Customs and International Trade Law Blog : International Trade Lawyer & Attorney : Becker & Poliakoff Law Firm : Customs Law, Border Protection

You may legally carry or mail any amount of money you want into or out of the United States, but if it is more than $10,000 at one time, you better first report it to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Otherwise, you risk U.S. Customs taking it from you, and never getting it back. Why?  Because your failure to report the international transportation of money is a violation of the Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act.

All too often, I am contacted by a distraught American ciitizen or resident returning from a trip overseas, or a foreign visitor to the United States, who was unaware of the laws regarding currency reporting.  The person was asked by a U.S. Customs officer upon arrival at the international airport if he or she was carrying over $10,000. When the passenger honestly answer "yes", or the U.S. Customs officer believes the passenger may be lying about the amount of money being transported, the passenger and his or her luggage are examined.  If over $10,000 in monetary instruments, including travelers checks and U.S. or foreign money, is discovered, and the required form, FINCEN Form 105, has not been filed with U.S. Customs, all of the money is likely to be seized on the spot by U.S. Customs.

A formal Seizure Notice will eventualy be issued by U.S. Customs to the passenger, and the passenger may hire a customs attorney to pursue the administrative petition process to get the money (or most of it) back.  Proof of the legitimate source of the money and proof of the legitimate intended use of the money are required in communicating with Customs.  Eventually, after several months, Customs may return typically 90% of the money. 

It is an expensive mistake to not report to U.S. Customs when either carrying, mailing, or receiving over $10,000 internationally.  Please read U.S. Customs and Border Protection's "Currrency Reporting" flyer and look at the FINCEN Form 105 and its instructions before attempting to transport over $10,000.  There are no customs duties, taxes or other fees paid to U.S. Customs for the international transportation of the money; it is merely a reporting requirement to U.S. Customs.

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My friends tell me one of their favorite activities in China is to buy counterfeit items such as Gucci handbags or Montblanc pens. My friends do worry about U.S. Customs and Border Protection (U.S. Customs) officers looking through their luggage upon arrival at an airport in the United States, seizing the counterfeit items, and fining them.  The truth is that U.S. Customs allows the importation of counterfeit merchandise, but closely follow the rules as I explain them to you now.

First, know that it is generally illegal to import counterfeit merchandise into the United States.  The word "counterfeit" is defined in the Lanham Act at 15 U.S.C. 1124, and the U.S. Customs applicable law allowing for the seizure of counterfeit merchandise is 19 U.S.C. 1526.  That law gives your friendly U.S. Customs officers who are waiting for you at the airport the authority to look through your luggage, and seize counterfeit merchandise from you.  The U.S. Customs regulations at 19 CFR Part 133 give more specific guidelines to travelers interested in this topic. 

What the readers of this blog, and even many U.S. Customs officers, do not know is that it is perfectly legal for a person who visits China, or any other foreign country, to buy counterfeit merchandise there, including one counterfeit Gucci bag and one counterfeit Montblanc pen, declare it on the U.S. Customs declaration form, pass through U.S. Customs, and enjoy using the counterfeit items in the United States.   Of course, you generally get what you pay for, so the $2,000 Gucci bag that you purchased in China for $80 may not be such a bargain, but it can be a lot of fun to shop at a Chinese flea market, and compare the purchased products to the genuine items at your local U.S.-based retail store, or so I am told. 

According to Customs Directive No. 2310-011A dated January 24, 2000, "Customs officers shall permit any person arriving in the United States to import one article, which must accompany the person, bearing a counterfeit, confusingly similar, or restricted gray market trademark, provided that the article is for personal use and not for sale."  Moreover, the Directive states that "Customs officers shall permit the arriving person to retain one article of each type accompanying the person." 

Now, don't go crazy trying to bring too much counterfeit stuff into the United States at once. There are many restrictions.  You can only bring counterfeit stuff in every 30 days, it must "accompany" you which means no FedEx, UPS, or DHL packages, and it is only applicable to "one article of each type" which means, for example, if you attempt to bring in two counterfeit Gucci bags, they both will be seized by U.S. Customs. And "personal use" means for you the traveler only; no counterfeit gifts for your friends and family. 

Finally, please don't waste the U.S. Customs officer's time attempting to explain to him that the fancy watches you purchased are marked "Rolexx" so they are not counterfeiting the Rolex trademark because of the different spelling, or that you did not know that importing counterfeit merchandise was illegal, because now you have read this blog post from "Mr. Customs".  

Just in case you do bring in one too many counterfeit products, there is an administrative process to challenge all seizures made by U.S. Customs, as I described in a previous blog post.

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On January 27, 2010 you will have the opportunity to meet the new Board of Directors for the Organization of Women in International Trade's South Florida Chapter.   OWIT-South Florida is a networking and educational organization that promotes women and men in international trade and commerce.

As the incoming President to this group of distinguished professionals in international business, I'll admit I'm biased, but, I do have say, this is a great group to get to know.  We have representation on our Board from Adobe, C.H. Robinson, Kroll, Robertson Forwarding, UPS, and Mastercard, to name a few.  Meet us personally at my law firm, Becker & Poliakoff's Coral Gables office at 121 Alhambra Plaza, 10th Floor, on January 27th, from 6-8 p.m. You will be glad you did.

Put on your calendar these must attend events:

• February 17, 2010 - Are You "Women Certified?" Delia Passi, founder of Broward-based Women Certified, talks about her company's mission to teach companies, especially sales people, how to sell to and retain female consumers.
• March 24, 2010 - Crisis? What Crisis? If your firm faces a reputational tsunami, call the "trouble valet."  Judy Miller, CEO, JM Advisory and former Pulitzer-prize winning investigative journalist, explains how she helps companies in stressful situations avoid reputational meltdown.
• November 2, 2010 - Hear Donna Shalala, President, University of Miami,  former Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Clinton Administration, speak at our annual International Business Women of the Year (IBWOY) awards.

Get Involved!  Join one of our several committees.  Reach out to our Committee Chairs to learn more.

Join OWIT-South Florida on Linked In as well and start a discussion - let us know what you'd like to see with OWIT-South Florida in 2010!

I look forward to making membership in OWIT-South Florida a worthwhile and fun experience. If you ever have questions, comments or program ideas, I am always interested in your feedback,and want to make sure this organization is a valuable asset to everyone involved. Please feel free to contact me directly with questions and comments.  See you January 27th!

Don't miss out. If you want to network with the movers and shakers of Miami's international trade scene, you must attend OWIT-South Florida's "Meet the New Board" event on January 27, 2010. This is the group that will bring Donna Shalala to you in November, get to know us!

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In my October 5, 2009 post entitled "TSA's New Air Cargo Screening Rules Have A Serious Flaw," I commented on the Air Cargo Screening Interim Final Rule, which created the certified cargo screening program (CCSP).   CCSP authorizes companies other than airlines to be approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA ) to screen cargo before it is delivered to an airline at the airport to be put in the belly of a passenger plane. As of February 3, 2009, U.S. airlines and foreign air carriers must have screened at least 50% of its cargo transported on passenger aircraft. That number goes up to 100% as of August 3, 2010.  The problem is that even as August 3, 2010 quickly approaches, the TSA, the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), and other prominent organizations have warned that the air cargo industry needs to do more to be ready.

On February 8-9, 2010, in Miami, Florida, The National Cargo Security Association (www.TNCSA.org) is hosting a Florida Cargo Security Conference. Speakers include managers of TSA' Air Cargo Division from its national headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and TSA managers in Florida, the Director of the Air Forwarders Association, nationally renowned security and legal experts, and an FAA Senior Special Agent who enforces dangerous goods compliance.

Be advised that the air cargo screening rule only applies to (1) air cargo, (2) loaded on board an aircraft in the United States. The Rule also does not apply to all-cargo aircraft (freighters).  However,one of the primary differences between now and August 3, 2010 (when the 100 percent deadlines hits full force) is that the stacked and shrink-wrapped shipments known as ULDs — basically numerous smaller packages stacked and wrapped on pallets for shipments — will have to be broken down so that the packages can be screened individually and then restacked.

TIACA has expressed some of its concerns when it recently stated "to avoid widespread delays, greater participation in the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP) is needed." An excellent Powerpoint introduction to the TSA's CCSP is found at theTIACA website.

Shippers, indirect air carriers, airlines, and other persons involved in the international supply chain should attend the Conference to learn more about the air cargo screening requirements.  Consequences of the new 100% screening rule surely will be (1) cargo that is delayed or not shipped at all, and (2) penalties against companies by the TSA for non-compliance.

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As of January 26, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will require that all importers comply with the Importer Security Filing (ISF), also popularly known as "10 +2" because of the 10 elements required to be provided to CBP relevant to the importer and 2 elements required to be provided to CBP relevant to the carrier.  CBP has announced that as of January 26, 2010, it will also begin to issue penalties of either $5,000 or $10,000 against importers who fail to comply with ISF; something CBP calls its "enforcement phase". Importers who self-file ISF, or their agents, must understand the changes, comply with them, and, when a penalty is issued by CBP, respond in writing to mitigate the penalty.

Fortunately, on January 28, 2010, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the South Florida Chapter of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), is hosting a seminar entitled "ISF 10+2 Reality Sinks In...What's Next?"  To register or learn more about CSCMP, click on http://www.cscmp-sofl.org/events.shtml. The impressive panel includes customs brokers, importers, carriers, consultants, an attorney, and Richard DiNucci, Director, Secure Freight Initiative, CBP Headquarters. 

As you should know, the ISF is filed via the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) or the Automated Manifest System (AMS), and it is always sent to the Automated Targeting System (ATS) for analysis and review by CBP officials.  Hence, it is obvious that CBP will use the ISF information to target, stop, and examine imported shipments.  Incorrectly or incompletely filing ISF will result in increased delays of imported shipments.  Moreover, CBP has announced that as of January 26, 2010, it will selectively penalize the more severely non-compliant importers, and will only more frequently issue such penalties over time.

On December 24, 2009, CBP amended the Interim Final Rule on November 25, 2008 entitled "Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements." See  http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-30570.htm.  The amended rule clarified the ISF Bond Terms for all importers.  Knowing all aspects of this important new rule is necessary for the international trade community.  Click http://www.cscmp-sofl.org/events.shtml to register.  To learn more about the South Florida Chapter of the CSCMP, please contact a member of the Board of Directors at http://www.cscmp-sofl.org/board.shtml.

Happy New Year to all.

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The annual CBP Symposium, held at the D.C. Convention Center, Washington, D.C. from December 8-10, 2009, was the 10th year of this very successful event.  Over 850 attendees were initially greeted by outgoing Acting Commissioner Jay Ahern.  The Symposium agenda was a smorgasbord of information that was appropriate for anyone with a serious interest in international trade and logistics. Highlights included presentations from Assistant Commissioner Dan Baldwin, Office of International Trade, Rich DiNucci, Director, Secure Freight Initiative ("10+2"), Bob Swierupski, Director, National Commodity Specialist Division, and Brenda Smith, Executive Director, Trade Policy and Programs, about what the international trade community should expect in 2010 from CBP.  Special Presentations were made by Jeremy Baskin, Office of General Counsel, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Domenic Veneziano, Director, Division of Import Operations and Policy, U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Mr. DiNucci's presentation on Importer Security Filing (ISF) stated that CBP has received from January 26, 2009 through December 6, 2009 3.65 million ISF filings from over 1,900 ISF filers representing 103,000 ISF importers. There is now a 95% acceptance rate on ISF filings.  As you know, the enforcement mode for ISF begins January 26, 2010, and there will be a $5,000 penalty issued by CBP for a violation per ISF transmission or $10,000 maximum per ISF filing.  Importers should be familiar with the ISF Interim Final Rule, the FAQ on ISF, and the Mitigation Guidelines issued by CBP.

Therese Randazzo, Director, IPR Policy and Programs Division, stated that CBP had issued over 1,000 fine notices, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1526(e), totaling $94 million against importers for attempting to import counterfeit merchandise.  However, only $2 million was collected from those importers.   Ms. Randazzo acknowledged that the U.S. Attorney's Offices are reluctant to pursue such cases because the importer has already been punished in that the merchandise was seized and forfeited, and adding a fine on top of that may be considered a violation of the "excessive fine" clause of the United States Constitution.  Charles Steuart, the new Intellectual Property Rights and Restricted Branch Chief, stated that CBP had  "targeting inefficiencies because of  lack of information of the international supply chain from trademark and copyright holders" who have recorded their trademarks, trade names, and copyrights with CBP.

Mr. Swierupski stated that his office had issued 6,821 Rulings pursuant to 19 CFR Part 177 in FY 2009, that Rulings from his New York office are issued within 30 days and those from CBP HQ are issued within 90 days.  Myles Harmon, Director, Commercial and Trade Facilitation Division, reminded persons submitting Ruling Requests to do so using CBP's new e-Rulings system, however, if a physical sample is submitted to CBP, the Ruling must still be made by paper, and not through the e-Rulings system. CBP has issued about 160,000 rulings available on CROSS.  Advance Ruling Requests are still the best method of predicting proper classification, valuation, country of origin, and other import requirements.

I look forward to next year's CBP Symposium. Be sure to sign up early as the event is always quickly sold out.

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On November 20, 2009, in Federal Court in Miami, Florida, Mr. James Garrido and the company he controlled, Kroy Corporation, pled guilty to charges related to their illegally smuggling into the United States certain restricted ozone-depleting substances, in violation of the Clean Air Act enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are ozone depleting substances and include CFC-22 which is otherwise known as R-22 or popularly known by its trademark name, Freon, owned by DuPont.  CFC-22 is a widely used refrigerant for residential heat pump and air conditioning systems.

In 1988, the United States ratified the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. By ratifying the Protocol, the United States committed to a collaborative, international effort to regulate and phaseout ozone-depleting substances. The United States amended the Clean Air Act (CAA) in 1990 to include Title VI, Stratospheric Ozone Protection. The Clean Air Act established a schedule to phase out the production and importation of CFC-22.  Individual companies are licensed annually by the EPA to import specified maximum quantities of CFC-22.  By 2030, the CFC-22 will be completely phased out.

Neither Mr. Garrido nor Kroy Corporation were ever licensed by the EPA to import CFC-22.  They imported approximately 420,000 kilograms of CFC-22 valued at about $4 million over 2 years in violation of  18 U.S.C. section 545(smuggling).  They intentionally misdescribed the CFC-22 on documentation presented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection as another refrigerant, R-134A, which did not require any special license from the EPA. As stated in the press release by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida:  "Except for a small quantity of legal refrigerant strategically placed in front of the contraband, the shipment contained CFC-22 and were accompanied by false documentation."

The case was investigated by Special Agents from the Miami offices of the EPA and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  Sentencing will take place on February 11, 2010.  Mr. Garrido could be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, and a criminal fine of $250,000 for each of the three counts to which he pled guilty.

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With the overwhelmingly positive response to my new Customs and International Trade Blog, I am inviting each of you to the Customs and International Trade Department's Holiday Party, this Thursday, December 3, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at my Coral Gables, Florida, office. 

Where:  121 Alhambra Plaza, 10th Floor (parking provided in the building)

The following link contains a Map to Coral Gables Office.

Plenty of food and drink provided, so just bring your holiday cheer.

RSVP required to Jennifer Diaz at jdiaz@becker-poliakoff.com or 305-260-1053.

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In the next few weeks, I am giving lectures and doing a webinar on the general topic of export compliance.  In my legal practice over the past 20 years as a Customs and International Trade attorney, I am increasingly involved with clients on export compliance and penalty matters.  The laws and regulations have changed dramatically over the past few years, as has the name and number of Federal agencies enforcing them, plus the penalties for non-compliance are much higher now.

Please call (954) 985-4101 or e-mail (pquinter@becker-poliakoff.com)  to RSVP or with any questions regarding the below seminar/webinar.

(1) On Wednesday, November 18, from 9 to 12 noon at the Doubletree Miami Mart, on behalf of the Florida Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association, I am lecturing on complying with the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) requirements.  The seminar is entitled "Export Controls Compliance and Best Business Practices," and it will cover everything from identifying the correct ECCN (Export Commodity Classification Number) in the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), to submitting an export license, to  the decrementing of the license by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to interacting with Special Agents of the BIS's Office of Export Enforcement conducting an investigation, to negotiating a favorable resolution after a Notice of Proposed Penalty has been issued against the company for an export violation.  I will also cover the various trade embargoes and sanctions with countries and foreign nationals and foreign organizations enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).  That means everything from Cuba to Zimbabwe and from Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) to narco-traffickers.   Violations of BIS and OFAC regulations may result in severe criminal punishment or monetary penalties in the millions of dollars, plus individuals have personal liability.

(2) This Thursday, November 19, from 6:30-8:15 p.m, at the University of Phoenix, 11410 NW 20th Street, Miami, on behalf of the South Florida Chapter of the National Association of Purchasing Management (NAPM), I will discuss "Export Controls Compliance and Penalties". 

(3) On December 3, 2009, I will be a speaker in an "AES Compliance Webinar" from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m.  It is sponsored by the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) Educational Institute. To participate, simply go to www.ncbfaa.org and select “AES Compliance Webinar” under “Upcoming Events.” The webinar answers the questions of how, when, and why to file the required Electronic Export Information (EEI) using AESDirect.  U.S. Customs is now regularly issuing penalties against exporters or freight forwarders for not properly filing the EEI.  If you are wondering what happened to the old Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) form, you should participate in this webinar that I am doing in cooperation with the U.S. Census Bureau.

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