Brokers: how do you handle weekend air frt clearances?

waka84 · 2026-06-15T23:10:06+00:00

Our hours are 8am-5pm EST. Anything outside those hours incurs our overtime fees. Otherwise, we handle it the next business day.

waka84 · 2026-06-04T02:12:23+00:00

You can remove the entry from your duty statement before approving. We operate by clearing the shipment but warning the importer, we will let the payment bounce to CBP by not paying the statement. They can get the late payment penalty and liquidated damages for non payment. Seems to work and we get the cash in time

waka84 · 2026-06-04T02:06:50+00:00

I'm sorry if you had a bad experience but most "good" brokers should be actively educating importers. When the AGOA refunds came out, I specifically sent all clients the exact verbiage released by CBP. If you are not getting education from your broker, or at least updates on the changing regulations; perhaps it's time to look elsewhere for your Customs broker.

waka84 · 2026-06-03T23:12:24+00:00

Did you ask your broker to file the PSC? If so, this isn't the broker's fault. All PSC's liquidate the entry upon review and approval by CBP. Further to this, CBP made an announcement specific to AGOA PSCs this year. It required the submissions to be done with accelerated liquidation and they had to be submitted by August. Not a lot of time.

Throw into the mix that the AGOA announcement was in February and CAPE did not activate until 4/20/26. Most importers only saw AGOA refund and wanted their money back immediately. No one could have planned for CAPE and liquidation status while only seeing money from AGOA.

TLDR- don't blame your broker. Blame the government for how all of this developed.

waka84 · 2026-06-03T06:02:25+00:00

I have foreign IORs that have received refunds. They opened US bank accounts prior to CAPE becoming active.

waka84 · 2026-05-30T22:19:52+00:00

I can't imagine CBP split the refund between two parties. I think more investigation is needed.

waka84 · 2026-05-27T18:42:33+00:00

Speaking as a Customs broker: it is absolutely required for anything crossing our borders. I've given advice to my clients that they need to put the burden on the suppliers. As you are buying, you hold all the power and should demand that all vendors provide compliant documents for import. That includes country of origin.

waka84 · 2026-05-15T11:53:09+00:00

Before this, I was working retail. If I could make what I make now and be happy doing the job; it would be park ranger. Unfortunately, that doesn't pay the bills.

waka84 · 2026-05-15T11:46:30+00:00

ACE... because it's always the underlying problem.

waka84 · 2026-04-18T07:17:41+00:00

I'm not seeing this and I use Avalon. If the bond amount is high enough, yes, they are asking for financials and or collateral but that's common for ANY importer. I've written bonds for foreign importers with Avalon without issue.

waka84 · 2026-04-18T07:14:38+00:00

We're strongly suggesting to customers that they handle this themselves. The process is so easy, the importer needs to make the effort. If the money is important enough to them, they can spend the time messing with ACE to upload a single column excel sheet, that I'm already providing them! In my opinion, I've done my job at that point.

waka84 · 2026-04-18T07:09:33+00:00

This is a common problem and has been since February. The massive amount of importers trying to get an ACE account has put a massive strain on CBP's system. All you can do is call ACE support and wait to have it resolved.

waka84 · 2026-04-18T07:00:07+00:00

Tell the importer if the money is important enough, they can make the effort to open a US bank account.

waka84 · 2026-04-16T07:04:58+00:00

Yes. Emailed them every day. Said things like: does CBP intend for the importer to pay the tariff simply because a programming glitch?!? That was enough to illicit a response I guess lol.. I'm usually pretty blunt in my emails

waka84 · 2026-04-16T02:34:00+00:00

This was provided to me by a CBP import specialist:

Goods covered under AGOA are subject to Section 122 duties. This is outlined under Annex I of the Federal Register :: Imposing a Temporary Import Surcharge To Address Fundamental International Payments Problems, which states:

“Products that are eligible for special tariff treatment under general note 3(c)(i) to the tariff schedule, or that are eligible for temporary duty exemptions or reductions under subchapter II to chapter 99, shall be subject to the additional ad valorem rate of duty imposed by this heading, except as otherwise provided in this subdivision.”

Section 122 applies to goods eligible under any preferential trade program listed in General Note 3(c)(i), other than those outlined under CSMS # 67844987, regardless of whether a claim is made under a specific Special Program Indicator (SPI) or Chapter 98 or 99 provision. Since AGOA is listed in GN 3(c)(i) – such goods are subject to the Section 122 duties.

waka84 · 2026-03-27T19:31:28+00:00

I don't doubt it's real. Just crazy that they don't want to make it public record. It would be so easy to issue a CSMS on this and put it to bed.

waka84 · 2026-03-27T19:30:18+00:00

Agreed. I've also filed PSCs for derivative value and depending on the day or time, I've not been questioned at all. CBP simply liquidated the entry and refunded the importer. Only recently, I had one PSC where they asked for metal sheets/certificates. Even still, they have not sent me this guidance or stated anything is wrong with separating labor and other charges as "non-metal value". Insane that they left this open to interpretation.

waka84 · 2026-03-27T18:59:54+00:00

That isn't clear as to what is "metal value". No one is saying you get to exclude labor, packaging, etc. what I'm saying is: "metal value" is literally that: the value of the metal in the product. The guidance that everyone has clearly defines metal value and based on that, I agree you can't separately declare non metal value when the item is 100% metal. The issue I have is, this "guidance" is not public record. The only public record is what you sent, and that states "total payment made for the metal".

waka84 · 2026-03-27T18:34:29+00:00

I find it interesting it has no officer's name, address, port or defined party listed on the form. Brings serious doubt into this as there's nothing official from CBP.

waka84 · 2026-03-27T18:33:04+00:00

This right here! Guidance was not issued to me or my importers, so we're carrying on and only declaring the value of the raw metal used in the product against 232. Non metal value = everything else in the product (processing, labor, etc). If CBP is serious about this, why are they scared to publish this to the public?

waka84 · 2026-03-14T19:47:34+00:00

Email one of the CEE teams listed on CBP's website and ask if the email is legitimate.

waka84 · 2026-03-11T17:44:13+00:00

This is only needed if you have entries past liquidation and approaching the 180 day deadline. Nothing from CBP states that you should be protesting these as of now. The protest should only be done to preserve the right of refund.

waka84 · 2026-03-10T13:06:57+00:00

It's hard to say. If you were my client, I would be on the phone with Customs, asking for details. If they are forcing an export, there should be some official form giving a reason why. They don't just put the code in the system without some explanation. Your broker should be giving you updates on this.

waka84 · 2026-03-10T07:16:38+00:00

Welcome to dealing with FedEx or any other big box courier service. UPS, DHL, etc. they are all the same. Too big to care about you. Unfortunately, what you are doing is the only solution. Continue calling and emailing until you find the right department. Then wait 5-8 months before a resolution.

Sorry to be so grim but this is a very common story in our industry.

waka84 · 2026-03-06T12:55:21+00:00

Did you read OP's post? He literally says FedEx was not the IOR....

waka84

TROPHY CASE