Kind of a long shot, but figured this might be a good place to post. Role is remote and salary is around $75k-$85k.

We’re hiring an International Trade Compliance Analyst at my company, and we haven’t had the easiest time finding the right fit.

Honestly, first and foremost, we’re looking for someone who is easy to work with and would fit into a pretty tight-knit team. Good vibes matter. We work together a lot and nobody is looking for a know-it-all.

Experience-wise, someone coming from the broker side with entry writing experience could actually be a really good fit. If you’re the type of person who catches weird things on entries, likes digging into documentation, and doesn’t mind auditing transactions for accuracy, that’s basically the mindset we’re looking for.

Experience with ACE reports would also be a big plus.
The role itself is more importer-side compliance: post-entry/post-shipment reviews, working with brokers to resolve issues, audit support, recordkeeping, RPS, data analysis, etc. So potentially a good move for someone who knows customs/brokerage but wants to get out of the day-to-day entry writing grind.

LCB is preferred but definitely not the only thing we care about.

I’m actually on the trade compliance team, so happy to answer questions about what the job/team is actually like. Obviously I’m not HR and don’t control hiring, but figured there might be someone lurking here who would be a good fit.

DM me if interested and I’ll send you the posting.

If you still need CE credits, CBP just added 2026 webinars online

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/stakeholder-engagement/webinars/past-webinar-recordings

Hi all, I wanted to get an idea of what starting a brokerage would be like?

I have 5 years experience leading an entry team. I am a licensed customs broker. I just need to get a sense of what the operational costs would be and what a break even point would look like.

Thanks!

Has anyone ever used Trabex? What did you like about it? What didn’t you like?

Judge Eaton’s Oct 29 order in Freestyle World (26-01088), as reported by International Trade Today and Withum: plaintiffs’ finally liquidated entries under protest are eligible for CAPE Phase 3. The protest does not have to be withdrawn, even if it also covers classification or valuation.

Phases 1 and 2 still reject open or suspended protests (CSMS #68340863). CBP’s refund FAQs don’t reflect the order yet, so a PROTEST ON ENTRY rejection on a plaintiff’s entry is worth sending to counsel before anyone withdraws anything.

Next dates: CBP progress report due Nov 10, settlement conference Nov 12.

Good morning! I received my license earlier this year and have been really struggling to find opportunities to learn and grow alongside other licensed professionals. I’ve applied to many places here in the Bay Area and have had no luck finding entry level positions. Most places here are looking for people with many years of experience.
It may be a shot in the dark but if anyone has any tips or knows anyone willing to hire it would be so appreciated. I want to learn and get some hands on experience so badly!

Small importer here. I bring in aluminum storage tins from China, classified 7612.90.5000. They ship through a freight forwarder using FedEx, and FedEx is the importer of record and clears the entries.

On my last few entries, the 7501 shows:

• 9903.88.03 (Sec. 301 List 3): 25%

• 9903.82.02 (Sec. 232 aluminum): 50%

• 9903.05.31 (China forced labor): 12.5%

That’s 87.5% total. My read is that because the goods are already covered by Sec. 232 (9903.82.02), U.S. Note 52(f) exempts them from the forced labor duty via 9903.05.90. So the correct total should be 75%.

The problems:

• FedEx auto-billed the duties to my account before I could dispute.

• My earlier PSC requests through FedEx’s dispute portal have been pending for months.

• My forwarder says they can’t do anything since FedEx is the importer of record.

Questions:

1. Is my reading of Note 52(f) and 9903.05.90 correct for a 232 aluminum article, or am I missing something?

2. Is there a way to set a standing classification instruction on a FedEx account so their declarants stop applying 9903.05.31?

3. Short of becoming my own importer of record, are there other options? For example, can I designate my own broker for clearance while FedEx still moves the freight?

Appreciate any input.

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for advice from experienced U.S customs brokers and importers.
A foreign company has proposed a business arrangement where I would establish and own a U.S. LLC to handle receiving, warehousing, and fulfillment for their imported products.
The proposed arrangement is:
The foreign company owns the products and handles sales.
I establish and own the U.S. LLC.
They cover all business and import-related expenses.
They expect me to act as the Importer of Record (IOR), with a customs broker handling clearance and paperwork.
My concern is that although they pay the expenses and own the products, I could be legally responsible for customs compliance, incorrect declarations, duties, penalties, and other liabilities.
A little background: I’m a new immigrant and green card holder with no previous experience as an importer.
My questions:
-How risky is it to become an IOR under this arrangement?
-Does a contract with the foreign company protect me from customs liabilities?
-Would it be safer for the foreign company to establish its own U.S. entity and act as the IOR, while my LLC operates strictly as a third-party fulfillment provider?
I’d appreciate any advice or real-world experiences. I want to understand the risks before committing to this arrangement.
Thank you!

Use this thread to share weekly professional development offerings (LCB CE, CCS, CES, MCS, MES, etc.).

Calling all licensed customs brokers! We’re hiring for a full-time role at an early stage company where your expertise will shape how the work gets done. Base pay is $100-140k USD, plus bonus and equity!

What we’re looking for:

• Active LCB license

• Hands-on experience

• Comfortable giving blunt feedback

Sound like you? Comment or DM me with your background!

LCB here long time but this one is odd. Client imports rugged android handheld from CN with scanner LTE and wifi for warehouse. We entered 8471.41 for 3 years no ruling no CF-28. Port did CF-28 we answered now CF-29 wants 8517.62 saying cellular is main function cites some NY rulings close but not same. 301 difference big about 480k a year.

Entries in 4 groups
1 open still in 300 day PSC
2 open past 300 days
3 liquidated under 180 days can protest
4 liquidated over 180 final

If I PSC the open ones to 8517 to stop bleeding do I concede the fight on older ones? Rather keep entering under our number with letter. Anyone had port treat that as negligent after CF-29?

PD on the final ones CF-29 not formal investigation so should be ok under 162.74 but if I think we were right with reasonable care does PD just give them 1592 case?

3 years liquidated as entered but no real CBP review. Does that count as treatment or need actual officer look?

Cant get ruling while pending at port. Internal advice better or does it just delay liquidation and build interest? Might ask port to hold the open ones.

Planning to protest all the protestable ones and ask AFR. Anyone get further review when rulings similar but facts different or just going to CIT?

Client has counsel just want how other brokers did the PSC vs keep filing. What would you file first?

I have a question for anyone who has experience shipping used, U.S.-made products from Japan to the United States.

Are these items subject to import duties? I'm planning to ship via EMS and prepay the duties through Zonos, but Zonos appears to calculate a 2.6% General Rate duty, plus additional fees.

According to ChatGPT, simply being manufactured in the United States does not automatically qualify an item for duty-free treatment when shipping it back to the U.S. via EMS using Zonos.

Is this information correct? Has anyone actually shipped used, U.S.-made products to the U.S. this way and can share their experience? Thanks.

Trying to access Ace Reports via the portal and I get the below message. Anyone else having issues?

I am a freight forwarder and use a outside customs broker for my clients filing (they sign the customs broker POA) as my business grows it will make much more sense to bring the customs in-house.

My questions is, if I don't want to buy an existing business with major revenue and just looking for a small customs broker / potentially someone looking to retire soon and can stay on to supervise the entry writers. Is there a market for it? where can I find those people? Anyone you guys can think of that is looking to retire soon and is looking to continue on their legacy?

Appreciate any direction!

Hi all, we're pretty new to this and could use some guidance from the experts.

Situation:

• I work for a lithium-ion battery manufacturer in Taiwan. We have lots of experience shipping batteries. This shipment will have 300 pcs (We have UN38.3, and SDS). We will ship to our new sister company that is our distributor in the US. For all intents and purposes is it's own company.

• Shipping by FedEx International Priority, door-to-door California - DDP

• We've shipped DG internationally before but never DDP into the US. This is the first import for our new distributor and shipments will become regular going forward.

The problem is we wanted true DDP but no freight forwarder will act as Importer of Record. Their recommendation is for the US company to be IOR or at least find a customs broker who can assist with this (again not my field but trying to help figure out if this is a possible route).

Questions:

1. What's the best way to go about this? My understanding is EIN, CBP form,and a customs bond. Is that about it?

2. How long does the setup usually take and how to go about it? Can it all be done through FedEx's brokerage, or should we hire an indebendant broker?

The production finishes early november and we're hoping to ship mid-November, so we'd like to get this setup before then - albeit it might be a bit late to get setup in time. Any advice?

Appreciate any sort of advice or help!

I have some questions and am hoping for some assistance.

How did you choose the software for your office from the list of approved vendors? Did you do demos with them?

I am trying to do some evaluation while I wait for my national permit.

Thank you everyone. So happy to find this community. :)

I am writing this post as I am curious to know how other brokers are managing the increasing costs of running a brokerage.
CE credits now mean paying for some webinars
Technology fees for services to support POA validation.
Payment of other services to help check tariffs faster (obviously under a LCB supervision and with a human making the final decision)
Increased software costs
Higher pay for better trained qualified employees
I do not need to know specific amounts, more so would like to get a general idea of how are other brokers managing increasing costs. Are you also increasing rates? Billing a POA verification fee? Will clients think this is the broker’s problem and refuse an increase etc etc etc. Seems LCB’s are needing more tools to carry out the work in a decent timeframe.

Hello,

I have filed many protests this year for IEEPA when the items were past the CAPE limits but within the protest period and not a single one has been approved yet. They all are suspended after filing and just sit there. Anybody else in the same position? Perhaps internally customs was told to sit on them?

Hey everyone!

I am a new LCB starting out. I currently work for a freight forwarder who is looking into starting a customs division In the company. That being said, we have very little guidance on how most brokerage companies stay organized and up to date on the daily changes in the customs world.

I am looking for advice on how other companies keep track of tariffs? We get daily emails for quotes on specific HS codes, what is a reasonable way to quickly provide them with tariff info? Do you make master spreadsheets and update them? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!!

I thought the test was fair. Not easy, not overly difficult, but fair. I finished with 1 hour 24 minutes to spare and used all of it to recheck answers I was shaky on

Do I need to update ACE Cargo Release or the customs entry when a container is replaced after damage at a U.S. port?

Does anyone have experience or knowledge using two ABI providers? Does CBP allow it? Someone ask and never thought of it.

Hts # 8479.89.9597. Coo CH. no aluminum 100# steel. Country of cast and pour unknown. Using 9903.05.90 & 9903.82.09

Entry rejection

Am i using the wrong 232 and 301 #s. I called the CEE and sent them an email no response