Customs Brokerage 101
FreightClear makes imports simple — your complete 2026 guide to U.S. customs clearance
Boost Your Import IQ Before Your Shipment Leaves Port
About U.S. Customs (CBP). U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the federal law-enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for everything crossing America’s borders. With more than 60,000 employees at land, air, and sea ports of entry, CBP collects duties and taxes on imported goods, enforces trade agreements, intercepts contraband, and protects U.S. agriculture and industry from prohibited imports. Every commercial shipment entering the United States answers to CBP before it can move to its final destination.
Why a licensed customs broker matters more in 2026 than ever. FreightClear is a licensed customs broker with the legal authority to act on your behalf before CBP — classifying goods under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, filing entries electronically through ACE, calculating and remitting duties, securing customs bonds, and resolving holds and exams. With the $800 de minimis exemption eliminated, tariffs applying to virtually every shipment, and CBP’s 2026 enforcement overhaul raising the compliance bar for importers of record, professional brokerage is no longer a convenience — it’s the fastest, safest way to keep freight moving. Learn more about our customs clearance services.
What Changed in 2026 — Every Importer Is Affected
De Minimis Is Gone
Enforcement Overhaul
ACE 2.0 Rollout
Tariffs on Everything
UFLPA Enforcement
Higher Landed Costs
Bonds Now Expected
Duty Drawback
Essential Customs Clearance Documents
CBP release lives or dies on paperwork. FreightClear import operations specialists prepare and verify every document before your shipment arrives, so your entry clears the first time.
Commercial Invoice
The foundation of every entry: seller, buyer, detailed goods description, quantity, value, currency, country of origin, and Incoterms. CBP uses it to verify classification and appraise dutiable value.
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
The contract of carriage and proof of title. Identifies shipper, consignee, vessel or flight, and cargo details — required to match the entry to the physical freight.
Packing List
Itemizes every carton: contents, weights, dimensions, and marks. CBP officers use it during exams to verify that physical cargo matches the declared entry.
ISF 10+2 Filing
The Importer Security Filing must be transmitted at least 24 hours before ocean cargo is loaded overseas. Late or inaccurate filings carry penalties of $5,000 per violation.
Customs Bond
A financial guarantee to CBP that duties and penalties will be paid. Continuous bonds cover all entries for 12 months; single-entry bonds cover one shipment.
Entry Summary (CBP 7501)
The formal declaration of classification, value, origin, and duties owed — filed electronically through ACE within 10 business days of cargo release.
Customs Terms Every Importer Should Know
Importers encounter these terms when shipments are headed to the USA. Master them and you’ll speak your broker’s language — and spot problems before they cost you money.
HTSUS Classification
Every product gets a 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule code that sets its duty rate and admissibility rules. Classification is the single biggest lever on your landed cost.
Importer of Record (IOR)
The party legally responsible for the entry: accurate declarations, duty payment, and five-year recordkeeping. 2026 rules add 'good standing' requirements and restrict foreign IORs.
AD/CVD Duties
Antidumping and countervailing duties offset unfairly priced or subsidized imports — rates can exceed 200%. Every entry is screened against active orders.
MPF & HMF Fees
The Merchandise Processing Fee (0.3464% of value) applies to most entries; the Harbor Maintenance Fee (0.125%) applies to ocean imports — now including formerly exempt low-value shipments.
CBP Exams & Holds
X-ray, tailgate, or intensive exams — plus PGA holds (FDA, USDA, EPA) and UFLPA reviews. Exam fees and storage are the importer's responsibility; fast documents shorten every hold.
Entry Type 13 (ET13)
CBP's new electronic entry process for international mail shipments, launched in 2026 as part of the post-de-minimis framework for low-value imports.
The Customs Clearance Process — Step by Step
- Before shipping: confirm HTSUS classification, duty rates, and any PGA requirements (FDA, USDA, FCC, EPA) for your product.
- Secure a customs bond — continuous for regular importers, single-entry for one-off shipments.
- Ocean cargo: your broker files the ISF 10+2 at least 24 hours before vessel loading overseas.
- Entry filing: the broker transmits the entry through ACE before or upon arrival, declaring value, origin, and classification.
- CBP review: the shipment is released, or flagged for document review or physical exam.
- Duty payment: duties, MPF, and HMF are paid; the Entry Summary (Form 7501) is filed within 10 business days of release.
- Delivery: freight is picked up from the port, airport, or bonded facility and moves to its final destination.
- Recordkeeping: entry records are retained for five years — and may be audited by CBP at any time.
At every step, FreightClear’s brokers monitor your entry in real time and respond to CBP same-day — the difference between a one-day delay and a month at the exam site.
Customs Brokerage FAQ
Do I legally need a customs broker?
Not strictly — an importer can self-file. But with de minimis eliminated, expanded bonding rules, UFLPA enforcement, and tariff complexity at an all-time high, nearly all commercial importers use a licensed broker. A classification or valuation error can trigger penalties far exceeding broker fees.
What happened to the $800 de minimis exemption?
It’s gone. Duty-free treatment for shipments under $800 was suspended for all countries in 2025 and codified by CBP in June 2026, with statutory repeal scheduled for July 2027. Every commercial shipment — including e-commerce parcels — now requires an entry with applicable duties and fees.
How much does customs clearance cost?
Expect duties (per your HTS rate plus any Section 301/232 or AD/CVD), the Merchandise Processing Fee, Harbor Maintenance Fee on ocean freight, bond costs, and brokerage fees. FreightClear provides upfront, all-in clearance quotes so there are no surprises at the port.
What is a continuous customs bond and do I need one?
A continuous bond ($50,000 minimum coverage) covers unlimited entries at all U.S. ports for 12 months and is almost always cheaper than single-entry bonds after a few shipments. The 2026 enforcement order expanded bonding requirements, so most recurring importers should carry one.
What happens if CBP holds or examines my shipment?
CBP can order document reviews, X-ray exams, or intensive devanning exams, and can detain goods for PGA or UFLPA review. Exam fees and storage are the importer’s responsibility. A broker who responds same-day with complete documentation dramatically shortens the hold.
Can FreightClear clear freight at any U.S. port?
Yes. FreightClear clears shipments at all U.S. ocean ports and international airports under a national permit — from Los Angeles/Long Beach and New York/New Jersey to Savannah, Houston, Chicago, and Miami — with remote filing through ACE.
Still have questions? FreightClear brokers are on call — get a quote or reach out through our customs clearance page.
Clearing Freight Thru all USA Ocean Ports & Airports
Get Quotes Now and Start Clearing Your Shipments
Get a quote on customs clearance to all international ocean ports and airports. From a single parcel entry to full-container programs, FreightClear’s licensed brokers keep your freight moving and compliant — with transparent pricing and agents on call.
