US Customs Regulatory Audits: How to Prepare and What to Expect

Why Should You Attend:

You arrive at work and the call comes in. “This is U.S. Customs and Border Protection Regulatory Audit Division. Your company has been selected for a full audit for the previous 5 year period.” After the initial panic subsides the first thing you ask is, “what do I have to do now?”

This webinar will explain how to prepare for customs regulatory audit, what to keep available, what to expect in the audit and more. The webinar presenter has led several major audits from preparation to post audit follow up with no fines or penalties assessed. Knowing what to expect in advance will get you through the audit smoothly.

Areas Covered in the Webinar:

• Pre-Audit Preparations
• State of Import Record Keeping
• Assembling the Internal Audit Team
• Internal Sampling of Records Pre-Audit
• Submission of Voluntary Self Disclosures for Known Violations Prior to the Entrance Conference
• Preparing for the Entrance Conference
• Solicitation of Executive Management Attendance
• What to Expect in the Meeting
• The Audit Process and What Customs Will Focus On
• Major Areas of Audit, i.e. Classification, Valuation, Free Trade Agreement Compliance
• Related Party Transactions
• Back-Up Documentation Outside of the Import/Trade Compliance Department
• How to Deal with your Auditors One on One
• Day to Day Interaction with the Auditors
• Documenting Every Step of the Process
• How to Make the Process Move Quickly and Efficiently
• How to Resolve Disagreements
• What Types of Records Customs Will Need Access To
• Trade Compliance Department
• Finance Department
• Manufacturing
• Sales
• Engineering
• Preparation for the Exit Conference
• Audit Team De-Briefing
• Solicitation of Executive Management Attendance
• What to Expect from the Meeting
• Post Exit Conference Follow Up
• Preparation of Binding Ruling Requests (If Applicable)
• Development of Corrective Action Reports
• Payment of any Applicable Duties, Fines or Penalties
• Using the Audit to Strengthen Your Import Compliance Program
• Summary/Q&A

Who Will Benefit:

• Compliance Officers
• Logistics and Transportation Personnel
• Legal Department
• Sourcing
• Procurement Professionals
• Finance and Auditors
• Import Managers/Directors
• General/Corporate Counsel
• Regulatory/Legislative Affairs Professionals
• Risk Management Specialists
• Supply Chain Specialists

Instructor Profile:

David G. Ross, has specialized in Global Trade Compliance and Logistics Management from small business to Fortune 500 Companies for over 25 years. Mr. Ross has held mid to upper management positions in the industrial, consumer products, high technology freight forwarding/logistics and aerospace/defense industries. He has performed over 100 focused trade compliance assessments/audits for our clients. He has extensive experience as a duly empowered official (Atty in Fact as approved by the B.o.D) for Trade Compliance and Global Logistics in his corporate functions. He has established and chaired corporate compliance and logistics councils at the executive management level whose focus was both US export/re-export regulations and Supply Chain/Logistics optimization. He has also overseen responsibilities for direct shipments from overseas affiliates subject to US export controls on both product and technology transfer. He has developed Technology Control Programs (TCP) as well as implementing strategic security initiatives such as the Customs and Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and ITAR security controls with our clients. He possesses extensive experience in product classification and licensing for the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Regulations (BTAFE) and US Customs and Border Protection Regulations. For ITAR controlled articles, David has managed export licensing applications and authored Technical Assistances agreements for various defense contractors.

He has traveled and provided trade compliance training to firms with over 300 public and private seminars to North America, Europe and Asia. He has also provided Supply Chain Process Engineering/Re-Engineering management and consulting services using LEAN and Six Sigma methodologies. He has extensive compliance management and licensing expertise with the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) Office of Foreign Assets Control, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BTAFE) He has served most recently, reporting to Vice President and General Counsel as the Trade Compliance Officer and Empowered Official for a world leader in high technology refractory metals with annual global sales totaling $1.2 billion. He is a sought after speaker for various Trade Compliance Industry Organizations and has given presentations and panel discussions throughout the world on trade compliance and logistics topics.

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