Importing Done Right - Grasping and Implementing the Core Elements of U.S. Customs Compliance
Do you have a firm grasp on the core elements of compliance with the U.S. customs laws and regulations?
Has your company implemented robust customs compliance policies and procedures and do you know what your customs brokers are doing on your company’s behalf?
If the answer to one or more of these questions is “no” or you are just not sure, then your company may be at risk for civil penalties, liquidated damages, detentions and seizures, increased scrutiny by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other unpleasantries associated with customs violations. Your company may also be missing out on significant duty and cost saving opportunities that your competitors already know about. And, your company may be overlooking the special protections afforded by CBP to safeguard intellectual property rights. Therefore, the overall rewards for getting and staying up to speed on the U.S. import rules and requirements are immeasurable.
U.S. importers are living in an era of what is referred to as “reasonable care” and “informed compliance,” and the expectation is that they implement sound processes for ensuring that:
- Accurate and complete information about their imported merchandise is properly and timely declared to CBP;
- Issues such as tariff classification, valuation, country of origin and marking, free trade agreements and special trade programs, antidumping and countervailing duties, recordkeeping, and other compliance issues have been addressed; and,
- Internal controls are in place to prevent or at least reduce the likelihood of customs violations.
This webinar is intended to give executives, compliance managers, and personnel in purchasing, finance, and logistics functions a thorough understanding of the core customs compliance requirements. Specifically, we will tackle the following topics and more:
- The Importer’s Reasonable Care and Informed Compliance Obligations Under The Mod Act
- Getting Started: Custom Brokers, Bonds, and the Entry Process
- Classifying Goods Under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)
- Properly Valuing and Declaring Merchandise
- Country of Origin and Marking Rules
- Successful Use of Free Trade Agreements and Special Trade Programs
- Dealing with Antidumping and Countervailing Duties and Other Trade Remedies
- Significant Duty Savings Opportunities for U.S. Importers (First Sale Valuation, Bonded Warehouses, Foreign Trade Zones, Duty Drawback, Temporary Importations Under Bond)
- IPR Protections Offered by CBP
- Customs–Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Importer Self-Assessment (ISA)
- When CBP Calls – Handling Communications & Inquiries from CBP
- Seeking Guidance & Fixing Mistakes: Ruling Decisions, Post-Shipment Corrections, Protests & Prior Disclosures
- When Bad Things Happen to Good Importers: Penalties, Liquidated Damages, Penalty Notices, Detentions, Seizures and Forfeitures
- Best Practices and Recommendations for Sound Customs Compliance Programs
The webinar will provide PowerPoint slides and include live video and commentary from Melissa Proctor, founder of the law firm of Miller Proctor Law PLLC. For more than 20 years, Melissa has advised companies on a wide array of issues involving compliance with import, export and international trade laws and regulations, as well as embargoes and economic sanctions programs.
Webinar Details:
Date: April 30, 2019
Time: 1:00 PM EDT
Length: 1 hour 30 minutes (Comprised of 1 hour of commentary and 30 minute Q&A session)
Cost: $195 per person (second viewer $75 - additional mutliple viewer rates available)
Can’t make the live broadcast of this webinar? Don’t worry; you will receive access to the webinar, via recording and PowerPoint presentation.
Speaker and Presenter Information
For over twenty years, Melissa Proctor has been advising Fortune 500 companies, small and medium-sized companies and startups on the full range of issues involving export controls, embargoes and economic sanctions, customs laws and regulations, anti-corruption and anti-bribery compliance, and other government agency requirements that impact imports and exports. Previously, Melissa worked for two boutique international trade law firms in Chicago and Miami, served as Manager in KPMG’s Customs and Trade Practice in Orange County, was Corporate Counsel – Compliance for Amazon, and led the international trade practice of Polsinelli PC in Phoenix. She regularly speaks before various trade associations and industry groups on a variety of import and export topics, as well as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, California Proposition 65, conflict minerals reporting, the Federal Trade Commission and California’s “Made in the USA” standards, and consumer product safety requirements.
Melissa’s export practice focuses on compliance with all aspects of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Foreign Assets Control Regulations, and the Foreign Trade Regulations. She also partners with clients to handle a variety of import compliance matters, including: customs valuation; tariff classification; country of origin and marking; special trade program and free trade agreement compliance; duty deferral and cost-saving opportunities; and, border security initiatives. Melissa represents clients through all stages of import and export enforcement actions, updates clients on new legislative and regulatory developments, and provides compliance training to companies, ensuring that personnel involved in international transactions can effectively navigate the complex web of international trade rules.
Education
- LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, 1997, International and Comparative Law
- J.D., Valparaiso University, 1996
- B.A., Indiana University, 1993, Spanish and Russian
Bar Memberships
- Arizona Bar
- Illinois Bar
- Court of International Trade
Professional Affiliations
- State Bar of Arizona – International Law Section, Executive Board Member
- American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI)
- Society of International Affairs (SIA)
- International Compliance Professionals Association (ICPA)
- Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT)
- Global Chamber
- Metro Phoenix Export Alliance
Relevant Government Agencies
Air Force, Army, Navy & Marine Corps, Intelligence Agencies, DOD & Military, Office of the President (includes OMB), Dept of Agriculture, Dept of Commerce, Dept of Education, Dept of Energy, Dept of Health & Human Services, Dept of Homeland Security, Dept of Housing & Urban Development, Dept of the Interior, Dept of Justice, Dept of Labor, Dept of State, Dept of Transportation, Dept of Treasury, Dept of Veterans Affairs, EPA, GSA, USPS, SSA, NASA, Other Federal Agencies, Legislative Agencies (GAO, GPO, LOC, etc.), Judicial Branch Agencies, State Government, County Government, City Government, Municipal Government, CIA, FEMA, Office of Personnel Management, Coast Guard, National Institutes of Health, FAA, Census Bureau, USAID, National Guard Association, EEOC, Federal Government, State & Local Government, FDA, Foreign Governments/Agencies
Event Type
Webcast
This event has no exhibitor/sponsor opportunities
When
Tue, Apr 30, 2019, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
ET
Website
Click here to visit event website
Organizer
Export Compliance Training Institute