What are the responsibilities of a Customs Broker as outlined in their practice?

A Customs Broker plays a crucial role in the import and export process by ensuring compliance with customs regulations. Their primary responsibilities include preparing and submitting necessary customs documentation, which encompasses a variety of forms and records required by customs authorities. This preparation is critical because it helps facilitate the smooth movement of goods across borders while ensuring that all duties and taxes are accurately declared and paid.

By preparing customs documents, the broker ensures that shipments adhere to the legal requirements of the importing and exporting countries, which can significantly affect the speed and efficiency of the logistics process. Accurate declarations of duties and taxes are important because they prevent potential penalties or delays that can arise from mismanagement or errors in the customs process. This function requires a deep understanding of customs regulations, tariff classifications, and valuation methods.

In contrast, the other options represent functions that are not typically within the primary scope of a Customs Broker's duties. For example, while a freight forwarder focuses on the transportation of goods and logistics, this is not the main role of a Customs Broker. Similarly, representing clients in legal matters is generally the purview of attorneys, not customs brokers. Informing clients about global trade policies can be part of a customs broker’s advisory services, but it is secondary to their main duties regarding documentation