US Importers Turn to Brokers to Tackle Tariff Chaos

The changing trade policies of President Trump have led U.S. importers to use customs brokers more frequently but this increased demand has resulted in higher costs and additional tariff expenses.
The shipping industry’s customs brokers function as behind-the-scenes experts who manage import documentation and mathematical calculations. Small brokers report receiving numerous inquiries from concerned clients while major companies FedEx and DHL have built up their compliance staff to handle the increased workload.
The industry now operates as a $5 billion market because importers need help understanding the rapidly evolving trade regulations. JD Gonzalez who leads the NCBFAA trade group explained that businesses now dedicate more time to customs forms while discarding some automated processes.
The introduction of new information has eliminated automated processes so customs work now requires manual handling according to Gonzalez. The growing importance of trade compliance has led Nike, Amazon and Lowe’s to create job openings for customs specialists.