GLOSSARY
Customs broker
A licensed agent who clears goods through customs on behalf of importers or exporters, handling tariff classification, valuation, and regulatory filings.
A customs broker is a licensed agent authorized to act on behalf of importers or exporters in clearing goods through customs. Brokers prepare and submit declarations, classify goods under the HS code tariff schedule, calculate duties and taxes, and ensure compliance with import and export regulations.
Why it matters
Brokerage licensing is a national matter. In the United States, brokers are licensed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In the European Union, the role is handled by customs representatives operating under the Union Customs Code — direct or indirect, depending on whether they file in the importer's name or their own. Whichever the jurisdiction, the broker is the operational owner of the customs filing and shares liability for accuracy.
Working with a broker (versus self-filing) trades a per-entry fee for compliance expertise, faster clearance, and reduced exposure to penalties. Programs like AEO and C-TPAT can streamline broker-led clearances further by tagging the importer as low-risk.