Blogs
Restricted Party Screening: How We Reduce Denied Party Risk and Protect Your Trade
One name on a purchase order can decide the fate of an entire shipment. Get it right and goods move. Get it wrong and you face seized cargo, fines, and long audits. That is why we treat restricted party screening as a mission-critical control in every global trade program we design. At Vigilant Global Trade…
THE VIGILANT VIGIL – 28th 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. Foreword: CBP Trade and Cargo Security Summit Recap I spent the better part…
The Soundtrack of TCSS 2026: We’re All in This Together… Aren’t We?
Reflections and Key Takeaways from the 2026 CBP Trade and Cargo Security Summit By Jamie Adams Every conference seems to develop its own theme. Sometimes that theme is deliberate, carefully crafted by the organizers and repeated throughout the event. Other times, it emerges organically as speakers approach different subjects but repeatedly arrive at the same…
The Future of USMCA: Trade Agreement Risk, Audits, and How to Prepare for 2026 and Beyond
Picture this: your cross border shipments clear with zero duty while competitors pay additional tariffs. That advantage can disappear overnight if your USMCA program cannot withstand an audit or if the agreement changes in 2026. At Vigilant Global Trade Services, we help companies turn uncertainty into a compliance edge. In our recent Trade Buzz conversation,…
THE VIGILANT VIGIL – 27th 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: CLUTCH YOUR PEARLS… AND THEN READ THE FEDERAL…
Duty Drawback: Stop Leaving Refund Money On The Table
Every month, companies wire six and seven figures in standard duty, anti-dumping, and additional sectional tariffs on imports that never truly stay in the United States. If those goods are later exported, much of that cash can come back. That is the power of duty drawback. At Vigilant Global Trade Services, we help importers and…
THE VIGILANT VIGIL – 26th 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: Don’t Let Conflict Become the Operating System …
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…