The cornerstone of the global trading platform is the classification of products under the WTO's Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, generally known as the Harmonized System ("HS"), implemented in the United States under the Harmonized Tariff System of the U.S. ("HTSUS"). This global system defines among and between all member nations a codified methodology for defining what a product is as it crosses international borders. In most countries, the HS serves for both import and export classifications. By contrast, in the United States, there is an additional, simplified classification system for US Exports called the Schedule B. In the first half of this session, we will discuss these classification systems, what the legal rules are for applying them to your globally trade goods, and how best to meet the legal standard of exercising reasonable care when assigning classifications to your imported and exported merchandise.
Building on classification as a cornerstone, most trade agreements in the modern era provide for eligibility for preferential tariff treatment under one of two competing or conjoined theories, namely regional value content or "tariff shift". In the second half of our session, we'll focus on the tariff shift methodology for conferring preferential origin on goods trade among and between Canada, Mexico and the United States under the North American Free Trade Agreement, "NAFTA", and what documentary evidence is required to prove such eligibility.
Participants will get in-depth knowledge of harmonized tariff schedules and updates on NAFTA rules of origin and documentation from this training.

Course Objective

• HTS & Schedule B
• Learn & understand the General Rules of Interpretation
• Understand the key requirements under the US Customs Modernization Act, the "Mod Act"
• Understand Best Practices for creating internal controls around import-export classifications
• Learn about Agent management to mitigate risks from erroneous government declarations
• Identify post-transaction self-assessment methods
• NAFTA Rules & Documentation
• Understand the history and background of NAFTA
• Learn the basics of Origin issues, generally
• Learn the difference between non-preferential and preferential origin
• Understand the basic methods for determining origination status
• Learn how to manage imports, exports, and domestic transactions under NAFTA
• Best Practices for NAFTA determinations, record keeping, and certificate distribution

Course Outline

Topics covered include:

• History of the global trading platform from the GATT to the WTO
• Background of the US Customs Modernization Act (the "Mod Act") and NAFTA
• Legal framework and best practices for import and export classifications
• Agent (Broker & Forwarder) Management Programs to mitigate risks
• Post-Entry/Export Review Processes
• NAFTA for Imports, including auditing Certificates of Origin for facial validity
• NAFTA for Exports, including Tariff Shift & Regional Value Content
• NAFTA Record Keeping & Documentation

Target Audience

This webinar will provide valuable assistance to all personnel in:
 

• Import Compliance
• Global Trade Solutions/IT
• Supply Chain
• Legal
• Finance
• Purchasing
• Internal Audit
• Operations
• Strategic Sourcing
• Risk Management
• All types of industries that trade in goods across North American  borders
• Any company that has imports, domestic sales of foreign goods, and/or exports