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Customs clearance, compliance, & risk management
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Customs integration, reporting, & control
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Customs optimization, cost reduction, & opportunities
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Customs networks, experience, & expertise
Customs clearance, compliance, & risk management
GEODIS is a leading customs brokerage company that takes care of all your customs classifications, declarations, and related services:
Check and file your foreign trade documents and customs declarations
Ensure your goods are properly classified for import or export
Help you stay compliant and reduce the risk of inspections and audits
- Speed the clearance of your goods through the customs process
Customs integration, reporting, & control
GEODIS partners with your business for real-time customs brokerage, support, and visibility:
Integrate closely with your supply chain team for hassle-free collaboration
Provide real-time insight for all of your goods through every part of the customs process
Keep you informed and up-to-date with changing policies and regulations
- Adapt to changing business requirements, circumstances, and priorities to keep you in control
Customs optimization, cost reduction, & opportunities
GEODIS provides US and international customs brokerage to help you to optimize every part of the customs process:
Advise you on tariffs, trade agreements, and strategic options to bring down your import costs
Take care of duty drawback, temporary import, and other cost reductions and refunds
Manage relationships with USCBP, federal, and international agencies on your behalf
- Offer on-tap knowledge and expertise to take advantage of the customs process.
Customs networks, experience, & expertise
GEODIS has a large network of licensed customs brokers with a proven track record:
Enjoy a deep bench of experience with a tenured team of more than 70 customs experts
Partner with industry leaders who are involved with US customs policy and governance
Network with local officials through our extensive on-site presence across US ports of entry
- Get early sight of changes through our close ties with US customs and other agencies
Services
Frequently asked questions
Importing into and exporting from the US is a highly regulated process involving over 45 federal agencies. The central and most involved agency is Customs and Border Protection. As the largest law enforcement agency in the US, CBP is responsible for the regulation of the import process and administration of the regulations for numerous other agencies.
A licensed customs broker can be invaluable to a trading company, especially when navigating complex regulations and requirements. Customs brokerage brings real expertise to companies and helps customers avoid unnecessary costs and delays by managing the customs clearance process. Customs brokerage helps customers remove the overheads of dealing with customs and other government agencies, allowing them to focus on the management of their core business.
They can be, and many customs brokers have a local presence near popular import destinations. However, systems like the Automated Broker Interface mean that many customs brokerage duties can be performed remotely, without requiring a local presence.
According to CBP, you’re not legally required to use a customs broker to clear your goods. However, it’s often a good idea to use a licensed broker as they can ensure that your paperwork is completed and filed correctly, and help you avoid delays and meet regulatory requirements.
Ultimately, it is the importer that must comply with CBP rules and regulations. Although a licensed customs broker can provide many services when importing goods, the legal responsibility for imports falls to the importer of record.
A customs clearance broker is specifically focused on getting goods through customs and having them released by CBP. A clearance broker helps to navigate the regulatory and licensing process, ensures that all of the necessary paperwork is completed and filed, and troubleshoots any issues with the entry or exit of goods.
GEODIS customs brokerage is a complete, end-to-end service that facilitates the customs clearance process for importers and exporters. A team of GEODIS experts acts as intermediaries on behalf of our clients. We interact with government agencies throughout the importation and exportation process, ensure that all the proper customs procedures have been followed, secure the lawful release of cargo, facilitate the payment of duties, taxes, and fees, and ensure that all government requirements have been satisfied.
GEODIS offers several value-added services, including Importer Security Filing and management services, foreign trade zone (FTZ) services, Merchandise Processing Fee savings initiatives, C-TPAT counseling, and Trade Services consulting including product classification, customs audit program, duty drawback, and reconciliation.
We perform a customs brokerage daily entry process for our client accounts as follows:
- Receive documents from suppliers and importers.
- Review documents for discrepancies and inconsistencies.
- Follow up on any additional actions or information to ensure complete and compliant entries.
- Review the invoice product classification against the database provided by our clients.
- Processed entries using the Customs Automated Broker Interface (ABI) system.
- Prepare and transmit entries to CBP within five days of arrival, based upon document receipt.
- Monitor product entry status for any irregularities or delays such as manifest holds, audits, or inspections.
- Communicate cargo releases and dispatch delivery orders accordingly.
GEODIS US customs brokerage operates in 13 offices throughout the country. Practices can vary from port to port, and our staff are experts in the practices at their specific ports. Staff also develop relationships with personnel at their ports and their local carriers to facilitate the smooth flow of cargo within each port. Offices are not limited to filing entries in their local port, however, as each office is able to transmit entries into any port in the country. This allows certain clients to be centralized where all of their entries are handled by a single office which creates greater efficiencies and enhanced compliance.
Our customs experts will handle all import and export customs declarations for your goods in due time, and work with local customs authorities according to local constraints and agreed conditions. We will accurately carry out the movements of your goods to facilitate your international flows in a customs territory.
GEODIS believes strongly in sharing our knowledge and experience for the benefit of our clients. We offer several client education channels including seminars, email notifications, knowledge bases, account management, and other forums.