Exporting to the United States – A Team Canada Inc Publication

10.2 Customs brokers and what they do

Your U.S. customs broker will act on your behalf to clear your goods through customs and deliver them to their final destination. In the United States, customs brokers are licensed, bonded and regulated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Using a U.S. customs broker is usually mandatory. The benefits of doing so, for the exporter, include:

• Brokers stay up-to-date with all customs regulations and procedures, and will be aware of changes well before you are.
• They prepare all the export documentation that Canada and U.S. Customs require.
• Before your goods can clear customs, U.S. regulations require a bond for their value plus any duties. Your broker will arrange this bond for you.
• A broker will clear your goods through customs quickly, sparing you storage costs.

To find a U.S. customs broker, check the Web site of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA). The site has a searchable membership directory that will direct you to the Web sites and contact information of NCBFAA members.

Alternatively, you can find a broker at a particular port of entry by visiting the Ports of Entry page on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection site. Select the port of entry and scroll down the page to the link for its brokers list.

As already noted, your broker will handle most of the documentation and procedures required to clear your shipments into the United States. We'll look at this process next.