Blogs
Free Trade Agreement Reconciliation: Protect Your Duty Savings and Stay Audit Ready
A customs auditor gives you 30 days to prove your imports truly qualify for a free trade agreement. Your suppliers are slow to respond, certifications look thin, and the clock is ticking. We have seen this movie before, and the ending depends on how prepared you are. At Vigilant Global Trade Services, we help companies…
THE VIGILANT VIGIL – 25th EDITION
Welcome, visitor, to the Vigil. Here you will find a summation of current global trade changes and regulatory updates. We aim to deliver helpful insights in a timely and relevant manner, to help you remain vigilant in an ever-evolving trade environment. The Editing Director (T.E.D.)’s Foreword: Last week, I may have created a…
Customs Value Reconciliation: How We Help Importers Get Valuation Right
Ever felt like you are guessing your import values, then holding your breath while finance closes the books and transfer pricing true-ups roll in? You are not alone. For many importers, the initial value declared to the United States drives duty and statistics, yet the real costs evolve with royalties, assists, and year-end adjustments. At…
THE VIGILANT VIGIL – 24th EDITION
Welcome, visitor, to the Vigil. Here you will find a summation of current global trade changes and regulatory updates. We aim to deliver helpful insights in a timely and relevant manner, to help you remain vigilant in an ever-evolving trade environment. The Editing Director (T.E.D.)’s Foreword: KNOW YOUR… EVERYTHING? For more than…
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER: It May Be Time to Redefine KYC
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER: It May Be Time to Redefine KYC For more than 30 years, one concept has been drilled into my head as an export compliance professional: Know Your Customer (KYC). Know who you are selling to. Know where the product is going. Know the ultimate consignee and end user. Know what they…
Tariffs Are Stacking Up: How Importers Can Stay Compliant and Control Costs
Picture a single SKU hit with four, five, or even six separate duties before it ever reaches your warehouse. That is the reality for many importers today, and it is why tariff management has become a board-level issue. At Vigilant Global Trade Services, we sit at the crossroads of trade policy and operational execution. In…
THE VIGILANT VIGIL – 23rd EDITION
Welcome, visitor, to the Vigil. Here you will find a summation of current global trade changes and regulatory updates. We aim to deliver helpful insights in a timely and relevant manner, to help you remain vigilant in an ever-evolving trade environment. The Editing Director (T.E.D.)’s Foreword: Last week, I spent some time in…
Trust But Verify: How We Keep Trade Compliance Decisions Bulletproof
Your CEO forwards a viral post saying a new export restriction starts Monday. Your heart skips a beat, teams scramble, and shipments stall. Minutes later you learn it was a rumor. In trade compliance, noise can cost money. At Vigilant Global Trade Services, we live by a simple rule that protects our clients every day:…
THE VIGILANT VIGIL – 22nd EDITION
Welcome, visitor, to the Vigil. Here you will find a summation of current global trade changes and regulatory updates. We aim to deliver helpful insights in a timely and relevant manner, to help you remain vigilant in an ever-evolving trade environment. The Editing Director (T.E.D.)’s Foreword: Welcome to this week’s edition of…
Build a Defensible Trade Compliance Program That Stands Up Under Scrutiny
Picture a regulator at your door asking for proof behind a shipment you cleared last year. Can you show the bill of materials, supplier certifications, purchase orders, and the logic you used to apply the rule of origin? If not, the problem is not just the shipment. It is the defensibility of your entire trade…