48 L
AW
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NFORCEMENT
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XAMS
Promotion Opportunities
After achieving permanent employment status, Customs Inspectors who qualify may compete for
promotions to higher-level positions within the U.S. Customs Service. These may be supervisory
positions or simply those at a higher grade level in the agency.
IMPORT SPECIALIST
Duties of the Job
The U.S. Customs Service is a major revenue-producing agency whose primary functions are to assess
and collect duties and taxes on imported merchandise, to control imports and exports, and to combat
smuggling and Customs revenue frauds. The member of the Customs Service team responsible for
meeting these objectives is the Import Specialist. Import Specialists enforce regulations of the U.S.
Customs Service through the precise examination, classification, and appraisal of imported merchandise.
Guided by federal revenue laws, they translate the language of trade into the legal terms of Customs
regulations. As required by import regulations, they examine and appraise merchandise and accompany-
ing documentation based on such factors as legal restrictions, country of origin, import quotas, and current
market values. Next, Import Specialists perform the critical task of determining the unit value of the
merchandise--often a difficult task--when calculating the amount of money due the government. They
interview importers or their representatives and, after a thorough check of import entry documents, make
certain that the imports match the description contained in itemized lists. They classify merchandise
according to U.S. tariff schedules and determine the exact duties and taxes payable to U.S. Customs.
In some instances, Import Specialists detect serious problems or violations related to import
shipments. They may then call for a formal inquiry by Customs Special Agents or may notify agents of
other government agencies responsible for import inspections. Examples of such situations include
evidence of intent to cheat the government of the United States and violations of copyright, trademark,
and marking laws that apply to specified products in international trade. Once the importer meets all the
various U.S. Customs requirements, Import Specialists issue the permits authorizing the release of
merchandise for delivery within the United States. Importers who fail to obey U.S. Customs requirements
are denied these permits until they qualify under Customs law. In cases in which merchandise is seized
by U.S. Customs personnel or is left unclaimed, Import Specialists appraise its value before its sale at
public auctions.
As a result of ongoing training and experience gained on the job, Import Specialists develop technical
expertise in specific categories of merchandise such as wines and spirits, electronic equipment, and
industrial machinery. In addition, they must keep up with ever-changing tariff regulations. As a means
of keeping their expertise current, they physically examine selected commodity shipments at arrival
points, importers' premises, and industry trade exhibitions. The professional judgment of Import
Specialists is of special importance to international trade experts, importers, and customhouse brokers
who rely on the Specialists to authorize the lowest allowable duties on merchandise to encourage
legitimate international trade. Import Specialists may be called upon to provide technical assistance to
the Department of Justice in defending the U.S. government's position in Customs cases. They assist
federal attorneys in the preparation of cases for Customs Court by supplying technical information and
advice and by securing qualified witnesses and evidence. They give testimony in court and may be called
upon to defend merchandise appraisals during appeals proceedings requested by importers.
