Los Angeles CBP Audit Lawyer
Los Angeles CBP Audit Lawyer - International trade, tariff & customs attorneys. CBP defense. Call (818) 514-7680.
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 has filed 3 complaints there. The actions are docketed at the Court of International Trade as 26-02506, 26-02846, 26-04095. 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 is a CBP Focused Assessment audit and why is my Los Angeles business being audited?
- A CBP Focused Assessment (FA) is an intensive compliance audit where U.S. Customs and Border Protection examines your import operations across multiple areas including valuation, classification, country of origin, and trade program eligibility. Los Angeles businesses are frequently targeted because the Port of LA/Long Beach handles 40% of all U.S. imports. High-volume importers, companies with prior violations, or those in high-risk industries (electronics, apparel, automotive) are common targets. Our Los Angeles CBP audit lawyers have defended over 200 Focused Assessments.
- How long does a CBP audit take and what are the potential penalties?
- Focused Assessments typically last 12-24 months, while Quick Response Audits take 90-180 days. Penalties under 19 USC 1592 can be severe: negligent violations equal the loss of duties, grossly negligent violations can be 4x the duty loss, and fraud can result in penalties equal to the domestic value of merchandise. For Port of LA importers, this can mean millions in penalties. Our Los Angeles CBP audit defense attorneys pursue strategic defense and mitigation under the 19 USC §1592 penalty framework.
- What is a Prior Disclosure and can it help during a CBP audit?
- A Prior Disclosure under 19 USC 1592(c)(4) is a voluntary self-disclosure of customs violations filed before CBP discovers them. When properly filed, it caps your maximum penalty at interest on lost duties - often 95% less than audit penalties. However, timing is critical: once CBP has "commenced" an investigation, Prior Disclosure protection may not be available. Our Los Angeles CBP audit lawyers evaluate whether Prior Disclosure is strategically beneficial and prepare comprehensive disclosure packages.
- What documents does CBP typically request during an audit of Los Angeles importers?
- CBP commonly requests: commercial invoices, packing lists, entry documentation, purchase orders, payment records, manufacturer certifications, country of origin documentation, related party transaction records, transfer pricing studies, HTS classification analyses, and internal compliance procedures. Port of LA audits often focus on valuation for related-party transactions and classification of electronics, apparel, and auto parts. Our Los Angeles team helps organize, review, and strategically produce these documents.
- How can a CBP audit lawyer in Los Angeles help reduce my penalties?
- Our Los Angeles CBP audit lawyers employ multiple strategies: (1) challenging CBP's culpability determination to reduce penalty levels, (2) developing mitigation packages highlighting cooperation and remediation, (3) filing Prior Disclosures when strategically advantageous, (4) negotiating settlement agreements with manageable payment terms, (5) identifying legal and factual errors in CBP's findings, and (6) appealing unfavorable decisions to CBP headquarters or the Court of International Trade.
- What industries at the Port of LA are most frequently targeted for CBP audits?
- CBP frequently targets Port of LA importers in: electronics and technology (classification and valuation issues), apparel and textiles (country of origin, quota, and classification), furniture and home goods (antidumping and valuation), automotive parts (classification and origin), e-commerce and direct-to-consumer imports (de minimis and undervaluation), and food and beverage (FDA compliance and valuation). Our Los Angeles CBP audit lawyers have deep experience defending importers in each of these sectors.
Contact Trembach Law Firm
Trembach Law Firm, APC
27001 Agoura Road, Suite 350, Calabasas, CA 91301
Phone: (818) 514-7680
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