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TRADE CONSULTING - NORTH AMERICA

Trade Consulting Solutions

Providing expert advice and support for international trade in Canada and the United States, Farrow’s customs professionals aim to reduce costs and ensure regulatory compliance for your business. With a wide variety of trade consulting services, this experienced team can help navigate any aspects of customs brokerage and trade regulations to optimize your company’s trade activity.

Through timely communication, clients are also kept informed of the latest customs and trade updates, allowing them to react when necessary for their organization.

  • Project-based refunds for duty recovery ( e.g. tariff treatment, classification, valuation, etc.)
  • Project-based amends to correct trade data, usually through the Voluntary Disclosure Program
  • Provide end to end support for businesses seeking to recover duties through the Drawback Program
  • Eligibility Review — Assess imported goods, export activity, and destruction processes to confirm drawback qualification
  • Document Collection and Validation — Gather and verify import documents, export proofs, certificates, and destruction records
  • Waiver Coordination — Prepare and obtain required waivers from importers, exporters, or owners
  • Form Preparation — Complete all required forms with accurate tariff, valuation, and export data
  • Submission Management — Upload claims, track status, and respond to Government queries on your behalf
  • Audit Ready Recordkeeping — Organize documentation to meet verification standards
  • Prepare and submit duty drawback application to CBSA and CBP
  • Review bills of material
  • Classify component parts/materials
  • Apply product-specific rules of origin
  • Determine if goods meet origin criteria
  • Prepare certificate of origin for qualifying goods
  • Analysis and review of goods to provide 10-digit U.S. or Canadian classification number
  • Review all explanatory notes and legal notes to ensure a high degree of accuracy
  • Provide information and explanation on the various methods of valuation
  • Review criteria used to determine valuation and make recommendations, if required
  • Provide your suppliers with detailed information on what has previously been imported, follow up and review of certificates received
  • Prepare detailed report of findings
  • Work with suppliers to assist in preparation
  • Emulate customs audits by both Canada and U.S. Customs Services, and provide a detailed report of findings
  • Recommendations for improvements of procurement to payment proces
  • Recommendations for improvements in program compliance ( e.g. valuation, classification, trade agreements, record keeping, etc.)
  • Educate companies in the CSA program, its benefits, and assist in determining a return on investment (ROI) moving forward
  • Partner to prepare and submit documentation to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for application to the CSA program
  • Collaborate to implement CSA once acceptance into the program has been granted
  • Procurement to payment analysis
  • Commercial / Pro Forma Invoice review
  • Valuation and quantity verification
  • Classification verification
  • Free Trade Agreements
  • Anti-dumping/countervailing duties and surtax verification
  • Mitigation and recovery opportunities
  • Corrective actions and recommendations
  • CBSA filing adjustments
  • Review penalty and advise course of action and prepare appeals on your behalf
  • Review security systems and procedures in place today
  • Make recommendations for enhancements based on guidelines provided
  • Prepare application and submit to Customs authority
  • Review security systems and procedures in place today
  • Make recommendations for enhancements based on guidelines provided
  • Prepare application and submit to Customs authority
  • Daily monitoring of assigned BN9 and RM accounts
  • CBSA notification review and triage
  • Billing, CAD, payment, bond, collections, case, and compliance visibility
  • Soft-copy document retrieval from the CARM Client Portal
  • Client notification when importer action is required
  • Monthly CAD reporting for duty and tax reconciliation
  • Statement of account support for month-end visibility
  • White-glove portal oversight to reduce missed notifications
  • Research goods for classifications and precedents
  • Submit request to CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
  • Document your current processes and review regularly for improvements
  • Provide comprehensive manuals documenting systems and procedures from procurement to payment
  • Educational webinars hosted throughout the year based on various industry topics
  • Tailored ‘in-house’ seminars based on a client’s individual needs, covering a single topic (e.g. tariff classification) or a broader scope (e.g. building an internal compliance program)

Trade Consulting Resources

Our qualified professionals can provide importers with the precise classification of their goods, guidance on origin determination and the valuation of imported goods. 

Trade Consulting Brochure
Corporate Brochure - PDF
Corporate Brochure - Flipbook

Free Trade Agreements

Farrow keeps you informed with insightful information regarding free trade agreements (FTAs), which are critical to your business.

USMCA Certificate of Origin
CUSMA Certificate of Origin

Client Case Studies

Case Study 1 - Manufacturing Client: Creative Thinking Creates a Competitive Advantage with Cost-Savings

CLIENT

Canadian manufacturer looking to reduce costs to be more competitive

CHALLENGES

  • High landed costs on dutiable inputs
  • No option(s) to source domestically

    • SOLUTION

  • Review the database of goods attracting duty on import to understand the Bill of Materials (BOM) and production process
  • Search for compliant classification(s) that attract a lower duty rate

    • RESULTS

  • Client reclassified their input with a compliant alternative Harmonized System (HS) code
  • As a result of reclassifying, client was eligible for refunds of past duties paid and now enjoyed future savings
  • Client now operates with higher-margins and/or more competitive pricing

    • CLIENT

    Company purchases an aircraft offshore, later discovering no import transaction was filed

    CHALLENGES

  • High value asset was purchased and entered Canada without customs declaration
  • No GST was filed/paid on the import
  • Issue was discovered over a year later
  • Client had no prior importing experience or profile with CBSA

    • SOLUTION

  • Identified the non-compliance import and prepared a voluntary disclosure for Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
  • Worked with client to gather all relevant commercial documents to substantiate the VD and import transaction
  • Created a CBSA profile on the CARM portal and set up the path for payment
  • Acted as liaison between client and CBSA to ensure a compliant outcome

    • RESULTS

  • Client was able to mitigate penalties by filing a voluntary disclosure
  • Client filed a transaction via CARM and paid full amount owing to CBSA
  • Client stayed in compliance of commercial import procedures and obligations

    • CLIENT

    Company was left without internal trade expert resource when employee left for a new opportunity

    CHALLENGES

  • Non-Resident Importer (NRI) was shipping high-volumes of dutiable goods to Canada
  • Flow through model with consignee did not allow for financial oversight on landed costs
  • Client faced credit issues with broker due to spike in outlays month to month
  • NRI faced disruption of their exports to Canada

    • SOLUTION

  • Identified root cause of the overpayment and met with clients to discuss
  • Determined United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) eligibility of the goods and provide compliant certification to broker
  • Filed for refunds where eligible goods were shipped without USMCA privileges
  • Implemented oversight from Farrow Trade Consulting to manage USMCA solicitation and to review on annual basis

    • RESULTS

  • Client obtained a refund of overpaid duty on eligible goods
  • Farrow implemented a process to manage the application of USMCA certifications for qualifying goods
  • Client enjoys peace of mind knowing their USMCA program is being managed to minimize landed costs in Canada
    • Frequently Asked Questions

    Farrow’s Trade Consulting team provides expert guidance on customs compliance, tariff classification, duty payments, and trade regulations for businesses importing or exporting goods in North America. Our goal is to help you minimize risk, avoid penalties, and optimize your trade operations.

    Incorrect tariff classification or product valuation can lead to significant penalties and back-duty payments. Compliance ensures accurate duty payments, reduces risk of audits, and protects your business from costly errors.

    Services include:

    • Expert guidance on customs regulations, customs compliance requirements, and trade compliance programs
    • Accurate tariff classification and valuation support, including U.S. and Canadian tariff classification
    • Compliance audits and import compliance readiness reviews
    • Refunds, amendments, duty recovery, and duty drawback support
    • Strategies to minimize expenses while maintaining compliance
    • Free Trade Agreement support, including FTA solicitation, rules-of-origin analysis, trade agreement verification, and certificate of origin support
    • Foreign Trade Zone / FTZ analysis
    • Customs valuation advisory and customs ruling support
    • Risk analysis and contingency audits
    • C-TPAT, PIP, and FAST security program support
    • Incoterms guidance
    • Customs manuals and documentation preparation
    • CARM Client Portal Management
    • AMPS penalty review and appeal support
    • Customs Self-Assessment / CSA support
    • ADD/CVD and surtax verification
    • Webinars and tailored in-house seminars
    • Direct updates and education on regulatory changes

    We use the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) to classify goods accurately. Proper classification ensures correct duty rates, reduces penalty exposure, and prevents overpayment of duties and taxes.

    Yes. Our trade consultants identify opportunities for duty recovery and help you file for refunds where applicable, ensuring you don’t overpay.

    Absolutely. We keep clients informed about free trade agreements (FTAs) and verify compliance to help you maximize benefits under agreements such as USMCA.

    We serve a wide range of industries, including:

    • Manufacturing
    • Food & Beverage
    • Automotive
    • Consumer Retail
    • Agriculture
    • Footwear and Apparel

    Timely communications are regularly provided through direct correspondence to ensure you stay informed about customs and international trade developments.

    Contact our Trade Consulting team to schedule a consultation. We’ll review your current trade practices, identify compliance gaps, and develop a strategy tailored to your specific business needs.

    Peace of Mind with Every Shipment?

    Start with a tailored trade solution today.
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