Alexandra Blake

Duty Drawback in 2026: Recovering Up to 99% of Tariffs You Already Paid

Duty drawback refunds up to 99% of eligible duties when imported goods are exported or destroyed. Section 301 duties qualify, Section 232 metals do not, and more than 2,120 tariff lines are exempt from the new July action. Check the exemptions before you size the refund.

GPSR in 2026: A Product-Safety and Responsible-Person Guide for Non-EU Sellers

Since December 2024 the EU's General Product Safety Regulation (2023/988) requires every non-EU seller to appoint an EU Responsible Person. Here is what that means for your listings, labelling and border clearance in 2026.

Foreign Trade Zones and Free Zones 2026: A Duty-Deferral Playbook

How US Foreign Trade Zones and MENA free zones actually cut duty through deferral, inverted tariff, weekly entry and re-export relief, when they pay off, and why tighter 2026 customs enforcement makes them a sharper tool.

NMFC Freight Classification Reform 2026: An LTL Shipper's Guide

The NMFTA's 2025 shift from commodity-based to density-based freight classification reset LTL pricing. Here is what changed, why it moves your rates, and the practical steps an LTL shipper should take now.

Lacey Act Phase VII Import Declarations in 2026: An Importer's Guide

Since 1 December 2024, Lacey Act Phase VII requires an import declaration for nearly every plant-based product, and paper PPQ 505 filing ended on 1 January 2026. Here is how importers file in ACE or LAWGS.

Importer of Record in 2026: Duties, Liability, Bonds

Who is the importer of record, what liability they carry under 19 CFR and 19 U.S.C. 1592, how a non-resident importer posts a bond, and why DDP can make the seller the IOR in 2026.

ISPM-15 Wood Packaging Rules: A 2026 Exporter's Guide

A practical exporter's guide to ISPM-15 wood packaging compliance: how heat treatment works, how to read the IPPC wheat stamp, what is exempt, and how to keep pallets from stopping your cargo at the border.

First Sale Rule and Legal Ways to Cut US Duty in 2026

The 2026 tariff stack pushed Section 232 to 50%. Here is how US importers legally lower duty, from the First Sale Rule and drawback to tariff engineering and foreign-trade zones, without crossing into fraud.

CPSC eFiling in 2026: An Importer's Guide to the ACE Mandate

Since 8 July 2026, importers of regulated consumer products must eFile certificate data into CBP's ACE at entry. Here is what to file, who is liable, and how to avoid a detained container.

SOLAS VGM (Verified Gross Mass): Methods, Responsibility, Deadlines and Penalties (2026 Guide)

What the verified gross mass rule requires in 2026: the two weighing methods, who is legally responsible, submission cut-offs, tolerances and the penalties for a late or wrong VGM.

Chargeable Weight and Volumetric Weight: How to Calculate for Air and LCL Sea Freight (2026)

A light, bulky shipment can cost far more than the scale suggests. Here is exactly how carriers turn box dimensions into chargeable weight for air and LCL sea freight, with worked 2026 examples you can copy.

Certificate of Origin: Preferential vs Non-Preferential, Forms, and How to Obtain One (2026 Guide)

A practical guide to certificates of origin: the preferential vs non-preferential split, key forms like EUR.1, USMCA, REX and Form A, rules of origin, how to obtain one, and the mistakes that cost importers their duty preference.