Import & Export Compliance

The import and export pillar of a compliance program outlines concepts, responsibilities and corporate standards for importing and exporting products in the global arena. Furthermore, this pillar is intended to establish and house the procedures and processes required to help an organization comply with all applicable import, export, and trade compliance laws of the United States and other countries in which they conduct business. This pillar also covers supply chain security requirements, which help protect an organization from illegal and dangerous activities as they relate to terrorism, piracy, theft, smuggling and other threats to your logistics program. When importing or exporting there are numerous U.S. and international trade laws and regulations to observe. These laws and regulations cover trade embargoes and economic sanctions, anti-boycott, cargo security, import classification and valuation, product/country of origin marking, and free trade agreements. The complicated and ever-changing nature of these laws and regulations often make them difficult for organizations to understand and apply. Without proper guidance, organizations can experience common pitfalls which may result in substantial penalties, fines, delayed cargo, or even product seizures. By developing this pillar within a compliance program, an organization will better understand how and which trade compliance policies, standards and procedures apply, and who within their organization will be responsible for managing them.