Axiom Trade Inc.

U.S. Customs Broker

Axiom Trade pairs licensed U.S. customs broker expertise with hands-on logistics support to keep your imports compliant, on schedule and paying the right duties.

U.S. Customs Broker

Services

From the customs entry to final delivery, we handle the paperwork and the coordination so your imports keep moving. Tap a service to see the details.

Customs clearance

We prepare and file your import entries with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and follow each shipment until it is released.

  • Entry filing in CBP’s ACE system (forms 3461 and 7501).
  • Review of your commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading.
  • Coordination with other agencies, such as FDA or USDA, when your products require it.
ISF 10+2

For ocean shipments to the U.S., the Importer Security Filing must reach CBP at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded at the foreign port. We collect the information from you and your supplier and submit it.

  • The 10 importer data elements, including seller, buyer, manufacturer and HTS numbers.
  • Amendments when shipment details change before arrival.
  • Helps you avoid CBP penalties and cargo holds for late or incorrect filings.
Air & ocean freight

We coordinate your imports by air and sea, from origin to final delivery, and keep you informed along the way.

  • Coordination with carriers, agents and your suppliers.
  • Tracking of departures, arrivals and ETAs.
  • Delivery coordination to your warehouse or door.
Classification & duties

Every product needs the correct HTS code. Accurate classification sets the duty rate you pay and helps prevent delays and penalties.

  • HTS classification for each of your products.
  • Duty and fee estimates before your goods ship.
  • Guidance on tariffs, trade programs and country-of-origin rules.
Trade agreements

Free trade agreements like USMCA can lower or remove the duties on goods that qualify. We review your products and supplier documents against the rules of origin and claim the preference on your entries.

  • Review of rules of origin for agreements such as USMCA.
  • Guidance on the certification of origin that supports each claim.
  • Help with claims after import when a preference was not requested at entry.
Post-entry & CBP requests

Our work does not end when your cargo is released. We correct entries when something changes, answer CBP requests for information and help you resolve notices and penalties.

  • Post Summary Corrections (PSC) to fix entry data before liquidation.
  • Responses to CBP Requests for Information (CF-28) and Notices of Action (CF-29).
  • Protests of CBP decisions and petitions for relief from penalties or liquidated damages.

Have a shipment on the way?

Tell us what you are importing and when it ships, and we will walk you through the next steps.

© 2026 Axiom Trade Inc. U.S. Customs Broker

U.S. Customs Broker

Info

A quick guide to importing with a customs broker, from the documents we need to the filings CBP requires. Tap a topic to open it.

Importing into Puerto Rico

From another country

Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. customs territory, so CBP clears foreign cargo here under the same rules as on the mainland: HTS classification, duties, the ISF for ocean cargo and a bond for formal entries.

From the U.S. mainland

Goods shipped from the mainland are domestic cargo, so there is no CBP entry and no customs duty. Puerto Rico’s own taxes still apply.

The Hacienda declaration

Every import into Puerto Rico is declared to the Puerto Rico Department of the Treasury (Hacienda) in SURI. Hacienda then issues the release of the goods, the Autorización de Levante.

IVU and excise taxes

The IVU is paid with the declaration unless the importer is bonded with Hacienda, and resellers can claim a credit for it. Some products, such as vehicles and alcoholic drinks, also pay specific Puerto Rico taxes.

Four steps to release

  1. Send your documents

    Share your commercial invoice, packing list and product details early, ideally before the cargo ships.

  2. Classification & filings

    We classify your products, estimate duties and, for ocean freight, file the ISF before the cargo is loaded.

  3. Customs entry

    When the cargo arrives, we file the entry with CBP and coordinate with other agencies if your products need it.

  4. Release & delivery

    Once CBP releases the cargo, we coordinate pickup and delivery to your warehouse or door.

What does my shipment need?

Answer a few quick questions to see the documents and filings for your shipment.

Where is it coming from?
How is it arriving?
What is it worth?
Does it include any of these?

Your checklist

  • No CBP entryGoods from the U.S. mainland are domestic cargo, so there is no customs entry and no duty.
  • Commercial invoiceSeller, buyer, a description of each product, its value and country of origin.
  • Packing listThe boxes, their weights and what is inside each one.
  • Ocean bill of ladingIssued by the shipping line or your forwarder.
  • Air waybillIssued by the airline or your forwarder.
  • Arrival noticeThe carrier’s notice that your cargo has arrived.
  • Power of attorneySigned directly with Axiom Trade, so we can file with CBP for you.
  • Your importer number (CBP Form 5106)With your real business address and your own email and phone.
  • ISF 10+2Filed at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded at the foreign port.
  • Formal entry and customs bondFor commercial shipments worth more than $2,500. The bond can be single-entry or continuous.
  • Informal entryThe $800 de minimis exemption is suspended, so low-value shipments also need an entry and pay duties.
  • ISPM 15 mark on wood packagingWood pallets and crates must be heat-treated or fumigated and marked.
  • FDA Prior NoticeFiled before food or drinks arrive. The foreign facility must also be registered with FDA.
  • FDA requirementsMedicines, medical devices and cosmetics follow their own FDA rules, such as registration and product listing.
  • USDA permit or phytosanitary certificateMany plants, seeds, fruits and vegetables need one or both.
  • USDA or U.S. Fish and Wildlife permitsLive animals, animal products and wildlife can need permits and health certificates.
  • TTB importer permit and approved labelsA federal basic permit and label approval (COLA) for alcoholic drinks.
  • Puerto Rico rules for your productSome products have local requirements of their own. Ask us before you ship.
  • Hacienda import declaration in SURIEvery import into Puerto Rico is declared to Hacienda, which then issues the release (Autorización de Levante).
  • Puerto Rico taxes on alcoholAlcoholic drinks pay specific Puerto Rico taxes, declared in SURI.
Send my checklist

A quick guide. Some products need extra filings, or a formal entry at any value. We confirm what your shipment needs.

Frequently asked questions
When is the ISF due?

The Importer Security Filing applies to ocean shipments coming to the U.S. It must be submitted at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded on the vessel at the foreign port. Late, inaccurate or incomplete filings can lead to liquidated damages of $5,000 per violation.

Do I need a customs bond?

Formal entries require a customs bond. You can use a single-entry bond for one shipment or a continuous bond if you import often, and we can help you choose.

How long does customs clearance take?

It depends on the shipment, the product and whether another agency needs to review it. Sending complete and accurate documents early is the best way to avoid delays.

Do U.S. customs rules apply in Puerto Rico?

Yes. Puerto Rico is part of the customs territory of the United States, so imports arriving on the island are cleared by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

What is an HTS code?

It is the code from the Harmonized Tariff Schedule that identifies your product. It sets the duty rate, so using the right code helps you pay the correct duties and avoid penalties.

Dates you can’t miss

Missing one can mean penalties, storage costs or a correction you can no longer make.

24 hours

ISF 10+2

Before ocean cargo is loaded at the foreign port.

8 hours

FDA Prior Notice

Before food or drinks arrive by ocean. By air, at least 4 hours.

15 days

File the entry

Counted from arrival. Cargo not entered by then can go to a general order warehouse.

10 working days

Entry summary and duties

Counted from the day CBP releases the cargo.

300 days

Correct the entry

With a Post Summary Correction, counted from the entry date and at least 15 days before liquidation.

180 days

Protest a decision

Counted from liquidation, to challenge a CBP decision.

Customs terms, explained
Show terms about
Filings

ISF (10+2)

Security data for ocean cargo that must reach CBP 24 hours before loading: 10 elements from the importer and 2 from the carrier.

Filings

Entry (CBP Form 3461)

The filing that asks CBP to release your cargo.

Filings

Entry summary (CBP Form 7501)

Classification, value and duties for the entry, due within 10 working days of release.

Filings

Post Summary Correction (PSC)

An electronic correction to an entry summary before liquidation.

Filings

Protest (CBP Form 19)

A formal challenge to a CBP decision, filed within 180 days after liquidation.

Filings

CF-28 and CF-29

CBP’s Request for Information and Notice of Action about an entry.

Duties and fees

HTS code

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule number that classifies your product and sets its duty rate.

Duties and fees

Customs bond

A guarantee that duties, taxes and fees will be paid and CBP rules followed. It can be single-entry or continuous.

Duties and fees

Liquidation

CBP’s final calculation of the duties on an entry, usually about 314 days after entry.

Duties and fees

MPF

Merchandise Processing Fee. On formal entries it is a percentage of the value, with a minimum and a maximum that change every year.

Duties and fees

HMF

Harbor Maintenance Fee: 0.125% of the value of cargo that arrives by ocean.

Agencies and forms

ACE

Automated Commercial Environment, CBP’s system for entries, payments and refunds.

Agencies and forms

PGA

Partner Government Agency: agencies such as FDA or USDA that also review some imports.

Agencies and forms

Power of attorney (POA)

Your authorization for a licensed customs broker to act for you with CBP.

Agencies and forms

CBP Form 5106

The form that creates your importer number. CBP can void the number if the data is wrong.

Puerto Rico

IVU

Puerto Rico’s sales and use tax, which also applies to imported goods.

Puerto Rico

SURI

Hacienda’s online system, where import declarations and excise taxes are filed and paid.

Puerto Rico

Autorización de Levante

Hacienda’s release of the goods after the import declaration is filed.

Still not sure what your shipment needs?

Send us your documents or give us a call, and we will tell you what to prepare.

© 2026 Axiom Trade Inc. U.S. Customs Broker

U.S. Customs Broker

News

Customs and trade changes that can affect your imports in Puerto Rico. Updated November 2026. Tap a story to read it.

50% tariff on listed Canadian goods. List updated October 30, 2026.

Since August 19, 2026, a 50% tariff under Section 338 applies to a list of goods from Canada, even when they qualify for USMCA, and it is added on top of any Section 232 duties. The list changed for entries made on or after October 30: 22 products were removed and 100 were added. The tariff is being challenged in court.

What you can doIf you buy from Canada, check your products against the current list before they ship.

Source: presidential proclamation of October 23, 2026

De minimis is still suspended. Proposal published October 8, 2026.

The $800 de minimis exemption remains suspended, and the law ends it on July 1, 2027. A CBP proposal would require informal entries, for goods worth $2,500 or less, to be filed by the time the goods arrive and to be covered by a bond. Comments close December 7, 2026.

What you can doPlan for an entry and duties on every shipment, even small ones.

Source: CBP

IEEPA tariffs are being refunded. Third phase opened October 6, 2026.

On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled in Learning Resources v. Trump that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs. CBP pays the refunds through CAPE, a tool in its ACE system, and on October 6 it opened a third phase that covers certain entries that were already finally liquidated. The importer of record, or the broker that filed the entries, submits the claim.

What you can doEnroll for ACH refunds in ACE: since February 6, 2026, CBP no longer pays refunds by check.

Source: CBP

Section 232 tariffs on brand-name medicines. In effect since September 29, 2026.

Patented medicines and their active ingredients face a 100% Section 232 tariff. The rate is 20% for companies with approved U.S. manufacturing plans, 15% for products of the EU, Japan, Korea and Switzerland, and 10% for the UK. Generics, biosimilars and bulk generic ingredients are excluded for now. The tariff took effect on July 31 for listed companies and on September 29 for all others.

What you can doIf you import medicines or ingredients, confirm how each product is classified and which rate applies.

Source: presidential proclamation, April 2026

Stricter rules for importers of record. In effect since September 18, 2026.

CBP can void an importer number when the information on CBP Form 5106 is inaccurate or incomplete. The address must be your real place of business, not a broker’s, a forwarder’s or a P.O. box, and the email and phone must be your own. Executive Order 14411 also directs CBP to raise minimum bond coverage, require domestic assets or bonds, and add a good-standing check for importers.

What you can doReview your Form 5106 information and update anything that has changed.

Source: CBP

CBP may ask for more supply chain data. Comments close December 1, 2026.

CBP is collecting input for a possible rule that would require more information at import, such as documents filed with foreign customs, identifiers for manufacturers, shippers and exporters, and supply chain tracing. It does not create any new requirement yet.

What you can doKeep your suppliers’ export documents and company IDs organized.

Source: CBP advance notice of September 2, 2026

Section 301 tariffs replace the 10% surcharge. In effect since July 24, 2026.

The 10% Section 122 surcharge applied from February 24 to July 24, 2026. It was replaced by Section 301 tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on goods from 60 economies: for example, 10% for Canada, Mexico, India and the UK, and 12.5% for China, Vietnam and Australia. Goods covered by Section 232 tariffs are excluded. In May, the Court of International Trade ruled the Section 122 surcharge unlawful, and the government appealed.

What you can doCheck the rate for each product’s country of origin before you set prices.

Source: USTR

USMCA stays in force. Joint review: July 1, 2026.

At the six-year joint review, the U.S. did not agree to extend USMCA, so the three countries will now review it every year. The agreement remains in force through July 1, 2036, and its rules of origin and preferential rates still apply.

What you can doKeep claiming USMCA on goods that qualify, with the origin documents to support each claim.

Source: USTR

More time for FDA’s food traceability rule. Enforcement from July 20, 2028.

FDA will not enforce the Food Traceability Rule before July 20, 2028, instead of the original January 20, 2026 date. The rule covers foreign as well as U.S. firms that handle foods on FDA’s Food Traceability List.

What you can doIf you import foods on that list, use the extra time to set up traceability records with your suppliers.

Source: FDA

Not sure how a change affects you?

Tell us what you import and where it comes from, and we will explain what applies to your shipments.

© 2026 Axiom Trade Inc. U.S. Customs Broker

U.S. Customs Broker

Contact

Send us a message, call us or visit our office in Puerto Rico.

Send us a message

Shipment details
Weight
Has the shipment arrived?
Have you arranged the freight?
Is this your first import?
How is it shipping?
Do you have these documents?
Bill of lading
Commercial invoice

If you have them, we will ask you for them by email.

Required

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Axiom Trade Inc.

[Street address]
[City], PR [ZIP code]

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© 2026 Axiom Trade Inc. U.S. Customs Broker