Import Archives - Page 13 of 92 - Customs & International Trade Law Firm

Five Tips for SMEs Looking to Scale Wellness Brands in the US
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Five Tips for SMEs Looking to Scale Wellness Brands in the US
Best Practices, Import Alert, International Business, International Trade, Labeling, Pre-compliance

Five Tips for SMEs Looking to Scale Wellness Brands in the US

DTL President Jennifer Diaz was featured in Santander Navigator! Read below or on Santander here.

Pre-planning and investing in regulatory compliance measures are key to success

The US is the most lucrative wellness market in the world – and for some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that produce supplements, the potential for growth and a bigger bottom line is difficult to ignore.

And who would blame them? The US wellness sector is valued at US$2tn and is poised to continue growing, recording an average annual growth rate of 8.3% between 2019 and 2023, according to research by the Global Wellness Institute.

In contrast, China’s market, ranked the second-largest in the world, trails at a more modest US$870bn, followed by Germany at $310bn.

However, rushing in without being fully compliant could result in products being blacklisted or seized at the border, says Jennifer Diaz, an attorney and founding partner at Miami-based Diaz Trade Law, which specializes in customs and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) laws and compliance.

Here, Diaz offers her top five tips for new brands to stay compliant and off the FDA’s blacklist.

1. Know the regulators

One of the first steps for SMEs planning to import supplements into the US is to register with the FDA, as they are considered a food product, Diaz says.

Companies also need to designate […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2025-06-17T08:01:40-04:00June 17, 2025|Best Practices, Import Alert, International Business, International Trade, Labeling, Pre-compliance|0 Comments

Mitigating Impacts to Your Business in a Changing Trade Environment
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Mitigating Impacts to Your Business in a Changing Trade Environment
Import, tariffs

Mitigating Impacts to Your Business in a Changing Trade Environment

The current trade environment presents new challenges and risks to businesses. From regulatory shifts to geopolitical pressures, importers are navigating a maze of uncertainty. The good news? Importers are not without options. Here are a few strategies to consider:

Understand Your Data

If you are not on top of what’s happening in your business, you are operating partially in the dark. Ensure your team is using the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Portal and is actively auditing broker data for accuracy. Understanding your trade data helps uncover discrepancies, spot trends, and identify compliance gaps before CBP does. Contact us to learn more about our importer report card!

Know Your Supply Chain

Understanding who is supplying you with a product is not enough, you also need to know who is supplying them. You should have a comprehensive understanding of your supply chain that includes documentation of the various tiers of suppliers. Detailed documentation can help identify gaps and high-risk areas that may need to be revisited.

Educate Your Team

Compliance can’t rest on one person. A well-informed team is your first line of defense—and your biggest asset. Regular training on trade updates, documentation best practices, and enforcement trends helps mitigate risk across the board and can optimize potential duty savings.

Vendor Compliance

Suppliers are a key business partner that should assist in your compliance strategy. Ensure your suppliers are certifying country of origin, documenting component sourcing, and keeping proper records. This documentation will be essential if you’re ever audited, and may allow you to minimize tariffs depending on […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2025-04-28T08:04:43-04:00April 28, 2025|Import, tariffs|0 Comments

Presidential Powers and Tariffs: A Breakdown of Key Trade Laws
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Presidential Powers and Tariffs: A Breakdown of Key Trade Laws
Import, tariffs

Presidential Powers and Tariffs: A Breakdown of Key Trade Laws

Under his America First Trade Policy, President Trump has made clear that his Administration intends to use every tool available to address unfair trade practices affecting U.S. companies, workers and national security.

In the first two months of this Administration, President Trump has issued over a dozen executive orders impacting international trade, many of them imposing or threatening to impose new tariffs. What authority does a President have to impose new tariffs? There are many laws that explicitly give the President authority to address various national concerns through the imposition of tariffs.

1. International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)

Enacted in 1977, the IEEPA grants the President authority to regulate international commerce after declaring a national emergency in response to any unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States originating from abroad.

The law grants broad powers to the President to control economic transactions, although it does not mention tariffs specifically. President Trump invoked the IEEPA in 2025 to impose additional tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, citing national security concerns related to illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Prior to this, no President had used IEEPA to impose tariffs.

2. Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974

Sections 301-310 of the Trade Act of 1974, often referred to as “Section 301,” grants authority to the United States Trade Representative to take action against foreign countries that violate U.S. trade agreements or engage in acts that are “unjustifiable” or “unreasonable” and burden U.S. commerce.

USTR is authorized to conduct […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2025-03-27T06:59:46-04:00March 27, 2025|Import, tariffs|0 Comments

The Latest on Tariffs: Key Information for Importers
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The Latest on Tariffs: Key Information for Importers
Canada, China, Countries, Import, Mexico, tariffs

The Latest on Tariffs: Key Information for Importers

In the last several weeks, the Trump Administration has issued dozens of executive orders impacting the trade community. The Orders impact tariffs, de minimis shipments, steel and aluminum imports, and potentially trade agreements with other countries.

New Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China

On February 1, 2025, President Trump first issued a fact sheet and thereafter signed three executive orders imposing new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China:

25% tariff on imports from Canada
25% tariff on imports from Mexico
10% tariff on imports from China

The tariffs on imports from China went into effect February 4, 2025. The tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico were initially set to take effect February 4, 2025, but were delayed by one month following commitments made by both countries to secure the border and stop the flow of drugs into the United States.

In a Truth Social post on February 27, President Trump confirmed that the tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods will go into effect on March 4. He also announced that China will face an additional 10% tariff starting March 4.

On March 3, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order increasing tariffs on imports from China from 10% to 20%. The Federal Register Notice for China can be found here.

On March 5, 2025, the Administration announced a temporary one-month pause on automobile tariffs for Mexico and Canada. Subsequently, on March 6, 2025, President Trump temporarily suspended tariffs on certain goods from Canada and Mexico that meet the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) requirements, effective March 7, […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2025-03-21T17:00:42-04:00March 4, 2025|Canada, China, Countries, Import, Mexico, tariffs|0 Comments

Importing Drones into the U.S.: Key CBP Requirements You Need to Know
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Importing Drones into the U.S.: Key CBP Requirements You Need to Know
Import, Intellectual Property Rights, Reasonable Care, Technology

Importing Drones into the U.S.: Key CBP Requirements You Need to Know

Authors:
Jennifer Diaz, President, Diaz Trade Law
Jonathan Rupprecht, Aviation Attorney at Rupprecht Law

Importing goods into the U.S. requires navigating a web of regulations that spans 47 federal agencies. If you are the importer of record, it is your duty to exercise “reasonable care” in meeting these obligations. As part of this duty, importers must take adequate steps to properly classify and determine the value of imported goods, provide information to CBP in properly assessing duties, and determine whether other applicable legal standards and requirements have been met.

When importing drones into the U.S., importers need to be mindful of several requirements including classification, intellectual property, additional duties, and a changing U.S. trade policy.

Classification

When importing goods into the United States, importers must correctly classify their products. The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) is the primary resource for classifying goods and determining which tariffs apply.

The HTSUS is issued annually by the International Trade Commission (ITC). It is comprised of a 10-digit import classification system that is specific to the United States. This 10-digit code encompasses the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) six-digit uniform classification system shared among more than 200 countries.

An HTSUS is formatted to list the first 6-digits set forth by the WCO, also known as a heading and subheading and the last four digits assigned by the ITC that are specific to the U.S.

Prior to 2022, the HTSUS has lacked classifications specific to Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). Importers had to classify under codes applicable to crewed aircraft […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2025-02-28T07:10:28-05:00February 28, 2025|Import, Intellectual Property Rights, Reasonable Care, Technology|0 Comments

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