Due to the emerging trends in the global economy there are constant changes in the rules and formalities governing international trade between different countries. It can be quite a handful for an importer to keep up with all these regulations. Amidst all these regulations, importers obviously want their imported merchandise to be cleared by the Customs quickly. This is where a customs broker enters the picture. Customs brokers are the type of an agent that by duly completing formalities and doing the required paperwork ensure that imported goods, ensure that their client’s shipment is timely cleared by Customs officials in exchange of a certain fee. This being said, for many importers a more important issue is – how to choose a customs broker? Arguably, it may be a tad bit difficult for people to locate a reliable customs broker. Though there is no rule of thumb to guide people on this issue, people can definitely get a great deal on customs brokers if they keep in mind the following things:
- The first way to answer the question ‘how to choose a customs broker?’ is to see whether the customs broker is well versed with the various import protocols and rules or regulations. Clearance rules are subject to international relations between countries which may change any time. Thus, the broker should be updated with the latest changes in rules and regulation, so if a shipment being imported may have a potential problem then the broker may be able to help out the importer quickly.
- Another way to answer the question ‘‘how to choose a customs broker?’ is to see whether the customs broker knows which products are duty free and which are not. This kind of information can prove to be useful to importers.
- Before finalizing a customs broker, people should make sure that the agent is qualified and licensed. People may contact Cap International a reliable customs broker. The firm is a licensed customs brokerage firm with over 29 years of experience. The firm not only provides clearance for goods at customs but also gets imported goods cleared from various government agencies that include DOTS, Animal and Wildlife, Tobacco and Alcohol and the Agriculture department among many others. The firm is in Houston and is licensed as a nationwide customs broker
- People should make sure that the brokerage firm that they are hiring has its own brokers rather than outsourced or in-house brokers.
- The fee charged by a customs broker is also important. The fees shouldn’t be high enough so as to leave the importers with deep pockets. At Cap International, people can get customs broker at a competitive fee. In fact many people place utmost importance to this consideration, when it comes to deciding guidelines for deciding ‘how to choose a customs broker?’ Moreover, even the customs brokers are highly qualified and skilled. When in Houston, people can definitely get no better than Cap International, as far as customs brokers are concerned. By the same token, the company is staunchly against terrorism and is even a member of Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT).
