Smart legal and business strategies are at the core of complying with the complex challenges associated with global import and export compliance. At Masuda Funai, our attorneys consistently deliver the requisite depth of knowledge and experience needed to resolve the issues and obstacles pertaining to imports, exports, Customs and export controls, as well as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and free trade program counseling.
We navigate our clients through the entry and exit processes, including documentation and reasonable care obligations. Our experience ranges from classification, valuation, country of origin and ruling requests; to drawbacks, duty deferrals, protest filings, damages, penalty petitions, forfeitures, seizures, petitions and record-keeping requirements. We can ably guide our clients through Importer Self-Assessment Program (ISA) applications and ongoing compliance, as well as Customs audits and investigations, embargoes and import restrictions. We also counsel clients on alternative sourcing and supply chain management to avoid anti-dumping and countervailing duties.
Our lawyers understand, from practical experience and decades of practice, the business considerations and the legal ramifications associated with free trade agreements (FTAs) and NAFTA. We work with our clients to evaluate risk, determine eligibility and strategies for using FTAs and ensuring certifications and proper marking. We advise on compliance and training programs for each client’s often specific needs and business operations. We assist with internal reviews of NAFTA Certificates of Origin, advocate our clients’ position before customs authorities throughout the NAFTA verification, penalty petition and penalty avoidance processes.