Ziem network
Customs clearance and freight forwarding in the United States
The United States is one of the largest air cargo markets in the world, and its tariff and trade rules change often. Accurate classification and origin data have never mattered more.
Shipping to and from the United States
US entries are filed electronically through ACE and classified under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Many goods also need data for partner agencies such as the FDA or USDA, and additional duties on certain origins can change at short notice. We check classification, origin and agency requirements before the flight departs.
Because we issue the air waybill and prepare the entry data in the same file, the advance data and the customs entry match from the start. This reduces holds and examinations.
Key facts for the United States
- Customs clearance
- Ziem network
- Customs authority
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Framework and systems
- Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS), ACE
- Importer registration
- an importer of record number and, for most formal entries, a customs bond
- Main airports
- New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA)
- Main seaports
- Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/New Jersey, Savannah and Houston
- Road freight
- Domestic trucking and cross-border road freight to Canada and Mexico.
- Peak and holiday periods
- Thanksgiving, Independence Day (4 July), Christmas and the Q4 peak season
What we handle in the United States
US import entries
Entry filing via ACE, HTSUS classification, duty calculation and release at the gateway.
Partner agency requirements
Coordination of FDA, USDA and other agency data where required.
Tariff & origin review
Checks on country of origin, additional duties and trade programs before shipping.
Export filings
Electronic export information for shipments leaving the US where required.
Air freight with own AWB
Direct air waybills via New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami.
Services in the United States
- Air freight to and from the United StatesAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight to and from the United StatesFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in the United StatesImport and export clearance by our in-house customs teams in 8 countries and by partner teams in the Ziem network.
Customs clearance in the United States
Ziem network
Customs clearance in the United States is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from the United States we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in the United States need an importer of record number and, for most formal entries, a customs bond.
Cities we serve in the United States
- New YorkJFK, EWR
- ChicagoORD
- Los AngelesLAX, ONT
- MiamiMIA
- AtlantaATL
- HoustonIAH
- DallasDFW
- San Francisco Bay AreaSFO, OAK, SJC
- SeattleSEA
- BostonBOS
- PhiladelphiaPHL
- Washington, D.C.IAD
- DetroitDTW
- IndianapolisIND
- CincinnatiCVG
- LouisvilleSDF
- MemphisMEM
- CharlotteCLT
- DenverDEN
- PhoenixPHX
- AustinAUS, DFW
- San DiegoSAN, LAX