Johann Winks is the Assistant Port Director of Trade with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Area Port of Denver at Denver International Airport. Winks recently meet with ICOSA and shared the following information and resources.
The department is responsible for guarding nearly 7000 miles of land border shared with Canada and Mexico. Along with guarding nearly 2000 miles of coastal waters, as well as 9500 miles of maritime border in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard. They also secure and facilitate trade and travel.
Import specialists at customs can assist companies with understanding laws, regulations, quota restrictions and reduced rates of duty. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection daily ensure U.S. regulations and laws. The following list of four services/resources they offer is worth consideration.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classifies everything that comes into the United States. HTC is a global classification system that is able to describe most comedies across the world. It applies tariff rates and specific statistical categories to all merchandise coming into the United States. More detailed information is provided at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s website; http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/duty_rates/.
The Generalized System of Preferences is a U.S. trade program designed to promote economic growth in the developing world by providing duty free entry. It covers 4800 products and benefits 129 countries and territories. A list of these products can be found at; http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/international_agreements/special_trade_programs/gsp_gen_system/.
Formal entry forms must be filed if merchandise coming into the U.S. is valued over $2,000 and a customs agent or airline should fill it out. This form and several others can be found at; http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/forms/.
Go to the local Customs and Border Protection office to find out what items are restricted to bring into the U.S. such as animals, animal bi-products, firearms, plants and embargoed items including artifacts from other countries, toys and children items. Contact information can be found at; http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/.
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