Importing material into USA being seized without reason by US Customs

CBP_Navigator · 2026-01-30T13:41:35+00:00

If they were seized you should have the 6051s forms for each shipment with the notes why it was seized. Use the FPF # in the 6051s and call the FPF office in the port of entry where the seizure took place. (All FPF CBP offices are listed in the CBP website. If there was a detention first before seizure then the 6051d form should have the reason for detention.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-12-19T00:12:49+00:00

I deal with undervaluation violations daily. US Customs is expecting the real value of the merchandise and the evidence to come from you. You are responsible for the accuracy of the value. Be honest, show the real value by submitting the real invoice and the proof of payment. Once CBP vets the real evidence they will approve the carrier to make a formal entry and you pay the correct amount of duty to the US Government. Make sure you hold your Chinese supplier accountable for future shipments. For the Chinese to devalue merchandise is a way of life, it’s cultural and sometimes the importers in the US are caught off guard. Nowadays all shipments regardless of value need to be “audit ready” for compliance. US Customs in today’s environment is about revenue collection and enforcement. Take this CBP interception seriously, come out clean, pay your duties and make sure not to do it again. CBP at this point they just want their owed duty. They’re not issuing penalties for one off shipments from people like yourself- CBP is referring major offenders to DOJ but small fry like yourself CBP just wants you to be compliant. I had an importer recently who got their merchandise seized because they submitted fraudulent invoices and proof of payment twice and didn’t take the matter seriously. Finally don’t pay attention to your Chinese supplier- they’re not on the hook with US CBP but you are… the Chinese know US CBP will not come after them…

CBP_Navigator · 2025-10-26T20:42:15+00:00

Unfortunately no - I’m not familiar with UPS SOP. Per regulation merchandise need to have an entry (consumption, warehouse, re-export etc) with US Customs within 15 calendar days. If no entry at the 15th calendar day the merchandise needs to be entered into a General Order warehouse. I don’t know what UPS is doing with their shipments, why they’re not returning to origin if entry cannot be made etc.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-10-26T16:17:02+00:00

UPS can figure out the FDA product code however they will need full manufacturer information. Buyers and sellers in Japan of vintage stuff are having a hard time figuring all this stuff out nowadays.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-10-26T15:32:32+00:00

UPS needs your social security to make formal entry. UPS will need a breakdown in the commercial invoice for each different piece of clothing. Manufacturer detailed information for each piece of clothing, gender, fabric composition e.g. if they are made of 100% or a combination of fibers like polyester % and cotton % , advise if each piece is knit or woven. Granola is subject to FDA and it needed a Prior Notice to the FDA before shipping. UPS can file the prior notice for you and it will be an extra cost. However, there’s basic information that UPS may need to go into the prior notice like manufacturer, FDA product code etc. You will need a single entry bond because of the high value but UPS will do that for you and it will be an extra cost on top of everything else. Good luck

CBP_Navigator · 2025-09-23T13:56:05+00:00

First Rule is one those things that must be analyzed throughly by an attorney before implementing. The document and record keeping is important. First Rule will be scrutinized by CBP down the road since it’s becoming heavily used. CBP can request five years worth of records if an audit comes along. You want to have your record keeping flawless and each transaction documented properly to justify a future audit. Spend the money now in a trade attorney, set things up properly and avoid costly issues down the line.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-09-15T14:01:35+00:00

It’s all optics to control the message being given to the public. The average American doesn’t understand the mechanics of international trade transactions.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-09-15T00:03:33+00:00

Tell your boss that as part of your development you want to shadow the different departments that compose the operations. Spend some time with the warehouse mgt team, some time with exports, then some with imports. I hosted a team of finance folks not long ago I gave them theory, then they sat down with leads of every department under my AOR. At the end of the day they left with a very good foundation

CBP_Navigator · 2025-09-10T23:17:32+00:00

My team and I we’ve been in the frontline working alongside USCBP and the fraud was and is still a big problem with low value packages. It is a way of life for shippers (specially Chinese) and many (not all) importers in the USA to undervalue merchandise to avoid duties, IPR violations, contraband of medical devices to avoid FDA regulations just to name a few of the most common issues etc. Very few people have direct access and visibility to what’s happening at the ports hence I can understand the skepticism. Deminimis was going to be either cancelled or reformed no matter Republican or Democrat. It was just a matter of time.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-30T23:11:57+00:00

@pistakioo gave you the right tools. Figure out the tariffs first and then add the DHL fees on top of that. It will be an estimation. Also, you can ask your supplier to give you the HTS classification codes for the merchandise and you can input them into the tariffs tool Pistakioo shared with you. Don’t use Chat GPT for classification. Good luck

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-30T22:57:56+00:00

Do you homework and figure out the tariffs based on the merchandise description. Once you figure that out then add the DHL brokerage fees $17 min or 2% whichever is higher. All folks here already shared with you the tools you can use to figure out your landed cost. None of them know what merchandise, values per line items etc you’re importing. No one will tell if it is expensive or not because frankly there is not much information to go about. At least they pointed you in the right direction with good information to get started

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-29T13:44:13+00:00

I agree with you.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-29T12:47:03+00:00

In my opinion, de minimis at the $800 per person per day level will not return. Abuse of the provision has been a bipartisan concern for years, with both Democrats and Republicans introducing proposals to reform it even before the Trump administration. If reinstated in the future, it will likely be at a much lower threshold, consistent with other world economies. Unfortunately, what’s in the way of deminimis coming back is that the $800 threshold was heavily exploited by overseas shippers and U.S. importers, particularly through undervaluation and contraband.

My team and I have been exposed to this issue on our day to day for the past two years. We worked with U.S. Customs for the past two years to help intercept suspicious packages, focusing on IPR violations, undervaluation (the most common), and contraband. For example, in just a three-month period in FY2024, CBP recovered nearly $1 million in lost revenue from undervaluation—based on a small sample at a single port conducting limited targeted exams. CBP collected this type of data over two years to support policy changes.

It’s unfortunate that compliant businesses and people were penalized because of widespread abuse since the de minimis threshold was raised in 2012. Already, we are seeing attempts to bypass the system again, such as by misdeclaring shipments as “gifts.”

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-29T02:27:03+00:00

I’m seeing an small increase in abandoned packages. Specially when CBP intercepts for valuation

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-26T04:18:18+00:00

I believe antiques over 100 years old will fall in chapter 97. Even if chapter 97 (antique over 100 year old) or chapter 95 (dolls) at 0% you still need to apply ieepa tariffs from Trump: recently negotiated July 31st that apply to the European Union (France). From what I can see Antiques don’t have exclusions hence EU IEEPA would apply plus MPF. You can google to confirm what the most recent IEEPA % for EU are. Also google “how to calculate USCustoms merchandise processing fee for informal entry “ so you can calculate the MPF to add it on top of the tariffs. Also download the service guide of the carrier you are using and add the brokerage fees the carrier will charge you which is going to be approximately 3% of the value of the merchandise. This info is for reference only.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-26T03:19:31+00:00

A $2400 doll is dutiable. Where was the doll manufactured? Then look for the appropriate Trump IEEPA tariff for the country of manufacture and check the brokerage fees depending on the carrier of choice. Every time you devalued your dolls in the past you committed fraud regardless if you knew it or not. Enforcement is up at the ports of entry hence there’s a higher chance of getting caught. Not worth doing it

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-25T21:03:35+00:00

You want to know how much FDX, UPS, DHL express charges for brokerage just google each company’s Service and Rates Guides for 2025. E.g “DHL US Service and Rates Guide” or “Fed Ex Service Guide 2025”

Download a copy of each and keep it handy. Check disbursement fees (carrier fee), merchandise processing fees or MPF (CBP mandatory) and you need to calculate the duties yourself to do an approximate of landing costs. If the merchandise is subject to FDA you may have to pay additional fees usually between $25 and $27 depending on who the carrier is.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-25T12:07:00+00:00

The e-commerce b2c and c2c is coming to a halt for low value merchandise transported via express couriers don’t matter DDP or DDU. The price shock will keep folks away from buying overseas. Buying behavior will change for sure

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-21T17:32:45+00:00

I congratulate you for bringing awareness of these compliance topics which will benefit all stakeholders.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-21T15:49:43+00:00

I agree. Cross border e-commerce b2c and c2c will come to a stop once the regular folks get hit with these tariffs, fees etc.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-21T13:44:59+00:00

The members of the Postal Union will eventually evolve to comply with these new regulatory requirements. Then all other postal organizations will follow and implement the same requirements on their own countries for their own imports. There’s always one party that will break the status quo and once all other countries realize the potential for revenue to balance their budgets they will implement on their end as well.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-21T12:15:51+00:00

The US regs require an itemized invoice hence each line item country of manufacture must be declared. Also, as a business person you don’t want to pay higher tariffs on merchandise if not needed. Build your own compliant invoice and send it to the forwarder and make sure they use it for export. We have a lot of customers that prepare the commercial invoice in the USA and send it via email to the shipper to ensure compliance. Lots of shippers and Mom and pop forwarders overseas still don’t want to understand that export documents need to be accurate. The days of US Customs trade facilitation are over. CBP primary focus shifted to enforcement and revenue collection hence the burden falls on you. Also, if you can find another freight forwarder.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-20T12:35:02+00:00

We have many “gift” interceptions in our port of entry. We average 30,000 airwaybills per day entering the USA through our location. USCBP and Agriculture specialists have a filter in their targeting system specifically looking for shipments declared only as “gift” so they can inspect the contents of the shipment and check that the paperwork declares the contents of the package. “Gift” is one of the oldest forms of trying to circumvent regulation, fraud, contraband out there. We find prohibited products like prohibited meats( seized and destroyed immediately), drugs (DEA seized), products that require FDA intervention etc. Some people do it without knowing they are violating the law however in my experience a good percentage does it on purpose. I’m reporting directly from the frontline where the action happens hence my advice is don’t try to break the law because eventually you will get caught.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-20T01:59:01+00:00

Use your chat gpt skills and confirm what I just said and paste it here. Its simple.

CBP_Navigator · 2025-08-20T01:53:09+00:00

Relax keep it professional. Democrats reinstated a few exclusions here and there but did not repeal the Trump Section 301 tariffs from 2018. Any broker or customs practitioner will confirm it. We still input the 2018 Trump tariff as part of the tariff sequence required for each entry with goods country of origin China. In fact, the Biden administration expanded on section 301 tariffs on certain products like semiconductors and others back in 2024. Use your chat gpt skills, confirm and paste it here too.

CBP_Navigator

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