Customs Broker
Category: trade
A licensed professional who handles customs clearance for importers.
A customs broker is a licensed professional who assists importers and exporters with customs clearance, including preparing and submitting documentation, calculating duties, and ensuring compliance with trade regulations. In the US, customs brokers must be licensed by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). For cross-border e-commerce sellers, customs brokers are essential for handling import formalities, especially for complex or high-value shipments.
Examples
- • A seller importing $50,000 of goods from China to the US typically uses a customs broker to handle entry filing, duty payment, and FDA/CPSC compliance.
- • Many freight forwarders offer customs brokerage services as part of their logistics package, bundling shipping and customs clearance.
- • Using a licensed customs broker can reduce the risk of misclassification, undervaluation, and other customs violations that result in penalties.