Importers require knowledgeable counsel and smart advice to guide them through the complexities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) specialized procedures and requirements.

Polsinelli attorneys advise on a broad range of import issues before the CBP. Polsinelli also litigates customs matters in the Court of International Trade and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The administrative and litigation successes of Polsinelli attorneys have resulted in tens of millions of dollars in duty savings and refunds for clients.

  • Polsinelli assists clients in determining the proper tariff classifications, valuation, duties and fees as well as the country of origin and marking of their imported products.
  • Polsinelli’s attorneys work with clients in exploring and taking full advantage of cost and duty-savings programs, such as duty drawback, foreign trade zones, bonded warehouses, and the importation of products under free trade agreements and special trade programs.
  • The firm counsels companies on the import and customs clearance requirements of non-US jurisdictions. 
  • Polsinelli guides companies undergoing audits and focused assessments, and provides assistance in responding to requests for information, notices of action, penalty notices, claims of liquidated damages, detentions, seizures and forfeitures.
  • Polsinelli’s attorneys counsel clients regarding the Customs impacts of antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings, investigations under Sections 201, 301 and 337 of the Tariff Act, and other trade remedies. 
  • The firm routinely provides in-house customs compliance training, perform internal customs compliance assessments, and assists companies in filing post-entry amendments, protests and prior disclosures when warranted.
  • Polsinelli attorneys record clients’ registered trademarks and copyrights to prevent infringing products from being imported into the United States and provide counsel and education to CBP officials regarding clients’ recorded products and protected IP to ensure appropriate enforcement at the border.

Polsinelli’s attorneys have experience appearing in the recently established inter partes proceedings before CBP’s Intellectual Property Rights Branch administered pursuant to Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. § 1337.

Related Capabilities
International Trade Commission Section 337 LitigationTrade Law Remedies
Publications
All Publications
U.S. Court of International Trade Invalidates Trump Section 122 Global Tariffs, the Administration Appeals, and Tariffs Likely Will Remain in Effect for Most Importers
Key Takeaways The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) invalidated President Trump’s Section 122 10% tariffs, holding that the Administration exceeded the authority delegated by Congress under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The Administration has appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The CIT’s injunction is limited. The court granted relief only to the plaintiffs – the State of Washington, Burlap & Barrel and Basic Fun! – and declined to issue nationwide relief. The tariffs remain in place for most importers pending appeal, and continue to apply broadly unless additional importers seek and obtain relief. The decision increases pressure on the Administration to pivot to alternative statutory authorities, including Section 301 and Section 232, for
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IEEPA Refund Portal Opens on April 20: What Importers Should Know About Filing, Timing and Liquidity Options
Key Takeaways U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will launch Phase 1 of CAPE on April 20, giving many importers their first access to the ACE-based path to request IEEPA duty refunds. More complicated entries – including those involving certain AD/CVD orders, protests, drawback, reconciliation and liquidated entries that are more than 80 days past liquidation – remain outside Phase 1 or will follow a different timeline. Importers and brokers should act now to confirm ACE portal access, ACH/electronic refund enrollment, U.S. bank account information and entry eligibility before submitting CAPE declarations. CBP also has made clear that filers may not initiate an IEEPA refund request through a Post Summary Correction (PSC). Timing of refund declaration processing will vary. For many standard accepted entries, CBP
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