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If you want to import and/or export as part of your business one of the first things you might have to do is obtain a license. Determining whether or not a product requires a license involves careful research and can be a lengthy process so give yourself enough time. If you find that your product does require a license, you must apply for the license through a government agency that has oversight over that product.
Some of the common agencies to check with for import licensing requirements include the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS). When researching you should know all of the information you need. Things like the country of origin of the product and its manufacturer, product composition, intended use of the product, and pricing and payment information regarding sales to determine the value of the shipment. Knowing this critical information will help guide you to the needed agency to apply for the license.
Obtaining an export license also entails working through specific federal agencies but fortunately most exports do not require a specific license. If your product does happen to require a license for export it will probably involve goods, software, or technology with uses in commercial and military or proliferation appliances. The process requires a series of steps through different agencies. Basically, products are overseen by the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Commodities that fall under EAR will appear on the Commerce Control List (CCL) and be assigned an Export Control Classification Number (ECCN). All shipments requiring an export license must have a Destination Control Statement (DSC) which declares that the goods are only being exported to the country or buyer indicated on official shipping documents. Once all of these steps are completed, only then will you get your export license. As mentioned before, only a small percentage of products require an export license so most of the time this process is not required.
Before you decide to start importing or exporting know that steps like obtaining a license is required. Part of your strategy and business plan should include time and effort designated towards things like this. If you have questions regarding an import or export license please reach out to us here at Duty Calc.
Why We Need To Import & Export
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The United States is an economic beast. We are home to some of the largest and most successful businesses on Earth. A big reason for that is because we are able to work internationally by importing and exporting goods and services. Cut that ability out and our economy changes. So, what exactly are the benefits? That is what we will talk about today.
We need to import from other countries for many reasons. To begin, we need to import to introduce new products to the market. A healthy market is one with different options for consumers to choose from. New products are what keeps businesses afloat and competitive. Secondly, we need to import to reduce costs. Many businesses find that importing products and resources are way more affordable than producing them here in the states. Instead of investing in modern, expensive machinery, businesses opt to import to reduce those costs. Lastly, although we are an economic beast that does not mean we are the best at everything! Some of the highest quality products are from other countries. Many factories and other highly professional sellers reside abroad and have an upper hand on quality of products compared to their competition here in the United States.
It is also important for our businesses to export to other counties as well. Just as there is a variety of benefits of importing goods and services, there are numerous reasons for exporting. The first reason being that exporting tends to increase sales potential. If businesses want to grow their business they can look internationally or even globally. Exporting is especially good for medium and large businesses – the ones that have already expanded within the local market. Additionally, exporting increases profits. Foreign orders are usually larger than those placed by local buyers. Here in the states local customers buy a few products or a pallet at a time while businesses abroad oftentimes order containers or larger loads at a time. And a product made here that has never been seen in international markets, profits increase rapidly in no time.
So, do we need to import and export to keep our economy up and running? The answer is absolutely! Businesses depend on their ability to import and export as they come with countless benefits.
For more information on importing and exporting please reach out to us here at Duty Calc.
Hiring Foreign Employees
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If your company does business internationally it is important to know what it takes to hire foreign employees. Different countries have different laws and if you do not understand how to hire properly, you could be really holding back your company. Immigration here in the United States is a complex process. This compounded by national discourse can make the process even harder. Today we are going to detail a few steps to take when hiring a global workforce.
The first thing you should do is start early. Understand that there is a lot of red tape involved. Hiring an employee in the United States can be done in a week but hiring a foreign employee can take months or even years depending on which business immigration programs are utilized. Strategize accordingly with realistic hiring timelines.
Part of an early start also means making the necessary preparations within your company. For example, you need to know what roles within your company you want to fill with foreign employees. Once you have identified these roles you need to make plans for recruitment and retention. Create a plan, train your HR department to help your business and employees stay in compliance, and go get that talent through proper internal preparation. Do not hire foreign employees and play it by ear. This will cost your company valuable time, money, and resources.
Lastly, understand your hiring options. There are different visa programs out there and you need to know which one is appropriate for the foreign employees you are interested in. For example, if you plan on your new foreign employee to eventually become a permanent resident, an employer-sponsored green card can be the most effective and predictable way to hire. In turn, if you want to open a new business or a branch of a foreign company then you should utilize the L visa, the E visa, or a strategic combination of the two.
It is important to know all of the ins and outs of hiring foreign employees but starting early, preparing the right way, and understanding all of your hiring options is a great start. If you start internally the process will be much smoother.
International Trade Myths
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International trade has many economic benefits. Free trade allows consumers to buy more, better-quality products at significantly lower costs. With free trade we get economic growth, enhanced efficiency, and increased innovation. These are some of the realities that come with international free trade. What we need to be warry of are the myths that are often associated with international trade.
First, more exports do not necessarily mean more wealth. It is actually the total level of trade that reflects economic wealth. This means total imports and total exports. More exports increase wealth only because they allow us to buy more imports and give non-Americans greater incentives to invest into the economy. If we only export and restrict imports it leaves our economy worse off.
Secondly, many think that free trade means domestic jobs go overseas. False. What really happens depends on the industry. For example, with free trade jobs in highly inefficient industries might be reduced. On the flip side, it frees up resources to create jobs in highly efficient industries, boosting overall wages and improving living standards. Protectionism might “save” some jobs but that comes with a cost. The cost of opportunities and input costs will swell for industries downstream.
Lastly, this sounds counterintuitive but trade deficits are good for us. This is because a trade deficit is usually a signal that global investors are confident in our economic future. Our trade deficit might be larger than it would otherwise be if a trading partner chooses to keep the price of its currency artificially low, but this practice harms the trading partner, not us.
While international trade can have some downsides, overall, there are so many benefits and we have to weed out the misconceptions that are often discussed with this topic. Bust these myths and know the benefits of international trade!
Gas Prices Up & Down
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During the past two years, we have seen gas prices skyrocket. The cost of gas spiked significantly, reaching highs that this country has never seen before. But if you have been paying attention, these past 3 months have been different. According to NBC News, for 98 consecutive days this summer, American drivers experienced declining gas prices thanks in part to a slower worldwide demand for oil. Unfortunately, we are beginning to see prices go back up.
In late September a cut in oil production signaled by the OPEC+ group sent global crude prices higher, pushing prices back up at the pump here in the United States. Major oil producing countries including Saudi Arabia and Russia announced that they are cutting oil production by 2 million barrels per day. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of gas climbed to $3.92 on October 10th.
Many parts of the United States will see slight increases but Californians and regions surrounding the Great Lakes are in for some super high prices. Patrick De Haan, Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy says that for the past few weeks, an onslaught of refinery issues both in the west coast and the Great Lakes is the reason why gas prices have tremendously increased. De Haan says refinery issues include undergoing seasonal maintenance along with minor issues that, when put together, greatly limits the ability for refineries to produce gas. It is the combination of planned maintenance, but more so the unexpected outage that have caused prices to soar in some regions. De Haan said that he expects prices to rise as much as $0.30 from their September lows, which would put them at around $4.00 a gallon as an average across the country.
The summer months were good for us as gas prices finally started to come down from the COVID-19 pandemic but unfortunately we are going to see prices surge again until at least the end of the year.
Russia’s Financial Crisis
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If you want to run your own business or if you have just launched your start up this article is for you. Today we are going to go over the best ways to take your young business and make it profitable as soon as possible. What does becoming profitable mean? In short, it means that your business generates a profit rather than a loss. A profit occurs when you generate more income than you spend. So, what are the best business practices to accomplish that?
First, you’ll have to come up with your product or service. When coming up with your product or service, the best thing to choose is something that you have an interest in. You need to center your business around products or services that you truly enjoy learning about. Stay within your area of interest and understanding or ‘circle of competence’. Remember, if you can sell someone of your why you can sell any product or service.
Next, you’ll need to have a business map or strategy. You won’t be able to get where you’re going if you don’t have an outlined path. How do you get from point A to point B? This first step incorporates different scenarios so that you’re ready for any problems or conflicts that might arise on your route. Your map should include a plan for how to make a profit. What can you do today, this week, this month to start improving your business’ quality of profit ratio? That is the point of a business map.
Lastly, you’ll need to understand the financials through and through. If you want to run your own business or startup you, not someone you hire, need to understand every financial part of the business. Running a business and staying in business relies on being profitable. If you don’t know your numbers you are just setting up yourself for failure. You wouldn’t fly a plane without knowing how to read the gauges, and the same applies to business. If you can’t tell if you’re making or losing money, you don’t understand the controls. So, understand the financials so you don’t crash your business.
If you can find a product or service that drives and interests you, follow a strong business map, and understand all of the financials of your business becoming profitable won’t be an issue. Do these things and your business will be in good hands
Becoming Profitable
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If you want to run your own business or if you have just launched your start up this article is for you. Today we are going to go over the best ways to take your young business and make it profitable as soon as possible. What does becoming profitable mean? In short, it means that your business generates a profit rather than a loss. A profit occurs when you generate more income than you spend. So, what are the best business practices to accomplish that?
First, you’ll have to come up with your product or service. When coming up with your product or service, the best thing to choose is something that you have an interest in. You need to center your business around products or services that you truly enjoy learning about. Stay within your area of interest and understanding or ‘circle of competence’. Remember, if you can sell someone of your why you can sell any product or service.
Next, you’ll need to have a business map or strategy. You won’t be able to get where you’re going if you don’t have an outlined path. How do you get from point A to point B? This first step incorporates different scenarios so that you’re ready for any problems or conflicts that might arise on your route. Your map should include a plan for how to make a profit. What can you do today, this week, this month to start improving your business’ quality of profit ratio? That is the point of a business map.
Lastly, you’ll need to understand the financials through and through. If you want to run your own business or startup you, not someone you hire, need to understand every financial part of the business. Running a business and staying in business relies on being profitable. If you don’t know your numbers you are just setting up yourself for failure. You wouldn’t fly a plane without knowing how to read the gauges, and the same applies to business. If you can’t tell if you’re making or losing money, you don’t understand the controls. So, understand the financials so you don’t crash your business.
If you can find a product or service that drives and interests you, follow a strong business map, and understand all of the financials of your business becoming profitable won’t be an issue. Do these things and your business will be in good hands
Assessing Your Competitive Advantage
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If you’re looking to start your own business, importing and/or exporting might be an option for you. However, before you jump the gun one thing you need to determine is what makes your business better than the competition. What is your competitive advantage? Today we are going to give you tips on how to find your competitive advantage and how to use it properly.
One of the most impactful things you can do is talk to your customers. Both your existing customers and prospective customers. Customer feedback offers a wealth of information that will help you understand your current positioning in the market and industry as a whole. They will give you insights into potential new offerings and could very well give you the answer you’re looking for: what your competitive advantage should be.
Another thing you can do is perform a competitive audit. Marketing audits track the marketing tactics your competitors use. Does your competitor publish content marketing? Do they use Google Adwords? What social media channels do they post to and are they affective? Take tactics that work and implement them into your business. The ones that don’t work, make them better and use them to your advantage.
Lastly, once you’ve found your competitive advantage, don’t make it a secret! Communicate your advantage to your customers and make sure it is backed by proven facts. This is called a value proposition and will become the defining statement of your company. The goal is to not only hook your customers on your value proposition but to also engage in a “tell me more” conversation.
Nailing your competitive advantage is only one of the critical elements in a strategic business plan but one of the most important. The competitive advantage is what can make or break your business so invest time in figuring out what the right answer is before doing anything else.
Navigating Duty Drawback
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The war in Ukraine continues to impact the global economy as changes in other countries are beginning to happen. For example, recently we have seen a global food crisis as Russia is blocking vital fertilizer exports that are needed by farmers elsewhere. This restriction then caused China and its firms to stop selling fertilizer to other countries in order to preserve supplies at home. Because China is a massive producer, consumer, and trader of thousands of essential goods across the globe (like fertilizer), the impact of such restrictions are being felt everywhere.
Steel is another example. China is a huge supplier of steel and they were once accused of generating overcapacity, with its low-priced exports forcing steelmakers out of business in the United States and Europe. Now, China is imposing export restrictions on steel which has triggered higher prices worldwide and has added more unwelcome pressures to inflation. China Steel Corp., the nation’s largest steelmaker, said at the end of Q1 that they were raising steel prices 5.83% on average for shipments in Q2 to reflect the cost hikes caused by economic sanctions against Russia.
Fertilizer and steel are only two goods where we have seen big changes. Step away from actual products and we still have problems like supply chain issues and global logistics. There are still not enough people to help unload the docs. Import and export businesses are struggling to get in and out of Russia and Ukraine. Everything from actual goods to worldwide logistics has been negatively impacted by the war.
All countries will continue to feel the lasting impact by this war and unfortunately the longer the war goes, the harder it will be to recover. For more information on the war in Ukraine stay updated here on our monthly blog.
Importing and exporting between nations is complex. It is very time-consuming and requires expertise to ensure your business maintains profit margins, complies with international regulations, and fulfills customer demands efficiently. As you may know, there are costs of customs duties. What you may not know is how to navigate what is known as duty drawback. Duty drawback is an opportunity for reimbursement on customs duties and taxes. Today we are going to go over a few of the best things you can do to navigate and maximize your duty drawback.
There are many forms that will need to be filled out to start the duty drawback process. A few examples include proof of duties paid, an entry summary, the proof of import, and the proof of export. Forms such as these can stack up and often get lost. The best thing you can do is get organized and stay organized. Maintaining organized and complete records is essential to getting your money back. If you want to apply for duty drawback and maximize the amount you get, make record-keeping your number one priority.
Another thing you should know is that legally, only the exporting company of record is entitled to receive the drawback. As an exporter, you can endorse the drawback rights back to the manufacturer if you are two separate entities.
Lastly, do not bank on getting your drawback right away. Once your drawback claim is under CBP review, it can take several years before everything is complete. You can receive money faster by getting pre-approval from the CBP through the accelerated payment program and this will allow you to get your money back in as little as a few weeks but just remember that duty drawback is not a process with a quick turnaround time.
There is so much to know about duty drawback that it can be tough to navigate. Use these tips to help get you started and if you have any more questions please reach out to the experts here at Duty Calc. We are here to help.
China Trade Policy
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President Biden took office in January and has yet to show any real progress in the trade war with China. Many United States companies want the Biden Administration to drop tariffs on Chinese goods and provide clarity about the current relationship with China. The relationship between the United States and China is still hurting from the last administration and companies are looking for President Biden to fix it as it has been nine months since he took office.
A New York Times article by Thomas Kaplan and Alan Rappeport reminds us that in June, Biden issued an executive order adding more Chinese companies to a prohibition on American investments in Chinese firms that have links to the country’s military or that sell surveillance technology used to repress dissent or religious minorities. In July, Biden expanded the list of Chinese officials under sanctions by the United States for their role in undermining Hong Kong’s democratic institutions. That being said President Biden and his top advisers have yet to elucidate how they view economic relations with Beijing, saying they will make the administration’s approach known once a broad review of China trade policy concludes.
The problem with this is that businesses do not want to wait around. The United States’ trade relationship with China is one of the largest in the world, economically, and companies are getting impatient. Businesses have been waiting for Biden to change course from Trump’s trade policies and are losing money with tariffs in place. Businesses are being forced to borrow more from banks and having to pass along costs of import duties to their customers. The impact these tariffs have are causing major financial hardships across the entire business supply chain and Biden is in the driver’s seat and needs to make some adjustments.
The trade war did not work and as promised, Biden needs to take action to help companies that are struggling. For more information on the trade war with China stay updated here on our monthly blog.
