What is import compliance?

Import compliance is everything required to bring goods into the United States lawfully: correct HTS classification, accurate customs value and country of origin, payment of all duties and fees, meeting Partner Government Agency requirements, screening suppliers, posting a bond, filing accurate entries, and keeping records. It is enforced by CBP under Title 19.

What are the main import compliance requirements?

Classify goods correctly, value them correctly, declare origin, pay duties and fees, satisfy any Partner Government Agency (FDA, EPA, USDA, CPSC) rules, screen suppliers for forced-labor and sanctions exposure, post a customs bond, file accurate entries, and retain records for five years — all under the legal standard of reasonable care.

What are Partner Government Agency (PGA) requirements?

Many products are regulated at import by agencies other than CBP — the FDA (food, drugs, devices), EPA (chemicals, vehicles), USDA (agriculture), and CPSC (consumer products), among others. These Partner Government Agencies impose their own admissibility and data requirements that must be met at entry.

What are the risks of non-compliance?

Underpaid duty exposes the importer to back duties, interest, and penalties under 19 U.S.C. §1592 (graded by negligence, gross negligence, or fraud). Forced-labor violations can lead to detention and seizure of goods. Other consequences include cargo holds, audits, and reputational harm.

Who is responsible for import compliance?

The importer of record is legally responsible, even when a customs broker files the entries. The broker acts as an agent under a power of attorney, but the duty to classify, value, declare, pay, and keep records — and the liability for errors — stays with the importer.

How can importers stay compliant?

Maintain documented classification and valuation procedures, screen suppliers continuously against UFLPA/OFAC/BIS lists, monitor tariff changes, keep complete records, and audit entries for errors and refunds. Automating classification and screening reduces error rates and builds the audit trail that demonstrates reasonable care.

Guide

Import compliance

Import compliance covers everything required to lawfully bring goods into the U.S. — classification, valuation, origin, duties, PGA requirements, screening, and recordkeeping. Here are the requirements, the risks, and the controls.

The import compliance checklist

Import compliance is the import-focused subset of trade compliance. Every entry has to satisfy these obligations under the standard of reasonable care — unless it qualifies for Section 321 de minimis treatment:

✓Classify every product to the correct 10-digit HTS code
✓Declare the correct customs value and country of origin
✓Pay all duties, taxes, and fees — including Section 301/232/IEEPA
✓Meet Partner Government Agency (FDA, EPA, USDA, CPSC) requirements
✓Screen suppliers for UFLPA, OFAC, and BIS exposure
✓Post a customs bond and file accurate entries
✓Keep import records for five years

The risks of getting it wrong

Misclassification or undervaluation means back duties, interest, and penalties under 19 U.S.C. §1592; a forced-labor match means detained or seized cargo. The flip side is opportunity: many importers are overpaying and can recover it through a Post-Summary Correction or drawback.

Import compliance FAQ

Import compliance, handled

Tariffloop classifies your catalog, screens suppliers, monitors tariffs, and documents every entry — so import compliance proves itself.

Start free audit →