Bonds

An OTI (Ocean Transportation Intermediary) Bond ensures that ocean freight forwarders and NVOCCs comply with Federal Maritime Commission regulations. It guarantees that contracts with shippers and carriers are honored, protecting the shipping public.

The most common customs bonds are the Single Entry Bond, which covers individual import entries, and the Continuous Bond, which provides ongoing coverage for all import transactions at U.S. ports.

A customs bond guarantees that importers will adhere to all relevant laws and regulations, ensuring timely payment of duties, taxes, and other charges. It protects the interests of U.S. commerce and allows importers to operate smoothly.

Single Entry Bonds cover only one specific import entry, while Continuous Bonds are annual bonds that cover all import transactions at U.S. ports, providing ongoing protection and compliance.

Importers in the United States are also required to post a bond (or its cash equivalent) with the U.S. Customs Service to guarantee that they (the importer) will obey and follow all laws and regulations pertaining to bringing goods into the country for commercial purposes.

This type of bond is not designed to protect the importer or their clients. It is intended to protect the interests of U.S. commerce. The surety, or bonding company, takes on the same responsibilities as the importer and provides the required money to assure that no financial harm is done to the U.S. or its economy by the failure of the importer to pay duties, taxes and other charges in a timely manner, to make or complete entry and to produce documents and evidence, to redeliver merchandise or otherwise comply with any pertinent law, regulation or instruction required by U.S. Customs. Unlike an insurance company, the surety has the right to come after the importer for full recovery of any loss the surety may sustain.

The most common type of customs bond is the Activity Code 1 Importer or Broker Entry Bond. Within this category there are two forms:

- The Single Entry Bond which covers only one import entry; and the

- Continuous Bond, an annual bond which is designed to cover all import transactions at a U.S. Port for the importer or broker.

Both forms will generally cover imports or entries for all legitimate commercial purposes.

The second most common customs bond is the Activity Code 2 – Custodian of Bonded Merchandise. This type of bond secures obligations related to custodial activities (the holding) of all classes of merchandise under customs supervision or being transported within the same customs port, or until released by customs. It includes several types to cover the custodial operations of bonded warehouses, domestic common carriers, cartmen, lightermen, centralized examination stations and container freight stations. Only continuous bonds are permitted as an Activity Code 2 bond.

Activity Code 3: International Carrier Bonds are the third most commonly used bonds related to the import of merchandise into the United States. Activities related to the entry or clearance of vessels, vehicles or aircraft from outside the U.S. are secured by this type of instrument, which may be written as either a single transaction or continuous bond. There is a bond under sub-code 3a: Instruments of International Traffic, that secures compliance with laws and regulations on the introduction of international traffic and other shipping containers without entry.

There are actually 11 Activity Codes for U.S. Customs Bonds that cover a range of activities.

The Remainder of these are:

A.C. 4 - Foreign Trade Zone Operator

A.C. 5 - Public Gauger Bond

A.C. 6 - Wool and Fur Products Labeling Act and Fiber Products Identification Act

A.C. 7 - Bill of Lading Bond

A.C. 8 - Detention of Copyrighted Material

A.C. 9 - Neutrality Bond

A.C. 10 - Court Costs for Condemned Goods

A.C. 16 - Importer Security Filings