Andrea Turrini

The International Trade Centre (Intracen) has recently launched a Global trade Helpdesk : http://www.intracen.org/news/ITC-UNCTAD-WTO-launch-Global-Trade-Helpdesk: you can find the helpdesk tool here: http://www.helpmetrade.org/ It is not yet as complete or exhaustive as the Market Access Database and is still in development but could become a substitute to it post Brexit.

No, AEO applications and subsequent audits by customs are free of charge. However, some companies choose to use consultants to guide them through the process as preparation can be time consuming.

This is a practice whereby the cargoes of one or several shippers are bundled together for transport under a single transport document. It is also known as groupage when different cargoes are combined to fill a single container.

EAR99 is a category of items that are subject to the EAR but not listed within the Commerce Control List (CCL). This term represents items that are not specifically controlled by the EAR (in the CCL) or identified with an Export Control Classification Number (ECCN). Even though they are not specifically controlled, attention must be given to restrictions on the country and/or end user to which an EAR99 item may be exported as additional prohibitions may apply.

Customs has a penalty assessment they follow depending on the type of violation, the level of culpability and if there was a duty loss. There could be civil or criminal penalties associated with the violation. These may include monetary penalties or even jail time. There are 3 levels that Customs assesses for culpability: Fraud, Negligence and Gross Negligence.