Customs Compliance

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Importers are legally required to use “reasonable care” in their importing activities. Practically speaking, this requires that importers commit significant resources and take steps to ensure that they have trained employees who can interpret the legal requirements applicable to the company’s imports. Maintaining appropriate training and compliance is a continuous business process.

Many companies understand that it is important to ensure that tariff classifications are accurate, all elements of value are properly reported, country of origin is properly determined and reported, and claims for special programs like the US-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (“USMCA”) or Generalized System of Preferences (“GSP”) are supported. Most companies also understand that they are required to keep documents to support their claims in these (and perhaps other) areas. Despite their best efforts, these companies sometimes require assistance to design, document, and defend their business processes.

The attorneys at Barnes, Richardson & Colburn have substantial experience in conducting compliance audits and implementing customs compliance programs. Our audits are focused and designed to minimize business disruption. We design compliance programs meant to provide the highest level of compliance and reliability while respecting the company’s current processes. We regard these programs as being the best practical solution to continuing to do business while ensuring the required level of Customs compliance.

Contact any attorney at Barnes, Richardson & Colburn to explore whether you are complying with the Customs laws, and how to maximize your compliance with practical, business-oriented practices and procedures.

Aug. 19, 2026: White House Delays Section 338 Tariffs on Canada
Aug. 18, 2026: CBP Targets Importer of Record Data for Enforcement Actions
Aug. 14, 2026: Trump Implements Section 232 Duties Against Drones and Drone Parts
Aug. 13, 2026: U.S. Agreement Expands Archaeological and Ethnological Import Restrictions
Aug. 10, 2026: Polysilicon Tariff Minimums Imposed under Section 232
Aug. 7, 2026: Taiwan Manufacturer Agrees to $51.5 Million False Claims Act Settlement
Aug. 6, 2026: Challenges Raised to 301 Forced Labor Tariffs
Aug. 5, 2026: BIS Poised to Impose Section 232 Duties on More Metal Products
Aug. 3, 2026: White House Orders 4-Year TRQ on Quartz
Aug. 3, 2026: DHS Identifies 43 Companies Associated With Forced Labor
Jul. 30, 2026: The FCC Has Added Foreign-Produced Robots and Power Inverters to the "Covered List," Effectively Barring Imports
Jul. 23, 2026: Forced Labor Section 301 Duties Start Friday at 12:01 a.m.
Jul. 20, 2026: CBP's Section 232 Copper Smelt and Cast Reporting Requirements Guidance
Jul. 20, 2026: White House Introduces Section 338 Tariffs on Canadian Articles
Jul. 16, 2026: Commerce Department Publishes Rulemaking Docket: What's on the Chopping Block and What's Getting the Ol' College Try…. At Least for Now
Jul. 16, 2026: Long-Awaited Brazil 301 Duties Issued
Jul. 16, 2026: Trade Fraud Task Force Lays Out Tools it Intends to Use Against Fraud
Jul. 10, 2026: White House Declines Section 232 Tariff on Aerospace Articles
Jul. 2, 2026: CAPE Processing Restrictions for Warehouse Entries
Jun. 30, 2026: European Union Implements U.S. Trade Deal
Jun. 30, 2026: CBP Updates Vehicle Duty Offset Guidance
Jun. 30, 2026: PHASE 2: CBP Now Accepting Reconciliation Entries in CAPE
Jun. 18, 2026: United States Finds Forced Labor for Serbian Copper Producer
Jun. 16, 2026: Supreme Court Declines to Review HMTX Challenge to Section 301 Tariffs
Jun. 15,2026: CBP Releases Updated Guidance on Forced Labor Prohibition Enforcement
Jun. 10, 2026: E.U. May be Joining Others in Harder Line Toward China Trade
Jun. 9, 2026: Forced Labor Watchdog Barred from Suing U.S. Customs
Jun. 5, 2026: New EO Aims to Cut Open Shell Co. Importers
Jun. 3, 2026: USTR Surprises Nobody, Recommends Forced Labor Tariffs for 60 Countries
Jun. 2, 2026: Metals 232 Derivatives Tweaked (Again)
May 27, 2026: Commerce and USTR Implement Section 232 Relief for Taiwan
May 26, 2026: CBP Ruling Clarifies Price Paid or Payable
May 26, 2026: CBP Updates CAPE Guidance for Entries Flagged for Reconciliation
May 13, 2026: And Suddenly, Shippers Have Choices
May 12, 2026: BIS Set to Publish Notice on Applications for Pharmaceutical Company-Specific Agreements
May 11, 2026: CBP Releases Updated Guidance on 232s for USMCA Medium and Heavy Vehicles
May 8, 2026: Court of International Trade Panel Strikes Down Section 122 Tariffs, Throws Out Most State Suits
May 4, 2026: U.S.& EU Align on Critical Minerals Supply Chain Resilience
Apr. 27, 2026: EU Commissioner Šefcovic on EU-U.S. Steel Talks
Apr. 24, 2026: CIT Decision Highlights CAPE Phase II IEEPA Refund Concerns
Apr. 24, 2026: Potential AD/CVD for Mexican, Vietnamese, & Thai Chassis
Apr. 21, 2026: CAPE Phase 1, Day One, Better Than Feared
Apr. 20, 2026: CBP Updates Guidance on Jones Act Waiver
Apr. 20, 2026: BIS Enforcement Action Against Coastal PVA Technology Signals Continued Scrutiny of EAR99 Exports
Apr. 14, 2026: CBP Publishes CAPE Phase 1 Update
Apr. 10, 2026: CBP Releases First CAPE IEEPA Refund Instructions
Apr. 2, 2026: Big Changes to Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum, Copper and their Derivative Articles

View Archive

Jan. 22, 2025: Webinar: What We Know After the Inauguration
Sep. 9, 2024: McPherson to Co-Moderate Export Enforcement Discussion
Jun. 2, 2023: BRC and Attorneys Ranked in 2023 Chambers Guide
March 18, 2019: Chicago Partner Lawrence M. Friedman to Speak on How to Prepare for and Conduct Your Import Internal Risk Assessment
March 29, 2019: ITCC Import Export Workshop: When You Disagree with Customs...
March 23, 2018: BRC Partner Brian Walsh To Speak on Protests, Prior Disclosures, Penalties, Redelivery Notices & Liquidated Damages
January 22, 2018: BRC Partner David Forgue to Speak on Classification Processes
May 4, 2017: BRC Partner Lawrence Friedman to Speak at Upcoming PERT Event
March 16, 2017: Partner David Forgue Quoted in International Trade Today
March 16, 2017: Partner David Forgue Quoted in International Trade Today
March 8, 2017: Barnes Partner Lawrence Friedman Quoted Regarding Tariff Engineering in Washington Post
March 2, 2017: David G. Forgue to Participate in Georgetown International Trade Update
February 14, 2017: BRC, Joern Law Firm to Hold Joint Webinar on Consumer Product Safety Rules and Import Requirements
By: Lawrence M. Friedman
January 30: David G. Forgue to Speak at Chicago Customs Broker and Freight Forwarder Association Seminar
April 27, 2015: Food Safety Modernization Act Update
April 27, 2015: Sandy Friedman provides update on Food Safety Law
March 23, 2015: Partner Larry Friedman's Workshop on Tariff Engineering at the International Compliance Professionals Association
By: Lawrence M. Friedman
February 20, 2015: Partner Larry Friedman Moderates Panel on the Role of Use in Tariff Classification
By: Lawrence M. Friedman
February 10, 2015: From Moveable Type to Home Manufacturing in Five Easy Centuries: Some Trade Implications of 3D Printing
By: David G. Forgue
December 16, 2014: Brian Walsh Honored by Chicago Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association
December 15, 2014: Helena Sullivan Presents to Fashion and Int'l Trade Committees of NYC Bar
November 21, 2014: Larry Friedman Presented Webinar for International Compliance Professionals Association
October 24, 2014: Trek Leather and the Decline of Reasonable Care
October 9, 2014: 3D Printing: A Manufacturing Revolution and (Potential) Compliance Headache
September 4, 2014: Misrepresentation of Country of Origin Results in Recent False Claims Act Penalties
June 6, 2014: Larry Friedman Elected Vice President of CITBA
March 28, 2014: Larry Friedman Speaks at ICPA Conference
March 3, 2014: BRC Partner Quoted in Korean Orange Juice Investigation
Oct. 30, 2013: Barnes/Richardson Partner David Forgue Publishes Third Article on M&A Due Diligence
Oct. 30, 2013: Risk Mitigation in International Trade
September 20, 2013: Barnes/Richardson Partner Cortney O'Toole Morgan to Speak at ACI's U.S. Customs Compliance Boot Camp
August 23, 2013: Barnes/Richardson Attorneys Author Article on CBP's Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEEs)
July 30, 2013: Barnes/Richardson Attorneys Co-Author ABA Year in Review Articles
May 28, 2013: Chambers Recognizes Barnes/Richardson Partners as Leading Lawyers
May 8, 2013: Barnes/Richardson Partner Quoted by International Trade Today
April 8, 2013: Barnes/Richardson Partner Quoted in Ria Novosti Article
February 5, 2013: Detentions, Exclusions, and Customs Protests
Dec. 12, 2012: Why Sound Due Diligence Is Crucial in Global Business
December 6, 2012: Barnes/Richardson Partner Moderates Panel on CIT Litigation Issues
July 26, 2012: Barnes/Richardson Attorneys Co-Author Customs Year in Review for ABA International Lawyer
Jun. 6, 2012: Firm Posts ITCC Presentation on Valuation
Apr. 9, 2012: Army Reservist Permitted to Sit for Customs Broker Exam
December 6, 2011: The Latest Lurking International Trade Liability
December 6, 2011: David Forgue on The Latest Lurking International Trade Liability
November 21, 2011: THE INTERNATIONAL LAWYER - Customs Law
October 27, 2011: CBP Changes Rules for Sampling and Offsetting in Prior Disclosures
Jun. 10, 2011: Challenging Customs Denial of Prior Disclosure

Presentation on Right to Make Entry and Customs Business By: Lawrence M. Friedman
Larry Friedman: Presentation on Transfer Pricing By: Lawrence M. Friedman
Brian Walsh Presentation for the International Trade Club of Chicago on Customs Valuation By: Brian F. Walsh

U.S. Customs & Border Protection Seizure Information