TRADE ADVISORY

Put Your Trade Data to Work

Your trade data has immense power. Use it wisely. Flexport Customs Trade Advisors use cutting edge AI and data analysis to develop and implement trade compliance strategies that minimize duties, reduce risk and optimize supply chain performance.

What is trade advisory?

Flexport Trade Advisory is a service designed to help businesses navigate international trade regulations, optimize imports/exports, and identify cost-saving opportunities. Our licensed customs experts and trade specialists advise on classification, compliance, duty minimization, and strategic supply chain planning.

Who should use Trade Advisory services?

Any importer, exporter, or business involved in cross-border shipments can benefit, especially if you:

  • Ship goods into multiple markets
  • Face high tariff costs
  • Want to reduce compliance risks
  • Are onboarding new suppliers or products

Working with Flexport has been an excellent experience. They manage our global brokerage processing and implemented drawback services that delivered returns that were significantly higher than our prior approach, and also significantly outperforming their competitors. Their technology and expertise, including ACE analysis, have uncovered additional insights and savings that continue to drive supply chain optimization.

Arjun Lal

Chief Financial Officer, Life Fitness

How the trade advisory process works

Step 1

Assessment & Data Review

Reviews documentation and tariff classifications

Step 2

Strategy Development

Customized trade compliance strategy covering duty optimization, FTA qualification, risk-mitigation measures

Step 3

Implementation & Integration

Recommended changes are implemented across customs workflows

Step 4

Ongoing Monitoring & Optimization

Continuous regulatory updates, compliance tracking, periodic audits

ACE ANALYSIS

Your trade data, optimized by experts

Flexport designed an Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) analysis tool to reveal savings opportunities and compliance risks by using the last five years of your ACE data. The comprehensive results give you a clear path forward.

COMPLIANCE

How do you save money with an ACE analysis?

Your Flexport Customs Trade Advisor leads an in-depth Compliance Assessment, using your unique ACE Analysis to drive detailed consultations. The outcome? A clear action plan to limit risk and capture potential savings.

DUTY MINIMIZATION

How can you lower your duties and tariffs?

Duty minimization is possible, but it takes expertise to get right. Flexport Customs Trade Advisors can guide you through origin and tariff engineering, organize drawback, and help you capitalize on first sale rules.

Trade Support

What customs programs should you use?

Flexport Customs Trade Advisors can help you with your CTPAT programs, customs valuation, first-sale programs, post-summary corrections, and other programs to strengthen your business.

How Flexport streamlines your trade advisory

Trade Advisory (Consulting)

  • Guidance on duty minimization and compliance strengthening strategies
  • Binding rulings
  • Trainings & workshops
  • Tariff engineering, country of origin and FTA review
  • Prior disclosures, and more

Global Classification

  • Global HTS Classifications
  • Duty Rates
  • Section 301 Tariffs
  • FTA, PGA & ADD/ CVD Flags.

Customs Bonds

  • Competitive rates on Customs Bonds offered through Flexport
  • We can help you apply for the right activity code, bond type, and bond amount
  • We make the process simple by coordinating with a surety agent and CBP on your behalf

PSC / Reconciliation

  • Assist with Post Summary Corrections, Protest and Reconciliation Filings with CBP
  • Correct declaration errors e.g., HTS, value, country of origin, section 301 exclusions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Flexport Trade Advisory?

Do I need to be a Flexport freight customer to use Trade Advisory?

No. Trade Advisory can be engaged as a standalone service, although many clients choose to integrate it with Flexport’s freight forwarding and customs brokerage for end-to-end visibility.

What specific services are included?

Typical services include:

  • HS code classification and verification
  • Duty minimization and savings strategies
  • Compliance audits and risk analysis
  • Free trade agreement eligibility reviews
  • Customs ruling requests and regulatory updates
  • Product-specific import/export advisory

How can Trade Advisory save me money?

By ensuring your products are correctly classified, leveraging free trade agreements, and optimizing country-of-origin declarations, many clients discover ways to legally lower duties, taxes, and fees (sometimes retroactively).

Will this help with new regulations like Section 301 tariffs or forced labor compliance?

Yes, our team actively tracks trade policy changes and can help you understand and comply with evolving US and global regulations, including tariffs, sanctions, and labor-related import rules.