Exporting 101 – The Importance of HS Codes and Schedule B Code in Exporting By: Dulce Zahniser, Towpath Group International LLC International trade is a dynamic tool to increase market share, increase profitability, or lower manufacturing costs for businesses large and small. International trade regimes and free trade agreements facilitate the movement of goods and services across borders, but all trade accords, multilateral or national, require documentation. Getting that documentation right – the key, internationally recognized codes – can be a force multiplier for exporters and impor ..read more

The Role of Trade Compliance in Identifying & Managing Global Risk By: Colleen Cosey, TradeMoves LLC Moving products across national borders is complicated, particularly in recent years as global events and an increasingly complex regulatory environment added numerous risks. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic upended the global supply chain, followed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 which resulted in massive disruptions to the global food supply. At the same time, governments and conscious consumers are looking to address global issues like forced labor and climate change—and pre ..read more

Elements of a Comprehensive Export Compliance Program (ECP) Manual By Dominica Dul In the export compliance world, classification is often referred to as Job #1 since it lays the groundwork for a company’s export compliance risks and requirements. However, once classification is complete, companies need to have written policies and procedures to not only document their commitment to the government’s laws and regulations, but more importantly, to delineate who, what, when, where, and how the company will ensure its compliance. Companies that rely on informal, unwritten procedures risk vi ..read more

Exporting 101: The Differences Between HS Codes and Schedule B Numbers By Dulce Zahniser, Towpath Group International LLC In the course of export consulting, we often find exporters who have some idea of the significance of the Harmonized System (HS) Code since it is tied directly to customs duties. However, when pushed further, exporters based in the U.S. are often unaware of another code called the Schedule B, which is critical to filing accurate export documentation. When exploring an exporter’s knowledge of the HS Code, including the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United State (H ..read more

Why the Harmonized System is Not Just About Customs Duties Anymore By Jeff Bensing, Mercor Consulting Customs compliance professionals must understand and prepare for new applications of the Harmonized System (HS) to ensure they are prepared to address emerging supply chain challenges while complying with applicable laws and regulations. We explore four ways that the HS has expanded beyond traditional customs issues into other policy areas. Given the more complex intersection between trade operations and expanded trade policy issues, maintaining compliance will require greater coordinat ..read more

Overcoming Compliance Transitions Part II—INTERNAL TRANSITIONS October 19, 2021 Compliance is a constant challenge. Once you have invested the time and money to develop or update an Export Compliance Program (ECP)—complete with commodity classifications, comprehensive policies, effective procedures, and tailored training—you must persistently guard your system against the potential damage of change, however it occurs. In our Part I blog, we covered various external changes and how a proactive manager would cope with them.  Now we will talk about various internal changes and what sh ..read more

CTP Provides Critical Staffing Solutions to USAID December 4, 2020 Having access to an agile and streamlined recruiting vehicle provides government agencies with the ability to focus more on substantive programming requirements, and less time filling vacancies. CTP’s ability to quickly fill highly specialized positions, which often require security clearances, has positively positioned our firm in the ever-growing market for recruitment in the hiring support services area.  This distinct capability in staffing services positioned CTP to be selected as the awardee of a contract to p ..read more

CTP Awarded Grant to Support Commercialization of Automated Export Classification Tool June 24, 2020 Virginia firms and universities receive funds for projects in clean energy, cybersecurity, data analytics, life sciences, and unmanned systems. Last week Governor Ralph Northam announced that CTP is among 26 small Virginia businesses to receive incentive grants to commercialize research in clean energy, cybersecurity, data analytics, life sciences, and unmanned systems. The Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund (CRCF) grants award $2.48 million in funding to drive progress in ..read more