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Customs Broker

Customs brokers are entities who assist importers in meeting federal requirements governing imports into the United States. Brokers can be private individuals, partnerships, associations or corporations licensed, regulated and empowered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Customs brokers oversee transactions related to customs entry and admissibility of merchandise, product classification, customs valuation, payment of duties, taxes, or other charges such as refunds, rebates, and duty drawbacks. To obtain a customs broker license, an individual must pass the U.S. Customs Broker License Exam. Customs brokers are not government employees and should not be confused with CBP officials. There are approximately 11,000 active licensed customs brokers in the United States. 

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AI Startup Launches Services for Duty Drawback, Tariff Refund Processing
August 1, 2025 |Trade Business

San Francisco-based Caspian, an ABI software vendor and licensed customs broker, is officially launching its AI-informed advisory services for duty drawback and tariff refund processing, according to a recent announcement. The company, which bills itself as "an AI-driven customs compliance startup," says its tools are able to analyze companies' international shipping records and inventory data to find eligible duty refunds that can be submitted as claims within days. Because Caspian is approved by CBP as a tech provider and customs broker, it says it can file claims with CBP on behalf of clients or in support of others' existing trade advisory work.

Topics:Customs duty, Drawback
CBP Seeks to Continue Section 321 E-Commerce Data Pilot Program
July 28, 2025 |Customs

CBP is seeking public comments on an information collection involving an extension of its Section 321 e-commerce data collection pilot program, it said in a Federal Register notice. Continuing the pilot program would enable CBP to explore different new technologies that could "streamline" the data collection process, the agency said in the notice. The information gleaned from this pilot also could be incorporated into future regulation updates, it said. Comments are due by Sept. 29.

CBP Issues Harmonized System Update
July 3, 2025 |Customs

CBP created Harmonized System Update 2527 on July 3, containing 24 Automated Broker Interface records and six Harmonized Tariff Schedule records. It includes Partner Government Agency updates and miscellaneous tariff adjustments required by verification of the 2025 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. In support of the PGA Message Set, the AM8 AMS (Agricultural Marketing Service) tariff flag was removed from HTS subheadings 0901.11.0040, 0901.21.0020 and 0901.21.0049.

Topics:Harmonized Tariff Schedule