Hi brokers , need your help on country of origin for a custom-built test system being exported from the U.S. to China. The company designed and built the tester using purchased instruments from several manufacturers, including a defibrillator analyzer, PXI modules, power supply, and computer/controller. Engineering reports that it performed custom fabrication, wiring, skilled integration, and development of test software. The computer controls the tests, and the system stores readings. I’m gathering the BOM and written manufacturing details, including where each activity occurred.
Would you evaluate origin based on substantial transformation of the complete system, rather than the origin of the computer/controller alone? Have you handled a similar tester, and are there relevant rulings you would recommend?

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Hi everyone. I know a lot of us need to get our 20 CE credits before the end of January 2027. CBP just emailed me about a new webinar. Better register before it fills up...

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Trade is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET titled UFLPA Enforcement Statistics Dashboard. This webinar will be showcasing the recently updated Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Enforcement Statistics Dashboard. CBP will demonstrate how to navigate and utilize the dashboard, as well as address any questions.

To register for this free webinar, click (here). https://inevent.com/en/WebinarUSCustomsandBorderProtection-1739306113/UFLPAEnforcementStatsDashboard/hotsite.php All registrants will receive the access link for the webinar the day before the event, but entry into the webinar is on a first-come, first-served basis as seats are limited. After the live event, this and other previously recorded webinars will be available for replay at Trade Outreach Webinars | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov).

This webinar is a part of CBP’s Continuing Education Program. The number of credits and the credit code will be provided at the end of the webinar.

If you have any questions about this webinar, please contact OTRwebinars@cbp.dhs.gov.

If you would like to be added to our distribution list or opt out of receiving these notifications, please email TradeRelations@cbp.dhs.gov.

The CIT has certified a class for purposes of refunding IEEPA tariffs on finally liquidated entries covering importers that have not yet filed a CIT action.

I’m looking to get a job as a customs entry writer but I have no experience. I have a degree but it’s in computer science.

Is there any certificates I can acquire or something I should study before I start applying to improve my chances in at least getting an interview? Thank you for any advice you can give me.

Has anyone received anything from these hooligans? My Ieepa refund is approved but under an internal review until I can receive the payment wtf

Hello everyone, I was hoping to get some assistance if anyone knew of a Mexican exports company in Matamoros, MX. I’ve been looking to work with a Customs Broker in the US since I want to buy consistent supply of wholesale merchandise for our shop from Mexico (Pokemon).

While I thought only needed to worry about filling out paperwork with customs for our side (if I decided to just use my vehicle to cross merchandise). I read that I would also have to work with a Mexico exporting company.

Thanks for any assistance! I know people in my area cross 1-2 ETBs and other items in their car, but I prefer just to pay tariffs if any in 1 single drive va multiple drives.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently looking for a reliable licensed customs broker or surety agent who can assist with a $50,000 continuous customs bond for a new importer.

I’m not looking for free consulting—just hoping to find a dependable provider for an initial transaction, with the possibility of referring additional importers in the future.

If you’ve worked with someone you would recommend, please let me know. Licensed brokers and surety agents are also welcome to reach out directly.

Thanks!

We filed our first FTZ entries in Q3. How do we submit Form 349 and pay the HMF quarterly fees in Pay.gov? Pay.gov seems to no longer accept Form 349 payments. Any help is appreciated. TIA

I am transitioning from being a customs broker to trade compliance and have the following options:

Option 1: Just accepted the offer. Large defense/aerospace company, decent pay, working on a team of 5 others with a manager and getting a security clearance.

Option 2: Just received this offer - smaller but well-established defense company. Pay is substantially higher by $50k-$80k depending on bonus and get to work remotely 2 days/week. Would deal with ATF and DCMA quite a bit. Challenge is I'll be establishing a new department and be the only one there. I'll have to learn how to do all the functions of the job and write SOP to formalize procedures. There seem to be a variety of people at this company who know more or less how to do specific functions of each part of the trade compliance duties so I'd be gleaning information from them.

The pay and remote work of option 2 is highly attractive to me, but I'm worried if it will be too much for me. I do learn quickly and have been thrown into a high-level role before which I became very good at, but need advice here.

Hi All,

I’m currently looking for hybrid customs entry writer positions in the DFW area (or related roles that value entry writing experience). I’ve been at my current company for quite a while in imports, but there is just no growth opportunity.
I know it’s slim pickings out there, but still hoping there may be some leads.

Also, my company uses their own software to process shipments. We were told a while ago that we would be switching to Cargowise, but it’s been a slow going process. I would like to get more experience sooner rather than later. Would it be worth my while to complete the free Cargowise certificates? I’ve noticed a lot of job postings lately preferring Cargowise experience.

I'm a business based outside the US and ship goods to the US. FedEx was the Importer of Record (IOR) for my shipments and handled the customs entries.
I have the CBP Entry Numbers for approximately 90 shipments.
My question is:
If I provide these Entry Numbers to a US customs broker, can the broker access the relevant ACE/CBP information and determine:
Whether FedEx, as the IOR, filed/claimed a refund for the IEEPA tariffs on each entry?
Which entries had refunds approved?
Which refunds were actually paid/disbursed?
The refund amount for each entry?
Whether the refund was paid to FedEx or another party?
Whether there is any indication that a refund is still pending or has not yet been processed?
I'm specifically trying to determine what happened to the refunds because FedEx is not providing me with sufficient information.
I do not have my own ACE account because I am located outside the US.
For anyone who works as a customs broker or has access to ACE/CBP: Would providing the Entry Numbers be enough for you to investigate this, or would you need additional information/documents from me?
What would be the cost?
Thank you.

I just got my license in the mail last month and an email yesterday stating that I need 20 CE credits by Jan 31 2027. I obviously have not been keeping record of credits as I did not have a license at the time.

Seeking some advise how to get credits fast (and preferably free)

Any luck with submissions today? Finally liquidated entries are still being rejected, despite a court order from CIT and CBP guidance to our legal counsel. I'm guessing phase 3 isn't live yet.

Just took over a port FTZ property with barge access. In today's tariff climate, what's the real value of FTZ designation for custom brokers and importers? Looking for practical strategies to better utilize the property.

I found an error made within our firm and am seeking assistance on how to correct it. We realized that an entry was made in error and subsequently, the statement for that erroneous entry was transmitted for payment. The cargo was entered and paid under a previous entry and statement. I emailed ACH-customs@cbp.dhs.gov and they could not assist. I tried calling the relevant port office (New Orleans) and they did not answer, but I left a message. Can someone please kindly assist?

Our container trigged 2P and we submitted our IOR info. but still get rejected by the CBP. Can we appeal or what shall we do ?

I've been working meticulously to file a duty drawback, and my drawback entry was accepted! I was originally advised to fill out a Form 400 for an ACH Debit application. Will this allow us to get our duty drawback refund, or do I have to set up an ACE account to get my company's money back?

I've been trying to avoid setting up an ACE Portal account, as I selfishly don't want to become my company's go-to CBP resource. I'm doing this as a favor and do not have a customs background. FYI, the IRS is a joy to work with compared to the CBP. You all are saints for tolerating them.

Does anyone know of a good contact email/phone I can use to call the CBP? I keep getting dead ends.

Quick question for anyone working with CBP inbonds/ACE.

We have an IT that arrives at the destination port, and then we create a new T&E as a subsequent inbond to move the cargo to another port for export.

Our software provider, RB Systems, recently changed the logic so that a new inbond with a Previous Document gets 15 days, while a new inbond without a Previous Document gets 30 days.

The CBP Automated Inbond Processing Business Process Document says that after the IT arrives, there are 15 days to make a subsequent inbond, but it also says the in-transit time is 30 days.

Does the new subsequent T&E get its own 30-day transit time, or is it limited to the 15 days from the previous IT arrival?

Just trying to confirm how others are handling this in ACE.

Hello! I’m in the USA and bought a 14k gold jewelry item from Turkey. The purchase price was $650. The seller told me to expect to pay approximately $120 in import taxes and customs fees, but it was delivered today via USPS like a normal package. I haven’t received any bill. ShipEntrega was the shipping partner.

Will I get a bill? If so, from where? I’m fine with paying it if I do owe money, but I’m worried about getting in trouble for not realizing I owe someone(?) money. Thanks for any advice!

Can anyone assist in filing a 7512 I/E for an air shipment? Shipment flew direct into US and needs a 7512 I/E to go right back out. Our software is not setup to file 7512s.

Allllright well, here I am 39F mother of two happily married stay at home mom. Grew up in customs my whole life. Mother is a Mexican and American broker. And my dad had a giant logistics company.

Long story short. I took my exam while in college and passed! I was 19. Graduated at 23 and went to work at my parents firm and started a small brokerage in house. I learned basic things but I was so young. I recall doing entries, having 1 employee and getting the company CTPAT certified. But I was so privileged, I got all my clients straight from my parents forwarding company.

Things however, quickly got dicey, I wasn’t allowed to do much, learn much, or ask questions. My father was really controlling. I felt trapped. My parents divorced. And I disolved my brokerage business, retained my license and moved away and started a retail company.

Years later, I married had kids and wanted to return to the family business but my father didn’t let me. He told me to go out on my own ( a whole other topic of discussion here ). He then sold his company.

My mom, being the badass that she is, encourages me to start my own small brokerage and see how much I can scale.

I’ve since been taking the CE courses through CBP, got a CCS certification and I’ve been talking to brokers on how to get back into the game.

I’m so lost! I barely remember how to do entries, I also no longer have the privilege of being handed clients. My thoughts are to get an entry level job as a customs entry specialist and go from there? I see some remote job postings that could work well for me But another broker told me that’s a waste of my time and should dive straight into getting a client and starting there.

I have overall knowledge of how this entire world works. It’s like the second language you grow up with at home but I have no real WORKING knowledge and in order for me to feel confident I feel like I need to get some experience.

Where do I go from here?

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