Yes, You May Legally Import Counterfeit Merchandise into the United States

My friends tell me one of their favorite activities in China is to buy counterfeit items such as Gucci handbags or Mont Blanc pens. They do worry about U.S. Customs and Border Protection (U.S. Customs) officers looking through their luggage upon arrival at an airport in the United States, seizing the counterfeit items, and fining them. The truth is that U.S. Customs allows the importation of counterfeit merchandise, but closely follow the rules as I explain them to you now.

By |2021-11-10T15:16:19-05:00January 24, 2010|Counterfeits, Import|13 Comments

Importer Security Filing or “10+2”

As of January 26, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will require that all importers comply with the Importer Security Filing (ISF), also popularly known as "10 +2" because of the 10 elements required to be provided to CBP relevant to the importer and 2 elements required to be provided to CBP relevant to the carrier. CBP has announced that as of January 26, 2010, it will also begin to issue penalties of either $5,000 or $10,000 against importers who fail to comply with ISF; something CBP calls its "enforcement phase". Importers who self-file ISF, or their agents, must understand the changes, comply with them, and, when a penalty is issued by CBP, respond in writing to mitigate the penalty.

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