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PRACTICES

USCTL narrowly restricts its practice to U.S. import, export, and trusted traveler law. The compliance and enforcement issues that come within this scope of practice can, depending on the underlying facts and circumstances, be administrative or judicial in nature. Representative matters handled by USCTL include:

IMPORT

  • Goal Setting & Strategic Planning
  • Duty Elimination, Reduction, & Deferral Strategies
  • Classification, Valuation, Country of Origin, & Marking Reviews
  • Ruling & Internal Advice Requests
  • Free Trade Agreement & Trade Preference Program Claims
  • Foreign Trade Zone & Bonded Warehouse Applications
  • IPR Clearances, Authorizations, & Advisory Letters
  • Trade Remedies
  • Absolute & Tariff Rate Quotas
  • Special Classes of Merchandise
  • Partner Government Agency Import Requirements
  • Recordkeeping
  • Pre-Entry Reviews & Requests
  • Holds, Examinations, & Detentions
  • Notice to Mark/Redeliver
  • Post-Importation Claims
  • Reimbursement Certificates
  • Protests
  • CF 28s, CF 29s, & Informed Compliance Letters
  • Prior Disclosures
  • Inspections, Investigations, & Origin Verifications
  • Post-Entry Filer Evaluations
  • Survey, Quick Response, & Focused Assessment Audits
  • Advisory Actions
  • Penalty, Seizure, & Liquidated Damage Claims
  • Settlement/Defense of Administrative Enforcement Actions
  • Offers in Compromise
  • Supply Chain Security & Compliance Programs
  • Internal Controls
  • Administrative Recordation of Trademarks & Copyrights
  • Trade Violation Reporting (e-Allegations)
  • Importer Suspension & Debarment Actions
  • GSP Product & Country Review Petitions
  • AGOA Product & Country Eligibility Reviews
  • Translation of Foreign Language Import Documentation
  • FOIA Requests

EXPORT

  • Commodity Jurisdiction Analyses & Requests
  • Classification Analyses & Requests
  • Advisory Opinion & Interpretive Guidance Requests
  • Prohibition & Sanction Screening
  • Recordkeeping
  • Export Licenses, Authorizations, & Approvals
  • Export Documentation Reviews
  • Partner Government Agency Export Requirements
  • Foreign Trade Regulations Compliance
  • Vessel Manifest Confidentiality Requests
  • Holds, Examinations, & Detentions
  • Return/Redelivery & Unloading of Merchandise
  • Delivery Verifications/Exceptions
  • Summons, Subpoenas, & Directed Disclosures
  • Voluntary Self-Disclosures & Corrective Actions
  • Penalty, Seizure, & Liquidated Damage Claims
  • Settlement/Defense of Administrative Enforcement Actions
  • C-TPAT Exporter Applications
  • Internal Export Compliance Programs
  • SDN/BPL Delisting Requests
  • Entity List Removal/Modification Requests
  • Unblocking/Release of Funds Applications
  • Export Processing Zone Counsel
  • Export Trade Certificate of Review Program Applications
  • Foreign Trade Barrier/Procurement Discrimination Reporting
  • Translation of Foreign Language Export Documentation
  • FOIA Requests

TRAVELERS

  • Trusted Traveler Program Eligibility Analyses & Applications
  • Trusted Traveler Redress Requests
  • Translation of Foreign Language Supporting Documentation
  • FOIA Requests
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DISCLAIMER  |  © 2019 U.S. CUSTOMS & TRADE LAW, PLLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED  |  CLIENTS
T:  253.265.5125  |  F:  253.244.3055

PGA Import Requirements

 

PGA PRODUCT-RELATED ISSUES

•  Product Assessments
•  Product Classifications, Categorizations, & Codes
•  Product Controls, Restrictions, & Exemptions
•  Product Testing & Validations
•  Product Registrations & Listings
•  Product Labels, Ingredients, & Formulae
•  Product Claims, Guarantees, & Warranties
•  Product Marking, Packaging, & Shipping
•  Product Treatments & Quarantines
•  Product Reporting
•  Product Recordkeeping
•  Product Histories (Import Alerts, Warning Letters, Import Orders, Letters of Advice, Recalls, Enforcement Reports, etc.)

PGA IMPORTER & FOREIGN FACILITY/ESTABLISHMENT ISSUES

•  Importer & Foreign Facility/Establishment Registrations
•  Coordination of U.S. Registered Agent Services
•  Foreign Facility/Establishment Verifications & Certifications
•  Mandatory/Voluntary Compliance Programs & Standards (FSVP, CGMP, HACCP, VQIP, VCRP, etc.)

PGA ENTRY ISSUES

•  PGA Port of Entry & Prior Notice Requirements
•  PGA Import Documentation (Certificates of Compliance/Conformity, Permits, Licenses, Declarations, Statements, Safety Data Sheets, etc.)
•  PGA Bond Requirements

Inspections, Investigations, & Origin Verifications

 

•  Development of Internal Inspection Protocols & Procedures
•  Inspection Notes Requests
•  Inspection Observation Responses, Objections, & Amendment Requests
•  Free Trade Agreement/Trade Preference Program Origin Verifications
•  LOI/NOI Extension Requests & Responses
•  Investigation Report Requests
•  Administrative Review Requests

Internal Controls

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•  Development of COSO-Based Compliance Procedures, Policies, & Manuals
•  Provision of Compliance & Risk-Mitigation Training
•  Monitoring & Evaluation of Internal Compliance Program Performance

Protests

 

•  Preparation of Protests
•  Requests to Void Denials of Protests
•  Applications for Further Review (“AFR”)
•  Requests to Set Aside/Reconsider AFR Denials

Holds, Examinations, &Detentions

 

•  Preparation of Responses Designed to Rebut Alleged Violation, Demonstrate Compliance, Prove Admissibility, & Accelerate Disposition
•  Representation at Hearings and/or Oral Discussions
•  Negotiation of Reconditioning/Relabeling Authorizations
•  Engagement with CBP/PGA Officials & Status Monitoring

Supply Chain Security & Compliance Programs

b

•  C-TPAT Eligibility Analysis, Application Preparation, Certification, Validation, & Annual Review
•  C-TPAT Trade Compliance Program Eligibility Analysis, Questionnaire, & MOU
•  Other Voluntary Compliance Programs (CBP/PGA)

Internal Controls

•  Development of COSO-Based Compliance Procedures, Policies, & Manuals
•  Provision of Compliance & Risk-Mitigation Training
•  Monitoring & Evaluation of Internal Compliance Program Performance

Importer Suspension & Debarment Actions

 

•  Show Cause Letters
•  Notices of Suspension or Proposed Debarment
•  Administrative Compliance Agreements

Penalty, Seizure, & Liquidated Damage Claims

 

•  Prepenalty Notice Presentations & Responses
•  Penalty Mitigation/Cancelation Presentations, Petitions, & Supplemental Petitions
•  Seizure Remission/Cancelation Petitions & Supplemental Petitions (Currency & Merchandise)
•  Liquidated Damage Mitigation/Cancelation Petitions & Supplemental Petitions
•  Restoration of Sale Proceeds Petitions & Supplemental Petitions

Advisory Actions

 

•  Preparation of Responses to Warning Letters/Notices
•  Formulation of Corrective Action Plans
•  Close Out/Correction Acknowledgment Letters

Pre-Entry Reviews & Requests

 

•  Entry Type Reviews
•  Right to Make Entry Reviews
•  Importer Security Filing Data Element Reviews
•  Entry Documentation Reviews
•  Vessel Manifest Confidentiality Requests

Absolute, Tariff Rate, & Tariff Preference Level Quotas

 

•  Binding Ruling Requests
•  Quota Priority/Status Monitoring
•  Fill Level Analyses
•  Documentary Requirements
•  Presentation Process
•  Disposition of Excess Merchandise

Special Classes of Merchandise

 

UNFAIR COMPETITION

•  Section 337 Exclusion Order Screening

FORCED LABOR

•  Supply Chain Due Diligence
•  Withhold Release Order/Findings Reviews
•  Department of Labor Suspect Goods Screening
•  International Labor Organization Forced Labor Indicators Analyses
•  Social Compliance Systems

CULTURAL PROPERTY & PRE-COLUMBIAN SCULPTURE/MURALS

•  Scope, Exception, and Exemption Analyses
•  Supporting Documentation
•  Emergency Restrictions/Protections

ECONOMIC SANCTIONS

•  Merchandise Subject to OFAC Regulation
•  Rough Diamond Trade Controls

Trade Remedies

b

ANTIDUMPING & COUNTERVAILING DUTY ISSUES

•  AD/CVD Order Screening
•  Scope Ruling Requests
•  Third Country Case Number Screening

b
SAFEGUARD (SECTION 201), NATIONAL SECURITY (SECTION 232), & TRADE AGREEMENT ENFORCEMENT (SECTION 301) ISSUES

•  Proclamation Screening
•  Product Exclusion Requests/Objections

Ruling & Internal Advice Requests

 

•  Binding Ruling Requests
•  Requests for Oral Discussion of Issue Presented
•  Petitions for Review/Requests for Reconsideration
•  Requests for Internal Advice
•  Requests for HQ Consideration of Question Presented for Internal Advice
•  NAFTA Advance Ruling Requests
•  Administrative Review of NAFTA Advance Ruling Requests
•  Country of Origin Advisory Ruling Requests
•  Country of Origin Final Determination Requests

Classification, Valuation, Country of Origin, & Marking Reviews

b

CLASSIFICATION

•  Description and classification of merchandise in accordance with HTSUS GRI and notes, WCO explanatory notes, CBP rulings and informed compliance publications, and U.S. federal court decisions.

VALUATION

•  Valuation of merchandise, taking into account the PPP, terms of sale, additions and exclusions, relationship of the parties, bases of appraisement prescribed under U.S. laws and regulations, CBP rulings, informed compliance publications, U.S. federal court decisions, and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

COUNTRY OF ORGIN

•  Determination of correct country of origin based on the nature of manufacturing actions taken with respect to goods comprised of parts/components from more than one country, documentation provided by foreign producers/exporters, analytical methods underlying the preferential and non-preferential origin schemes set forth in U.S. laws and regulations, CBP rulings and informed compliance publications, and U.S. federal court decisions.

COUNTRY OF ORGIN MARKING

•  Evaluation of country of origin marking compliance, taking into consideration U.S. laws and regulations, CBP rulings and informed compliance publications, and U.S. federal court decisions.

Duty Elimination, Reduction, & Deferral Strategies

b

•  Free Trade & Trade Promotion Agreements
•  Unilateral Trade Preference Programs (GSP, AGOA, CBI)
•  U.S. Goods Returned (Sections 9801/9802)
•  Drawback
•  First Sale Program
•  Tariff Engineering
•  Operational Engineering
•  Section 321 Exemptions/De Minimis
•  Foreign Trade Zone/Customs Bonded Warehouse
•  232/301 Exclusion Requests
•  Temporary Importation Under Bond or Carnet
•  Miscellaneous Tariff Bill

Trusted Traveler Redress Requests

 

•  Application Denials
•  Suspension or Removal of Program Participants
•  Delayed/Denied Boarding
•  Delayed/Denied Entry or Exit at Port of Entry or Border Crossing
•  Repeated Referrals for Additional (Secondary) Screening
•  Watch List Issues

Trusted Traveler Program Eligibility Analyses & Applications

 

•  Global Entry
•  TSA Precheck
•  NEXUS
•  SENTRI
•  FAST

Penalty, Seizure, & Liquidated Damage Claims

 

•  Penalty Mitigation/Cancelation Presentations, Petitions, & Supplemental Petitions
•  Seizure Remission/Cancelation Petitions & Supplemental Petitions
•  Liquidated Damage Mitigation/Cancelation Petitions & Supplemental Petitions

Foreign Trade Regulations Compliance

 

•  Schedule B/HTSUS Classification Reviews
•  EEI Filing Exclusion & Exemption Reviews
•  EEI Filing to AES (Pre- & Post-Departure)
•  ITN Filing Citation/Exemption Statement

Export Licenses, Authorizations, & Approvals

 

•  License Requirement Analyses
•  License Exception, Exemption, & Exclusion Analyses
•  Exporter Registrations/Exemptions
•  License Applications
•  Technical Assistance, Manufacturing License, & Warehousing/Distribution Agreements
•  General Correspondence Requests
•  Validated End User Authorization Requests
•  Technology Control Plans/Exceptions
•  License Application & Agreement Submission Status Tracking/Monitoring

Prohibition & Sanction Screening

 

•  BIS General Prohibitions
•  BIS Parties of Concern Lists
•  OFAC Consolidated Sanctions & SDN Lists
•  DDTC Debarred Parties List
•  Consolidated Screening List
•  Antiboycott Compliance/Reporting

PARTNER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

•  Customs & Border Protection (All Ports & HQ)
•  Transportation Security Administration
•  Immigration & Customs Enforcement

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

•  Foreign Agricultural Service
•  Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
•  Food Safety & Inspection Service

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

•  International Trade Administration
•  Bureau of Industry & Security
•  National Institute of Standards & Technology
•  National Marine Fisheries Service
•  Census Bureau

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

•  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
•  Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
•  Federal Aviation Administration

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

•  Food & Drug Administration
•  Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

•  Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives
•  Drug Enforcement Administration
•  Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
•  Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau ("TTB")
•  Office of Foreign Assets Control

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

•  Fish & Wildlife Service

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

•  Employment & Training Administration

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

•  Directorate of Defense Trade Controls

CONSUMER SAFETY PRODUCT COMMISSION
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
U.S. TRADE & DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
U.S. FOREIGN TRADE ZONES BOARD
U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

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