Think of U.S. Customs as the small aperture on a camera. That government entity has one chance to look at every import and export passing in and out of the United States. It has one chance to control the goods coming through their "aperture."
It is an opportunity that the government takes advantage often.
California and Washington U.S. Customs Lawyers
Stein Shostak Shostak Pollack & O'Hara, LLP, is a longtime customs law firm in its ninth decade of representing importers and exporters. Since 1933, we have represented our clients' dealing with a variety of administrative issues that require the attention of an experienced Los Angeles administrative law attorney, including:
- Seized assets
- Imported merchandise classification
- Gray market importation authorization
- Harbor maintenance fees and related tax refunds
- Duty drawback consultation
- FMC and other licenses and permits to bonded warehouse operators
U.S. Customs enforces the laws of 40 federal agencies. Today the most prominent agencies in the control of goods by customs involves the Consumer Products Safety Commission and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The CPSC has the authority to ban products it finds that contain an unreasonable risk of injury or recall those with a substantial hazard. The FDA regulates medical devices, medicines and food. The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation governs the standards of motor vehicles, including specific parts and where they were manufactured.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection serves as a gatekeeper, or hai guan, to our Chinese clients. It sees all in the importing and exporting of goods. The government controls all incoming and outgoing products going through its "aperture." Our clients often call us to level that playing field on their behalf.
Contact Us
Stein Shostak Shostak Pollack & O'Hara, LLP, is well known and well respected among U.S. Customs officials and members of the international trade community. Our firm is headquartered in Los Angeles and maintains offices in San Diego, Washington, D.C., and Shanghai, P.R.C. To schedule an appointment, contact our Los Angeles office at 213-630-8888 or 800-250-1604. You can also e-mail to schedule an appointment.
