Experienced Attorneys to Assist with Importing and Exporting High-Tech Equipment

Federal and state regulations governing the importation and export of communications equipment and consumer electronics can be complex. Different federal agencies have jurisdiction, including the Department of Commerce and the FCC.

As U.S. Customs usually liquidate (finally issue invoices for Customs duties) entries of merchandise well after they are imported into the Customs territories of the United States, lack of due diligence regarding your expensive telecom equipment could result in business losses not anticipated prior to importation. Most of the problems involve classification, valuation, country of origin or trade program related duty issues. With our professional legal training and experience, the attorneys at Thomas Lynch & Associates can help you comply with U.S. Customs requirements. In addition,we assist our clients in formal protests, reviews and eventual appeals of Customs decisions to the United States Court of International Trade.

Product classification is the first step in accessing the Customs duty applicable to the telecom equipment to be imported into the United States. Different classifications can result in widely different duty rates that could be applied. The Customs duty rates directly go into your bottom line calculations for profitability. Valuation is the calculation of the dollar basis upon which the duty rate will be applied. It deals with the detailed import operation such as commissions, assists, freight and others. Country of Origin rulings determine the country of origin of your goods, which in turn determines the applicability of special duty rates and other trade programs. The origin of your goods depends on where the various production steps took place.

In addition, Trade Program or Agreement rulings determine whether free trade agreements such as NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement), or special trade programs such as AGOA (Africa Growth and Opportunity Act), apply to your goods. In addition to the detailed production information described for Country of Origin Rulings, these rulings may also require information on costs incurred in each of the production countries. Country of Origin Marking rulings determine whether your goods are properly marked or labeled as to country of origin.

Contact Our Import and Export Attorneys

If you need assistance with importing or exporting telecommunications equipment, contact our law offices in the Washington, DC metro area or Qindao, China to speak with an experienced lawyer.

The law offices of Thomas Lynch & Associates provides legal advice to telecommunications businesses throughout the world, including Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, San Jose, Palo Alto, Frankfurt and China.