California Customs Attorney Statewide CBP Defense & International Trade Counsel

California customs attorney for importers and exporters statewide. CBP audit defense, seizure release, penalty mitigation, and classification disputes.

International Trade & Customs Law Services

Comprehensive customs and tariff defense for California importers at the Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach, and all U.S. ports of entry. Services include CBP audit defense, tariff classification, customs valuation, Section 301/232/IEEPA tariff strategy, UFLPA forced labor compliance, duty drawback recovery, and Court of International Trade litigation.

Current Tariff Landscape

With effective tariff rates at historic highs, California businesses need experienced trade counsel. We handle Section 301 China tariffs, Section 232 steel/aluminum tariffs, IEEPA tariff refund claims, and reciprocal tariff compliance.

Free consultation for importers: (818) 514-7680.

Filed Court of International Trade Actions

Trembach Law Firm is not only admitted to the U.S. Court of International Trade — it files its own IEEPA refund complaints there under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(i), with new complaints filed as importers sign. CBP deployed CAPE Phase 3 — which covers finally liquidated entries for plaintiffs holding a court reliquidation order — on October 6, 2026. As of October 28, 2026 the firm is counsel in 35 actions at the Court of International Trade, docket numbers 1:26-cv-04095, 1:26-cv-04154, 1:26-cv-04156, 1:26-cv-04164, 1:26-cv-04185, 1:26-cv-04248, 1:26-cv-04271, 1:26-cv-04277, 1:26-cv-04300, 1:26-cv-04327, 1:26-cv-04328, 1:26-cv-04335, 1:26-cv-04342, 26-04390, 26-04392, 26-04393, 26-04394, 26-04395, 26-04396, 26-04418, 26-04421, 26-04488, 26-04556, 26-04559, 26-04563, 26-04568, 26-04569, 26-04616, 26-04617, 26-04618, 26-04643, 26-04668, 26-04745, 26-04766, 26-04797 (list and verification: Court of International Trade filings). Anatolii Trembach is admitted to practice before the Court of International Trade and is licensed in California, State Bar #349304, verifiable at apps.calbar.ca.gov.

This matters for IEEPA refunds specifically. The Court of International Trade has ordered CBP to reliquidate and refund on plaintiffs’ entries, and CBP’s CAPE Phase 3 for finally liquidated entries is likewise available only to importers who are plaintiffs at the Court. An importer who never filed has no confirmed, self-executing mechanism. Choosing counsel who has actually filed at that court, rather than counsel who only describes the process, is therefore a practical question and not a marketing one.

Jurisdiction over these actions rests on 28 U.S.C. § 1581, and the window to sue runs under 28 U.S.C. § 2636(i). No particular outcome is promised or guaranteed.

Fees, Costs and Case Results

Representation in these matters is offered on a contingency basis covering attorney fees only: there is no attorney fee unless we recover, and clients remain responsible for case costs, such as court filing and service fees. The specific terms that apply to a matter are set out in the written fee agreement for that matter.

Where this site refers to a verdict, settlement or court order, that result was dependent on the facts of that case, and results will differ if based on different facts. Past results do not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other matter, and no particular outcome is promised or guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a California customs attorney do?

A California customs attorney represents importers, exporters, and customs brokers in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) matters arising at California ports. Practice areas include CBP audits and Focused Assessments, cargo seizure and detention release, monetary penalty defense under 19 U.S.C. § 1592, prior disclosure filings, tariff classification disputes (CF-28, CF-29, binding rulings), customs valuation issues, country-of-origin determinations, USMCA compliance, UFLPA forced-labor detention defense, AD/CVD scope and circumvention defense, and Court of International Trade litigation.

Which California ports do you handle customs matters at?

We represent clients at every major California customs port: Port of Los Angeles (CBP Port 2704), Port of Long Beach (CBP Port 2709), Port of Oakland (CBP Port 2811), Port of San Francisco (CBP Port 2809), Port of San Diego (CBP Port 2501), the Otay Mesa land border crossing (CBP Port 2506), LAX air cargo (CBP Port 2720), Ontario International Airport (CBP Port 2721), and San Francisco International Airport (CBP Port 2801). The San Pedro Bay complex (LA + Long Beach) handles approximately 40% of all containerized U.S. imports.

How much does a California customs attorney cost?

Customs matters are typically billed hourly or on flat-fee schedules depending on the engagement. CBP audit defense and penalty mitigation are usually hourly. Prior disclosure filings, binding ruling requests, USMCA certifications, and basic protests are often flat-fee. Initial consultations at Trembach Law are free — call (818) 514-7680 to discuss your matter and receive a written engagement proposal.

How long do I have to respond to a CBP penalty notice or CF-28?

CF-28 Requests for Information typically allow 30 days for response. CF-29 Notice of Action protests must be filed within 180 days under 19 U.S.C. § 1514. Pre-penalty notices (CF-5955A) under 19 U.S.C. § 1592 generally provide 30 days to respond before issuance of a final penalty notice. UFLPA detention exception applications must be submitted within 30 days of the detention notice. Missing these deadlines forfeits administrative remedies and can convert mitigation matters into Court of International Trade litigation.

Can a customs attorney help recover IEEPA tariff refunds?

Yes. Following the Supreme Court's February 2026 decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump striking down IEEPA-based tariffs, importers who paid duties under those orders may be entitled to refunds. Filing a CBP protest within 180 days of liquidation, or proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(i) residual jurisdiction, are the primary recovery mechanisms. We assist with refund eligibility analysis, protest preparation, and CIT litigation where required.

What is a prior disclosure and when should I file one?

A prior disclosure under 19 U.S.C. § 1592(c)(4) is a voluntary admission of customs violations that caps penalties at interest only (vs. up to four times the duty loss for fraud or two times the duty loss for gross negligence). File a prior disclosure when you discover a classification, valuation, origin, or other compliance error before CBP commences a formal investigation. The disclosure must include all violations, the legal basis for the violation, and tender of unpaid duties. We handle disclosure preparation, tender calculation, and perfection through CBP acceptance.

What is the difference between a customs attorney and a customs broker?

A licensed customs broker is authorized under 19 U.S.C. § 1641 to file CBP entries on behalf of importers but cannot represent clients in penalty proceedings, audits, litigation, or formal CBP enforcement matters. A customs attorney is a licensed lawyer who can represent clients in all administrative and judicial proceedings, including penalty defense, prior disclosures, Court of International Trade litigation, and federal investigations. For straightforward entry filing, a broker is appropriate; for any enforcement matter, audit, penalty, seizure, or dispute, a customs attorney is required.

Do you handle UFLPA forced labor detentions?

Yes. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (Public Law 117-78) creates a rebuttable presumption that goods made in whole or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region are produced with forced labor and prohibited from importation. We represent California importers with UFLPA detention exception applications, supply chain mapping, due diligence program development, and Withhold Release Order (WRO) responses for all CBP-FLETF priority sectors including cotton, polysilicon, tomatoes, seafood, and processed agricultural goods.

Contact Trembach Law Firm

Trembach Law Firm, APC

27001 Agoura Road, Suite 350, Calabasas, CA 91301

Phone: (818) 514-7680

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