eBond is Here!

For non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs), compliance with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of doing business legally and avoiding steep penalties. During our recent webinar, Avoid Costly FMC Penalties, industry expert Mauricio Larenas of AP Tariffs reminded participants that compliance begins with a simple but critical question: does your business qualify as an NVOCC? Who Qualifies as an NVOCC? According to the FMC, any company that offers ocean shipping services is considered an NVOCC. That definition is broad—so broad that even a small storefront advertising “Ship to Colombia for $50” or a Facebook post offering to move […]

On March 27th, the CBSA held a Trade Chain Partner Working Group meeting and announced the following changes related to CARM’s Release 2 (“R2”), coming May 13, 2024: The minimum bond amount requirement will change from $25,000 to $5,000 for all importers with the implementation of R2. The maximum bond amount will remain capped at $10,000,000 per RM account. As a reminder, the bond amount will be calculated at 50% of the highest month of duties and taxes (including GST and all debts/accounts receivables) over the previous 12-month period. CBSA cannot keep up with the paper bond filings (we have […]

We are excited to share that Karen Rzeszutko, President of Roanoke Insurance Group Inc. has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) for the 2024-2026 term. This appointment recognizes Karen’s outstanding leadership and her significant contributions to the industry. The USCIB, a prominent organization dedicated to promoting the success of U.S. businesses globally, has welcomed new and reelected members to its Board of Trustees and Board of Directors. The announcement, made on May 20, 2024, in New York, NY, includes a diverse group of leaders from various sectors who will bring […]