Customs & Trade Compliance

Most customs disputes come down to three things: how the goods were classified, how they were valued, and whether the declared origin can be proved. Errors in any of them surface years later during post-clearance audit, with penalties attached.

Wise Counsel advises importers, exporters and manufacturers on customs compliance and represents them in customs disputes and audits.

What we help with

• Advising on HS classification and applying for advance rulings
• Customs valuation, including royalties, assists and related-party pricing
• Rules of origin and preferential tariff treatment under free trade agreements
• Preparing for and responding to post-clearance audits
• Advising on customs procedures for processing, manufacturing for export and bonded warehouses
• Duty exemption, refund and drawback applications
• Handling customs penalties and administrative violations
• Advising on export controls, prohibited and conditional goods

An advance ruling costs little and removes the argument entirely. We recommend it wherever classification or valuation is genuinely uncertain.