Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism

CTPAT certification can reduce customs exams and give priority processing. Some large importers and retailers require their partners to meet CTPAT security criteria.

Is CTPAT worth it for a mid-size ecommerce importer?

It can be if you import regularly and exams are costly or frequent, since certified members generally face fewer inspections. The application requires documented security procedures and supplier vetting, so weigh the effort against your import volume.

• Customs ExamAn inspection of an import shipment by US Customs and Border Protection or another agency, ranging from a non-intrusive X-ray scan to a full devanning at a centralized examination station.
• Importer of RecordThe party legally responsible for an import into the US, including correct classification, valuation, and origin, payment of duties, and compliance with all import laws.
• Customs BrokerA licensed professional who files entries with US Customs and Border Protection and calculates duties on behalf of importers.
• Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention ActA US law, effective June 21, 2022, presuming that goods made wholly or partly in China's Xinjiang region, or by listed entities, use forced labor and are barred from import.