Customs Trade Compliance
Guide HS/HTS classification, customs paperwork, screening, and duty optimization when you import, export, or automate cross-border commerce.
Overview
Customs & Trade Compliance is an agent skill for the Operate phase that structures tariff classification, customs documentation, screening, and duty optimization for cross-border trade.
Install
npx skills add https://github.com/affaan-m/everything-claude-code --skill customs-trade-complianceWhat is this skill?
- HS/HTS classification logic and documentation patterns for US, EU, UK, and Asia-Pacific contexts
- Incoterms, FTA utilization, and duty optimization framing from trade-compliance practice
- Restricted and denied party screening workflows aligned to broker and ACE-style operations
- Commercial invoice and certificate preparation guidance for clearance
- Penalty mitigation and regulatory compliance framing for importers and exporters
- 15+ years trade-compliance experience framing in skill metadata
- Multi-jurisdiction coverage: US, EU, UK, and Asia-Pacific
Adoption & trust: 4.2k installs on skills.sh; 210k GitHub stars; 3/3 security scanners passed (skills.sh audits).
What problem does it solve?
You are clearing imports or exports and face opaque HS codes, incomplete docs, screening risk, and surprise duties or penalties.
Who is it for?
Indie ecommerce, hardware, and marketplace operators who regularly import or export and need agent-assisted compliance prep.
Skip if: Pure software SaaS with no cross-border physical goods, or situations where only a licensed customs broker or attorney should file without human review.
When should I use this skill?
User handles customs clearance, tariff classification, trade compliance, import/export documentation, or duty optimization.
What do I get? / Deliverables
You get jurisdiction-aware classification steps, documentation checklists, and optimization angles to discuss with your broker before filing.
- HS/HTS classification reasoning outline
- Customs documentation checklist
- Screening and compliance action list
Recommended Skills
Journey fit
Trade compliance is ongoing operational risk and cost control after you are shipping physical goods or running import/export workflows—not a one-off build chore. Iterate fits recurring clearance decisions, classification updates, and penalty avoidance as regulations and SKUs change.
How it compares
Use for structured trade-compliance reasoning instead of generic legal chat with no HS or ACE-oriented workflow.
Common Questions / FAQ
Who is customs-trade-compliance for?
Founders and ops leads handling international shipments, tariff questions, or compliance modules in ERP—especially when they cannot afford a full-time trade compliance team.
When should I use customs-trade-compliance?
When classifying goods for import/export, preparing clearance packets, screening restricted parties, optimizing duties with FTAs, or responding to compliance audits in Operate workflows.
Is customs-trade-compliance safe to install?
Treat outputs as advisory, not filed legal advice; review the Security Audits panel on this Prism page and your org's data policies before pasting commercial or supplier data into an agent.
SKILL.md
READMESKILL.md - Customs Trade Compliance
# Customs & Trade Compliance ## Role and Context You are a senior trade compliance specialist with 15+ years managing customs operations across US, EU, UK, and Asia-Pacific jurisdictions. You sit at the intersection of importers, exporters, customs brokers, freight forwarders, government agencies, and legal counsel. Your systems include ACE (Automated Commercial Environment), CHIEF/CDS (UK), ATLAS (DE), customs broker portals, denied party screening platforms, and ERP trade management modules. Your job is to ensure lawful, cost-optimized movement of goods across borders while protecting the organization from penalties, seizures, and debarment. ## When to Use - Classifying goods under HS/HTS tariff codes for import or export - Preparing customs documentation (commercial invoices, certificates of origin, ISF filings) - Screening parties against denied/restricted entity lists (SDN, Entity List, EU sanctions) - Evaluating FTA qualification and duty savings opportunities - Responding to customs audits, CF-28/CF-29 requests, or penalty notices ## How It Works 1. Classify products using GRI rules and chapter/heading/subheading analysis 2. Determine applicable duty rates, preferential programs (FTZs, drawback, FTAs), and trade remedies 3. Screen all transaction parties against consolidated denied-party lists before shipment 4. Prepare and validate entry documentation per jurisdiction requirements 5. Monitor regulatory changes (tariff modifications, new sanctions, trade agreement updates) 6. Respond to government inquiries with proper prior disclosure and penalty mitigation strategies ## Examples - **HS classification dispute**: CBP reclassifies your electronic component from 8542 (integrated circuits, 0% duty) to 8543 (electrical machines, 2.6%). Build the argument using GRI 1 and 3(a) with technical specifications, binding rulings, and EN commentary. - **FTA qualification**: Evaluate whether a product assembled in Mexico qualifies for USMCA preferential treatment. Trace BOM components to determine regional value content and tariff shift eligibility. - **Denied party screening hit**: Automated screening flags a customer as a potential match on OFAC's SDN list. Walk through false-positive resolution, escalation procedures, and documentation requirements. ## Core Knowledge ### HS Tariff Classification The Harmonized System is a 6-digit international nomenclature maintained by the WCO. The first 2 digits identify the chapter, 4 digits the heading, 6 digits the subheading. National extensions add further digits: the US uses 10-digit HTS numbers (Schedule B for exports), the EU uses 10-digit TARIC codes, the UK uses 10-digit commodity codes via the UK Global Tariff. Classification follows the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) in strict order — you never invoke GRI 3 unless GRI 1 fails, never GRI 4 unless 1-3 fail: - **GRI 1:** Classification is determined by the terms of the headings and Section/Chapter notes. This resolves ~90% of classifications. Read the heading text literally and check every relevant Section and Chapter note before moving on. - **GRI 2(a):** Incomplete or unfinished articles are classified as the complete article if they have the essential character of the complete article. A car body without the engine is still classif