Trade Compliance
Our approach to Trade Compliance is simple:
(1) Dig in and understand every trade regulation around the world, then (2) Find the smartest way to navigate them to help minimize your risk and costs. Notice that we said simple, not easy. That’s why you need a provider like us who utilizes proprietary technology and trade expertise.
It all starts with accurate classification.
We obsess over getting classification right because it ultimately determines how much you’ll pay in duties, as well as what international trade regulations and border requirements you’ll need to follow. Identifying the correct HS code opens up opportunities to create duty-reducing strategies and capitalize on free-trade agreements. On the other hand, choosing a less suitable classification could result in overpaying duty or increasing your risk of audit and fines. That’s why we pay classifications so much attention — the right few digits can result in millions in savings.
Classification geeks you can count on.
Our global staff of over 200 classifiers is trained in-depth to know all the ins and outs of your products. Some specialize in industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive or machine parts. Some are brokers. And some actually work with custom agencies to help create policy — so they can give you an insider’s perspective on legislation. But they all have one thing in common: They’re fanatics about saving you money and headaches by getting classification right.
Algorithms help us work smarter.
Working smart means having our classifiers focus their expertise on the tough stuff (with the help of proprietary tools) and automating the rest. We’ve invested in intelligent machine- learning algorithms based on the millions of items we’ve examined previously. For you, that may mean faster classifications with higher levels of confidence.
Global trade compliance beyond classification.
Once your products are classified correctly, there are additional trade compliance steps you’ll need to take.
Partner Government Agencies (PGAs), such as the FDA in the U.S. or the Mexican Ministry of Economy, have requirements that you need to file with your customs entries.
You may also need additional documentation for determining the country of origin of your products.
Finally, many products require additional information before export, such as export licenses and denied-party screening.
CASE STUDY
Execute a plan that satisfies CBP auditors
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) opened a compliance review with a company and uncovered issues around improper use of free trade agreements. Hearing about our services, the company reached out to us for help.
CASE STUDY
Find opportunities to boost free trade agreement usage
A tier one automotive supplier was looking for opportunities to reduce its import duty.
CASE STUDY
Optimize sourcing to increase duty savings
A client with a large multinational supply chain asked STTAS for help taking advantage of free trade agreements (FTAs) and other preference systems.
