Arent Fox, with our team of experienced private practitioners and former government officials, has a long history of helping clients manage and improve their import and export processes, and understand and comply with the laws and regulations administered by CBP. CBP will deny the release of imported goods if the agency believes or receives information — whether proven correct or not at the time the goods are denied release — that such goods are not in compliance with customs admissibility requirements, such as country or origin marking rules and intellectual property rights requirements.

Our attorneys assist clients in responding to CBP seizure and detention notices, with the goals of minimizing interruption of the supply chain, securing the release of goods, and avoiding costly penalties, sanctions, and port delays.

Even when goods are released by CBP, this does not prevent CBP from later making requests for further information or even proposing (or in some cases requiring) changes to an importer’s entry declarations that are adverse to the importer. These actions usually involve CBP inquiries or challenges to an importer’s classification, valuation, and special duty claims (such as NAFTA and GSP claims) on imported goods that have direct consequences on the amount of duties and fees assessed by CBP against the importer.

Arent Fox attorneys advocate for our clients in helping them respond to CBP requests for information and challenging CBP adverse determinations on customs entries. We also develop and implement strategies to reduce the risk for our clients in situations when the classification, valuation, or special duty determinations may have been made in error. These risks could include the possible expansion by CBP of the scope of its review, increased inspections by CBP at the border of the importer’s goods, and monetary penalties against the importer.