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Don’t make the mistake of assuming that the same Customs rules apply for personal and commercial goods transported in your personal vehicle across the U.S border. The process for personal goods is relatively quick as you are only required to declare the goods and pay the applicable duty or fees.
However, if you are transporting commercial goods for import or export everything changes, starting with how U.S. Customs views your vehicle. It is now considered a commercial vehicle and as such is subject to the requirements and regulations for that vehicle type, including pre-arrival electronic notification to Customs. Other Customs entry formalities are dependent on the type of goods and the value. For example, any goods subject to another federal agency’s approval, such as food and drug products, have to be cleared as a formal entry. The same applies if the goods have a value of over $2,500.
Other rules apply for cross border shipments made by air.
For more information, contact Brian Rowe, General Manager – Customs Consulting Services.
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