Customs compliance isn’t extinct—but it might feel like it evolved straight out of the Jurassic. Back in the pre-2019 era, import entries were simple creatures. Predictable. Manageable. No strange mutations to track or hidden fees lurking in the tall grass of government notices. Then came the tariff asteroid. Between trade wars, retaliatory duties, and a […]

Let’s be real—customs bonds probably aren’t dominating your weekend barbecue conversations. But if you’re in the business of international shipping and logistics, especially in today’s tariff-happy trade climate, your bond isn’t just a formality, it’s a critical part of your import strategy. Understanding the strength (and limits) of your customs bond could be the difference […]

Ah, tariffs—the economic equivalent of a schoolyard “keep away” game, but with more paperwork and fewer scraped knees. Following President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, the US and its global pals have been hard at work (and play) tossing tariffs around like hot potatoes. This post breaks down the tariff rollercoaster of 2025 thus far; […]

Welcome to the exciting and educational game show, “Is it THIS or is it VAT?!” There have been rumblings of confusion when it comes to all of the taxes and levies floating around so hold onto your cargo containers as we set sail on a TAX-travagant adventure! Meet Our Contestants: Before we jump into the […]

When it comes to ocean freight, it can be easy to observe the competitive nature of shipping rates, service loops and trade lanes and label it market share dog-eat-dog. However, the shifting landscape has affected most ocean carriers in similar ways—which has led to a paradoxical emergence of alliances between carriers. Shipping alliances are an […]

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced proposed changes to the de minimis import process. If you’re involved in international shipping or global trade, you simply must slow down and pay attention! But don’t worry… we’re here to break it all down for you in a way that’s as easy as 1-2-3…or, better yet, […]

Tricks of the Trade: Why Shippers Need Cargo Insurance Shipments in transit are subjected to numerous perils; goods may be damaged in a storm or fire, stolen by ghosts in the night, involved in a collision, or just plain mishandled, much like the ill-fated journey in “Deliverance.” To help protect against financial loss or another […]

Imagine receiving a message from an ocean carrier notifying you that all the cargo aboard a vessel, including yours, has been impounded—and the only way you can retrieve it is a boat load of cash or a guarantee at the very least. Sounds like extortion, right? Well, it’s actually a very common event in maritime […]

Pay attention, Agents… Your mission, should you choose to accept it, involves decoding the latest updates to U.S. Customs Bonds—the unofficial and secret weapon that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other Partner Government Agencies (PGA) have at their disposal to safeguard our national trade interests. Much like the legendary MI6 Agent 007 from […]

Lately, the international trade newsroom has cast a bright spotlight–or should we say dark shadow–on some of the shadier business practices allegedly leveraged by certain popular e-commerce platforms. If you were one of the 123 million viewers that tuned into Superbowl 58, chances are you caught a glimpse of at least one of the six […]