A customs entry is not paperwork you want to learn on the job. One wrong tariff code, a late security filing, or the wrong bond can turn a routine import into weeks of demurrage and thousands in penalties. As your licensed Los Angeles customs broker, we take the entire clearance off your desk and get it right the first time.
What a Customs Broker Does for You
A licensed customs broker is your agent with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. We stand between your cargo and the government so your goods move legally and on schedule. For every shipment we handle:
- Classify your goods under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule so you pay the correct duty and avoid misclassification penalties. See HTS classification.
- File your Importer Security Filing (ISF, or 10+2) before your ocean cargo loads overseas. See ISF filing.
- Prepare and submit your entry electronically through the ACE system, with the commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading. See ACE entry filing.
- Post the right customs bond, single-entry or continuous, so CBP releases your cargo. See customs bonds.
- Calculate and pay your duties, taxes, and fees, then handle any partner-agency requirements from the FDA, USDA, or other agencies. See PGA holds.
Clearance Built Around the LA Ports
National brokerages treat every port the same. We do not. Cargo moving through the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, together the busiest container gateway in the country, has its own rhythm: terminal appointment systems, drayage windows, and a demurrage clock that starts the moment your box is available. We clear your entry with that timeline in mind, then coordinate drayage off the terminal so your container does not sit racking up fees.
Import and Export, Both Directions
Most of our clients are importers, but trade runs both ways. Whether you are bringing consumer goods in through the harbor or shipping product out to a customer overseas, we handle the import clearance and export clearance under one roof.
When Something Goes Wrong
Cargo gets flagged. A CBP or FDA exam, a missing document, a classification question from the entry desk. This is the moment a broker earns their fee, and the moment a call center leaves you on hold. We pick up, sort out the hold, and push your cargo toward release. That is the promise behind our exam and hold help.
Why Importers Across LA Trust Us
- Port-native. We work LA, Long Beach, and LAX every day.
- Responsive. A real broker answers, and we respond to every shipment within one business day.
- Precise. Correct classification and on-time filing mean no avoidable penalties or holds.