File the Import Security filing (ISF)

The ISF is a document specific to items shipped by sea freight that provides advance shipment information to US Customs. This document should be filed 24 hours before shipment sets sail. If this is not done by either you or your broker, you may have to pay a $5,000 fine. The data points required on the ISF are:

• Identities of the buyer and seller.
• Importer of Record number.
• Consignee numbers.
• Country of Origin.
• Ship to party.
• Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States number (if your Chinese supplier has some export experience, he should have the harmonized schedule code, or HS code, for your product).
• Manufacturer or supplier information.
• Container stuffing location.
• Consolidator.

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