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Pre-compliance

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Census Bureau Releases Final Rule Clarifying Filing Requirements for In-Transit Shipments 

On August 14, 2025, The Census Bureau issued a final rule to clarify its regulations governing in-transit shipments from foreign countries through the United States that are subsequently exported to a foreign destination. The rule takes effect September 15, 2025. 

Background

The Census Bureau is responsible for collecting, compiling, and publishing import and export trade statistics for the United States. As part of this responsibility, the Census collects Electronic Export Information (EEI) in concert with the export control and enforcement functions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC).

Public Law 107-228 directed the Census to publish regulations requiring exporters to file Shippers’ Export Declarations. As a result, the bureau experienced an increase in the number of inquiries regarding in-transit movements. Accordingly, in October of 2024 the Census solicited comments on a proposed rule to clarify its regulations governing in-transit shipments. The bureau received 11 letters and emails commenting on the proposed rule.

Key Changes

In addition to making definitional, grammatical and style changes, the rule: (i) clarifies who is the USPPI; (ii) makes changes to mandatory filing requirements; (iii) makes changes to voluntary self-disclosures.  

Who is the USPPI

The U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) is the person or legal entity in the United States that receives the primary benefit, […]

By |2025-08-15T09:26:51-04:00August 15, 2025|Brokers, EEI, Enforcement, Export, International Trade, Pre-compliance, U.S. Census Bureau|0 Comments
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Five Tips for SMEs Looking to Scale Wellness Brands in the US

DTL President Jennifer Diaz was featured in Santander Navigator! Read below or on Santander here.

Pre-planning and investing in regulatory compliance measures are key to success

The US is the most lucrative wellness market in the world – and for some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that produce supplements, the potential for growth and a bigger bottom line is difficult to ignore. 

And who would blame them? The US wellness sector is valued at US$2tn and is poised to continue growing, recording an average annual growth rate of 8.3% between 2019 and 2023, according to research by the Global Wellness Institute. 

In contrast, China’s market, ranked the second-largest in the world, trails at a more modest US$870bn, followed by Germany at $310bn.

However, rushing in without being fully compliant could result in products being blacklisted or seized at the border, says Jennifer Diaz, an attorney and founding partner at Miami-based Diaz Trade Law, which specializes in customs and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) laws and compliance.

Here, Diaz offers her top five tips for new brands to stay compliant and off the FDA’s blacklist.

1. Know the regulators

One of the first steps for SMEs planning to import supplements into the US is to register with the FDA, as they are considered a food product, Diaz says.

Companies also need to designate […]

By |2025-06-17T08:01:40-04:00June 17, 2025|Best Practices, Import Alert, International Business, International Trade, Labeling, Pre-compliance|0 Comments
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Trade Policy Is Changing Rapidly—Prepare Your Business for What’s Next

Trade policies are shifting faster than ever, with new tariffs, complicated regulations, and heavy enforcement measures impacting businesses across industries. If you are an importer, staying ahead of these changes is critical to maintaining smooth operations and avoiding financial setbacks.

With trade policy in flux, now is the time to ensure you are on solid footing by auditing your compliance strategies, reassessing tariff exposure, and ensuring your business is prepared for what’s ahead.

Audit Your Business Before CBP Does

Conducting an audit of your business to check for import compliance is an essential step to avoid costly penalties, thwart supply chain disruptions, and to minimize legal risk. An audit helps identify potential compliance gaps, ensuring that your existing business practices are in compliance with all applicable regulations. It also allows businesses to proactively address issues before they escalate.

Import Report Card

Diaz Trade Law can provide a customized ACE report card to give you an overview of your import compliance. The report contains a summary of your import transactions and identifies potential issues in your business’ processes as well as substantive recommendations to ensure compliance. The report provides information like:

  • Your last 5 years of import history
  • List of HTS’s you use
  • Total amounts paid in AD/CVD
  • Manufacturer ID’s reported to Customs
  • Inconsistencies in reporting
  • Total value of imports and duties paid by year
  • Review of countries of origin of your imported merchandise
  • Use of Free Trade Agreements
  • Your surety, bond coverage, and bond type
  • And more!

Lastly, the Report Card service […]

By |2025-02-27T15:07:04-05:00February 27, 2025|ACE, Best Practices, Enforcement, Import, Pre-compliance, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|0 Comments
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From Chaos to Compliance: A Guide for Importers

Many mistake the ease of importing to mean there is no liability or obligation on the part of the importer. Whether your company is new to importing, or has been in the business for years, CBP expects importers to use “reasonable care” to ensure compliance with relevant rules and regulations. Importers are at risk of being subject to enforcement actions by CBP if they do not comply with the reasonable care standard when importing goods into the U.S. This article provides an overview of CBP’s expectations of an importer and practical advice on what you must have in your import compliance plan.

How Did We Get Here?

December 8th, 1993, the Dow Jones reached a record high of 3734.53, Janet Jackson’s “Again” remained number one on the charts, and President Bill Clinton signed the Customs Modernization Act (Mod Act). The Mod Act altered the import compliance landscape by making it the responsibility of the importer to classify items, determine their value, etc. The law also imposed a legal obligation to use “reasonable care” in doing so, or else Customs could (and would) impose penalties.

What Exactly is “Reasonable Care”?

Reasonable care requires importers to conduct themselves as a reasonable importer would under the circumstance with respect to importing goods into the United States.

Reasonable care requires importers to:

  • Meet the standard to enter, classify and determine the value of imported goods
  • Provide other information necessary to aid CBP in properly assessing duties and collecting accurate statistics
  • Determine whether other applicable legal standards and […]
By |2024-04-19T15:30:55-04:00April 19, 2024|Import, Pre-compliance|0 Comments
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U.S. Customs – Your Personal Policeman at the Border

Introduction 

Many companies mistakenly believe that registering a trademark or copyright with the U.S. Government provides sufficient protection and remedies. However, there is an additional step that can significantly enhance protection—recording trademarks or copyrights with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (U.S. Customs).  

This blog explores the distinct goals of these processes and the advantages of recording intellectual property with the U.S. Customs. 

I. Registering with USPTO and Recording with U.S. Customs: Different Goals

  • Registering with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or U.S. Copyright Office gives public notice of ownership. 
  • Recording with U.S. Customs aims to prevent unauthorized importation of merchandise bearing the registered intellectual property. 
  • U.S. Customs serves as a critical partner in halting counterfeit and infringing products from entering or leaving the United States.

II. Benefits of Recording Trademarks or Copyrights with U.S. Customs

Seizure and Monitoring: 

  • U.S. Customs monitors and seizes infringing merchandise at ports of entry, alleviating the burden on trademark or copyright holders. 
  • This proactive approach eliminates the need to individually locate and prosecute every unauthorized importer, distributor, or retailer, safeguarding intellectual […]
By |2023-06-19T11:29:36-04:00September 9, 2022|Counterfeits, Enforcement, Import, Intellectual Property Rights, International Trade, IPR, Trademarks and Logos, penalty, Pre-compliance, Seizure, Speaking, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|0 Comments
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