PART of the solution to the counterfeiting problem must involve greater transparency and information sharing' between the agencies and industry, says the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBF).
'Providing customs brokers with information regarding trends and known instances of counterfeiting activity will allow them to better screen the supply chain and identify potential 'bad actors' before merchandise arrives in the United States,' said NCBF president Amy Magnus, reported American Shipper.
Licensed customs brokers serve as the funnel through which US Customs and Border Protection as well as more than 40 other federal agencies, receive electronic data to evaluate the compliance of numerous imports entering the country each day, she said.
With this capability, the industry sees itself playing an important role in assisting CBP and other agencies with combating the rising tide of counterfeit and pirated products entering US commerce.
It's estimated that the nation's customs broker industry processes more than 100,000 import entries each day through CBP's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
'Brokers use a high standard of care and reasonable due diligence in preparing the entry paperwork and transmitting the declarations of the importer. Yet, the customs broker does not own the merchandise and, in fact, only on rare occasions do we even lay eyes on the product,' Ms Magnus said.
'Nevertheless, the broker's responsibility to know the importer and insist on receiving data on the parties in interest means more reliable data is submitted to CBP for targeting volatile shipments,' she said.
President Donald Trump released a memorandum directing the homeland security and commerce secretaries, as well as other federal agencies involved with trade, to prepare and submit a report regarding third parties' facilitation and work to combat trafficking in counterfeit goods.
WORLD SHIPPING
'Providing customs brokers with information regarding trends and known instances of counterfeiting activity will allow them to better screen the supply chain and identify potential 'bad actors' before merchandise arrives in the United States,' said NCBF president Amy Magnus, reported American Shipper.
Licensed customs brokers serve as the funnel through which US Customs and Border Protection as well as more than 40 other federal agencies, receive electronic data to evaluate the compliance of numerous imports entering the country each day, she said.
With this capability, the industry sees itself playing an important role in assisting CBP and other agencies with combating the rising tide of counterfeit and pirated products entering US commerce.
It's estimated that the nation's customs broker industry processes more than 100,000 import entries each day through CBP's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
'Brokers use a high standard of care and reasonable due diligence in preparing the entry paperwork and transmitting the declarations of the importer. Yet, the customs broker does not own the merchandise and, in fact, only on rare occasions do we even lay eyes on the product,' Ms Magnus said.
'Nevertheless, the broker's responsibility to know the importer and insist on receiving data on the parties in interest means more reliable data is submitted to CBP for targeting volatile shipments,' she said.
President Donald Trump released a memorandum directing the homeland security and commerce secretaries, as well as other federal agencies involved with trade, to prepare and submit a report regarding third parties' facilitation and work to combat trafficking in counterfeit goods.
WORLD SHIPPING