The Benefits of Export Compliance Webinars

It doesn't matter if you have 10 employees or 10,000. If you export products, you have to stay current on export regulations. Many export compliance services are now offering webinars as a cost-effective way to provide training to any size group. Import and export regulations change frequently, and custom webinars are a great way to make sure everyone on your team is up-to-date. Corporate travel budgets are leaner than ever, and sending employees away to training seminars can be a real financial burden. But export compliance webinars are brought right to each desktop so that training can be easily integrated into work schedules at a far lower cost than off-site training. With their low cost per employee, webinars are less expensive and disruptive than live, on-site training. Minimum Disruption to Productivity Web-based export compliance training is the most convenient way to ensure that every employee receives the training they need and that disruption to production schedules is minimized. Employee training by webinar can be staggered by the day or by the hour so that you won't find yourself without multiple key employees all at once. You don't have to give up a day of productivity to ensure your employees are properly trained in the export regulations.  Up-to-the-minute regulatory changes can be incorporated into your online training program. Compliance Assurance stakes its reputation on keeping current with export regulations, and web-based training is a great way to ensure your employees receive only the most current training. Regular reinforcement of export regulations and the consequences for non-compliance  are necessary to avoid violating export laws. Web-based training on the latest in export regulations is a convenient, cost-effective way to make sure that employee awareness of the importance of compliance is refreshed and reinforced. When every employee is educated about the latest export regulations, your company reduces the risk of violation and may even be able to claim mitigating circumstances if an unintended violation should occur.

Post Trade Compliance and Traceability

Products may leave your company for delivery to end users, but trade compliance does not end at the loading dock. After an overseas transaction, your company must practice good post trade compliance to avoid penalties and fees and to keep export operations running smoothly. Documentation showing that your business complies with the latest export regulations is necessary for traceability and auditing purposes. Remaining in good standing with international trade regulations requires commitment from every employee involved with importing and exporting. Comprehensive Trade Compliance and Your Operations Periodic training is necessary for all workers who deal with imports and exports to avoid falling afoul of regulations. Trade regulations are known for changing frequently, so employees must remain aware of the changes that affect them. Your business's trade compliance policy must be communicated clearly from the CEO's office, and you must demonstrate your commitment to compliance by keeping employees abreast of changes in the regulatory environment. Compliance from Import to Export and Beyond Pre trade compliance and post trade compliance successfully bookend your operations so that you avoid problems importing commodities and exporting products. Without trade compliance at the beginning and end of your production process, you risk severe financial and legal consequences. Ensuring Continuing Trade Compliance Compliance consultants help businesses every day by providing employee training, finding out where there are potential weaknesses in compliance and finding ways to fix those potential problems. For any business operating internationally, trade compliance is not only the right thing to do, but also provides a competitive edge. Compliance must be integrated into your company at every step from commodity import to finished product export.

Does Your Company Take International Trade Compliance Seriously?

Many violations of trade compliance regulations are unintentional, but that doesn't mean they aren't serious. If your company is found to be in violation of regulations, whether on the import or the export side, problems can quickly mount, such as: • Slowing or halting of the supply chain • Products languishing in customs for lengthy periods • Difficulty getting products to customers • Assessment of heavy fines Importance of Having an Official Trade Compliance Policy If your company does business internationally and doesn't have an official trade compliance policy issued by the president or CEO, you risk an uninformed or misinformed employee pool. Having an official company trade compliance policy is the first step toward integrating trade compliance into your everyday operations. If you are not sure where to begin, contacting an international trade compliance specialist is a good starting point. Employee Training Policies are great, but they aren't worth much if employees don't know about them and don't know what to do if they believe a violation has occurred. Any employee who deals with imports or exports must be trained in trade compliance, and their training must be kept current. Trade policies change frequently and what was OK last year may not be OK this year. Keeping employees aware of trade compliance is one key to avoiding violations. Periodic Trade Compliance Auditing Another reason to consider working with an international trade compliance

specialist is for periodic compliance audits. An independent audit can discover problems and potential problems, and a good compliance specialist will help you devise and implement solutions. Audits should not be a one-time undertaking. Changes to trade policies happen frequently enough that periodic compliance check-ups are highly recommended. Don't Take Chances You don't want all the hard work your company does to be undone by supply chain problems, trade violations, and fines. Even if you work in a sector unrelated to sensitive industries like defense, trade regulations may apply to your supplies, products, or services. Staying on top of trade regulations is absolutely essential for your company to continue to operate at its best.

Could your Business Benefit from Import Compliance Consulting?

Uncertainty about Import Compliance Common

If your business imports goods, you are probably aware of how complex import regulations are. It's not uncommon for even savvy business owners to be uncertain about exactly which regulations apply. All importers should be educated on import compliance, but with regulations that change frequently, keeping up can be a daunting task. The worst thing you can do is give up and hope for the best.

Serious Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failing to comply with import rules can result in consequences ranging from shipments sitting on a dock awaiting proper documentation to shipments being seized and fines being assessed to the importer. No business big or small can afford to ignore import regulations. Even a brief holdup at Customs can slow production and diminish profits. That's why ensuring your business complies with all import regulations is essential to success.

When Adding Staff is Not Feasible

Businesses today must be lean due to the realities of a tight economy. Often, adding a full-time staff member to ensure import compliance is just not realistic. Adding import compliance tasks to workers you already have is a recipe for mistakes and can lead to staff burnout. But you don't have to hire a full-time staffer to ensure your business follows import regulations.

What Import Compliance Services Do

Import compliance services are dedicated to understanding all import regulations, knowing when they change, and developing programs to ensure that businesses become compliant and remain compliant. These services are the best choice when hiring a full-time staff member to handle import compliance is not possible. Many of these services also provide in-house or online training, to raise all employees' awareness of import laws.

Import Compliance Consulting May be the Answer

If you're trying your best to comply with import regulations but are not 100% certain you're in full compliance, hiring an import compliance consultant is the quickest and best way to get your company on track to full compliance. Enlisting in the services of compliance specialists helps you avoid violating regulations and having to deal with the consequences that result. By knowing your company follows all import laws, you're free to concentrate on running your business successfully.

Renewed Emphasis on Customs Trade Compliance

After the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, supply chain security became a top priority of the U.S. government. Since 2001, major goals of U.S. Customs and Border Protection include knowledge and tracking of the following:

· Who is handling cargo at all points on the chain
· Where shipments are going
· Why it is being shipped
· Who receives the shipment

New security measures have represented a fundamental shift in logistics for international businesses that had been used to facing few if any questions about what products were going where.

The Supply Chain

Even small international businesses can have a complicated supply chain. The supply chain includes suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers, as a product transforms from raw material to finished product, with the final destination being the customer. Each point along a supply chain has its own unique security vulnerabilities. The corporate trade compliance specialist evaluates individual supply chains and makes recommendations about potential vulnerabilities and how to make the entire supply chain compliant with regulations.

Concerns of International Businesses

All international businesses must comply with regulations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Depending on the nature of the business, there may be several layers of regulations that must be met. That's the main reason why a corporate trade compliance specialist can be of tremendous help, regardless of the type of business. Penalties for violating regulations can be crippling to a business.

Timely, Secure Shipments

If you own a business that exports or imports product, you want your shipments to be secure and timely. Cutting corners on export compliance is a huge mistake and can lead to trouble all along the supply chain. Regulations are complex, and they change frequently. Consultants with expertise in trade compliance are there to help prevent problems with compliance, which have serious consequences.

Export Compliance Consulting

Compliance with international trade regulations can make the difference between success and failure of an exporter. Export compliance consulting is a growing sector, as exporters realize how many regulations apply to their products. No business, large or small, can withstand the risks of violating export regulations, and compliance consultants know how to eliminate these risks.

Corporate Trade Compliance: Critical to your Success

Complying with export regulations may seem like nothing more than an exercise in filling out complicated forms. However, knowing your business complies with all applicable export regulations gives your business a competitive edge. Overseas customers don't want to risk being involved with international trade violations, even indirectly. By assuring your international clients and customers of your corporate trade compliance, you help build your brand worldwide.

International Trade in a World Economy

The 21st century marketplace is global. For many sectors, healthy growth requires international trade. Countries like China and India are growing economic players on the world stage, and developing international trade helps you maintain your success even when markets at home are slower. From socks to tablet computers, international trade is a must for success today.

Ignorance is Not Bliss

Some businesses think they are unaffected by export regulations and only find out about them after unknowingly committing violations. Even if your business has little to do with technology or defense, it still may be subject to export regulations. One of the first things any business should do when going international is invest in corporate trade compliance consulting to determine which rules apply and how to comply with them.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

A corporate trade compliance consultant should be well-versed in penalties that apply when regulations are violated. The International Emergency Economic Powers Enhancement Act of 2007 enacted civil penalties of $250,000 or more and criminal penalties consisting of fines of up to $1 million plus the possibility of 20 years in prison. Furthermore, the Commerce Department publishes names of violating companies in Federal Register notices, and these are often used against non-complying companies by competitors.

Don't Be Afraid of Going International

Making your business international should be exciting and should make you feel proud. Investing in the services of a corporate trade compliance consultant early in the process will help you gain international success while avoiding trade violations. It simply isn't worth it to engage in international trade without knowing exactly which export regulations apply. Corporate trade compliance consulting should be part of your plan for a successful global enterprise.

The Role of the Customs Trade Compliance Consultant

Not only is trade compliance the only legal way to operate, it has also become a competitive advantage in today's world of international trade. It isn't just defense manufacturers and huge multinational businesses that have to worry about trade compliance, but any business that operates internationally. Proper trade compliance saves money, improves efficiency, and helps insure against incidents that cause negative publicity.

Agencies Involved in Trade Compliance

A competent export trade compliance consultant knows the regulations and practices of multiple government agencies such as:

· U.S. Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls
· U.S. Customs and Border Protection
· U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets
· U.S. Census Bureau
· U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security

Ensuring ongoing compliance is a big task. Regulations change frequently, and keeping on top of the latest developments is daunting, particularly for the smaller business.

Risks for Failure to Comply

Most failures of compliance with international trade regulations are due to simple ignorance of policies. All violations can result in serious criminal and civil penalties and loss of material goods. International trade is vital to today's businesses, and entrepreneurs should not avoid the international market out of fear of regulations. Knowledge of regulations, import compliance consulting, and export trade compliance consulting can save businesses a world of trouble by preventing violations of trade regulations.

Do You Need a Customs Trade Compliance Consultant?

If you answer "no" to any of these questions, then you may benefit from import compliance consulting or the services of an export trade compliance consultant:

· Has our CEO or President issued a formal trade compliance policy statement?
· Do we have a designated trade compliance officer?
· Are employees who process international transactions updated on trade regulations every six months?
· Do we classify exports with Export Control Classification Numbers or other required numbers?
· Do we have documented import / export compliance and auditing procedures?

The risks of failing to comply with trade regulations are too big to ignore. Give your business the best prospects internationally by ensuring it abides by all necessary international trade regulations.