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Customs house brokers do so much more than just managing customs-related matters. They also play a critical role in facilitating international trade, including ensuring security, trade compliance, and every link in the supply chain. As such, they are a vital component of your company’s financial health and can help to ensure continuity and customer success.
What Is a Customs Broker (Company)?
If you are doing business internationally and shipping goods overseas, having a trusted customs broker on your side is essential. In today’s volatile trade landscape, trade regulations change frequently. It’s a customs broker’s job to make sure your cargo complies with these rules so you can spend more time managing your business.
What Does a Customs Broker Do?
Customs processes are sometimes complex but always highly detailed. If your paperwork is incorrect or incomplete, customs officials in the destination country can hold your goods until the problem is resolved—a process that could hold up your arrivals by weeks or even months.
Using a customs house broker is always a wise decision, as it ensures your goods are categorized correctly and that the paperwork is submitted to standards. As these standards vary considerably from country to country, it’s essential to be up to date on what’s required; and, perhaps more importantly, what’s not allowed.
Some of the services a customs house broker offers include:
The Role of Licensed Customs Brokers in Facilitating International Trade
- Documentation
- Clearing imported shipments
- Collecting taxes and duties as required
- Advising on how to grow your business by leveraging free trade agreements
- Liaising with customs officials at the destination to ensure product integrity and quality control/assurance
Why Should I Hire a Customs Broker?
Hiring a customs broker is much like onboarding a high-level team member. You’re adding an element of leadership and value that will bring your international business to new levels and increasing the security, reliability, and profitability of your efforts.
Late shipments tend to push customers to other suppliers, but when your customer knows they can count on you, you’ll gain loyalty and build relationships built on trust. If a customs broker could help you accomplish that, why wouldn’t you work with one?
Like any valued partner, your customs broker is invested in your success and will do whatever it takes to ensure you meet your targets. In today’s competitive world, having a customs house broker on your side is not just smart—it’s essential.
Choosing a Customs Broker
When choosing a customs broker, it’s important to do your due diligence. Some of the questions you should ask include:
- How long have they been in business?
- Are they licensed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection?
- Do they have additional certifications, such as Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism? (Certifications like this one tend to make the clearance process faster)
- Do they have experience in your industry niche?
- Do they use the latest technology?
- What are their customers saying about them?
Do not settle for less than 100% on any of these points.
DTS is a reliable customs broker with a reputation for excellence in all international trade matters. No matter what markets you are entering or what kind of goods you are shipping, working with a logistics company like DTS World Cargo reduces risk, improves profits, and simplifies documentation and compliance from end-to-end.
Reach out today to learn more about how we can help.
