Customs & International Trade Services

Identifying planning opportunities and enhancing compliance

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Managing cross-border trade transaction complexity

Global import and export requirements touch every piece of your business and must be considered holistically to effectively manage total tax liability and reduce compliance risk.   

Tariff classification, customs valuation and country-of-origin rules — the “customs triangle” — pose complex legal and regulatory challenges. By taking a proactive approach to customs and international trade compliance and planning, businesses can reduce their risk and hone their competitive edge through quicker decision-making, more accurate cost predictability and smoother import and export clearance processes. 

BDO’s partner-led team includes industry professionals, licensed customs brokers, export compliance officers, licensed attorneys, and accountants. We work with clients to provide effective support for global trade compliance, including: 

  • Designing and improving internal procedures and processes  

  • Reviewing compliance programs for effectiveness of controls 

  • Analyzing supply chains to reduce duty and other indirect tax payments 

  • Identifying refund or credit opportunities and reducing indirect tax cash leakage 

Our customs and international trade team tracks evolving ESG and supply-chain dynamics and requirements. We work with your team to decrease risk, increase profitability and effectively manage your import- and export-related responsibilities. 

How BDO Can Help

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Enhance Import/Export Strategy 

Create or update strategies for trade management and compliance with the tax and regulatory obligations triggered by cross-border transactions. 

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Reduce Costs

Take advantage of all available opportunities to reduce duties, obtain duty refunds and decrease indirect duty/fee cash leakage. 

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Decrease Risk & Exposure 

Review internal compliance programs and import/export controls to reduce exposure and mitigate risk.  

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Improve Compliance  

Remediate compliance issues and resolve enforcement actions to reduce penalty exposure and other negative financial impacts. 

Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

Importers must understand the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act to avoid potentially damaging business impacts, including loss of merchandise and reputational harm. This Act requires importers to confirm that the goods they import are not produced with forced labor in whole or in part in the Xinjiang region of China.  A broader law in effect since 1930 prohibits any imports into the U.S. made in whole or in part with forced labor.  Businesses should work with suppliers to establish appropriate controls and assess supply chains for potential exposure to forced labor.  

 Support Across the Customs Triangle

By focusing on tariff classification, customs valuation, and country of origin, we help businesses improve their global duty spend and reduce risk and exposure. 

Tariff Classification

  • Review and classify goods under the global Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System and local rules 

  • Determine applicable rates of duty for tangible good imports and other regulatory requirements 

Customs Valuation

  • Review intercompany valuation agreements and other documentation 
  • Develop appropriate support for pricing formulas based on income tax and customs valuation rules 
  • Help companies employ alternative valuation methods to lower duties and other customs fees 

Country of Origin

  • Determine the economic nationality of goods for preferential and non-preferential tariff treatment  

Capabilities

Identify potential production process changes that result in different tariff classifications with lower rates of duty for imported goods.

Review proposed and current import scenarios for duty reduction strategies and mechanisms; help clients use all available administrative procedures to obtain duty refunds and permanent duty savings.

Prepare voluntary disclosures to correct reporting errors and mitigate exposure; assist with petitions for mitigation in penalty or liquidated damages cases.

Review goods and technologies to determine the appropriate jurisdiction and controls for exported goods, including export classification, license requirements and eligibility for license exceptions.

Work with transfer pricing specialists to evaluate intercompany pricing and achieve the lowest possible “transaction value” for customs duty calculation purposes.

Partner with internal customs and audit teams to review import and export policies, procedures and processes and identify gaps to manage compliance risk.

Review and qualify goods for duty relief under free trade agreements by country and region.

Evaluate supply chain scenarios and corresponding country of origin determinations; identify alternative procurement and production strategies to reduce customs duties.

Solutions

Global Value Chain

BDO’s Global Value Chain Solutions help you overcome obstacles, unlock new value for customers and evolve your supply chain in sync with our increasingly connected world.

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Meet our Customs and International Trade Services Leader

  • Professional Headshot of Damon V. Pike

    Damon V. Pike

    Principal & Technical Practice Leader – National Tax Office, Customs & International Trade Services

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