the “Contact” button below or call 253.265.5125 to schedule a free initial consultation. Thank you for considering USCTL in connection with your customs, trade, and trusted traveler needs. We look forward to having the opportunity to work with you.
