Port of NY/NJ Customs Attorney

Federal customs representation for importers at the Port of New York and New Jersey — seizures, tariff refunds, drawback, and classification.

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

Which CBP port handles the Port of New York and New Jersey?
Imports through the Port of New York and New Jersey are processed under U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Port Code 1001 (New York/Newark), with air cargo through JFK International Airport processed under CBP Port Code 4701. The port is the busiest container gateway on the U.S. East Coast and third-largest in the nation, operated jointly by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey across terminals in Elizabeth, Newark, Bayonne, Staten Island, and Brooklyn.
My container was detained or seized at Port Newark/Elizabeth — what should I do?
Act immediately. CBP issues a detention notice (often within 5 days) and, if the goods are not released, a seizure notice with a deadline to respond. You can file a petition for relief under 19 U.S.C. § 1618, request release under bond, or pursue administrative or judicial forfeiture defenses. Common bases for detention at NY/NJ include suspected UFLPA forced-labor violations, intellectual-property/counterfeiting concerns, valuation or classification disputes, and admissibility issues. Deadlines are short, so contact a customs attorney before responding to CBP.
Can you recover Section 301 or IEEPA tariffs I paid on imports through NY/NJ?
Often, yes. Importers who overpaid Section 301 (China), Section 232, or IEEPA-based tariffs may recover duties by timely filing a protest under 19 U.S.C. § 1514 (generally within 180 days of liquidation), by participating in the IEEPA refund process where applicable, or through litigation at the U.S. Court of International Trade. We review your entry summaries (CBP Form 7501) and liquidation dates to identify every refund avenue before the deadlines run.
How does duty drawback work for goods moving through the Port of NY/NJ?
Duty drawback lets you recover up to 99% of duties, taxes, and fees paid on imported merchandise that is later exported or destroyed — including unused-merchandise, manufacturing, and rejected-merchandise drawback. With NY/NJ's heavy re-export and distribution volume, drawback is frequently overlooked money. We help structure drawback claims, file with CBP's drawback office, and document the import-to-export trail.
CBP says my goods are misclassified under the HTSUS — how do you fight that?
Tariff classification disputes turn on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS), the General Rules of Interpretation, Explanatory Notes, and CBP precedent. We can request a binding ruling from CBP, respond to a CF-28 Request for Information or CF-29 Notice of Action, file a protest against an adverse liquidation, and litigate classification at the Court of International Trade. Correct classification can dramatically lower your duty rate and eliminate penalty exposure.
What is a CF-28 / CF-29, and why did I receive one after importing through NY/NJ?
A CF-28 (Request for Information) is CBP asking for documentation to verify the value, classification, origin, or admissibility of your entry. A CF-29 (Notice of Action) is CBP telling you it intends to change something — usually to increase duties. Both are time-sensitive and can lead to rate advances, penalties under 19 U.S.C. § 1592, or audits. A measured, well-supported response protects your position and often avoids escalation.
Do I need a New York or New Jersey-based lawyer for a customs matter at the port?
No. Customs and international trade law is federal. Matters are handled before CBP and the U.S. Court of International Trade, not state courts, so an attorney admitted to the Court of International Trade can represent importers at the Port of NY/NJ regardless of where the firm is located. We represent importers and exporters nationwide on Port of NY/NJ entries.
How are customs legal fees structured — is it contingency like an injury case?
No. Unlike personal-injury work, customs and trade matters are generally handled on an hourly or flat-fee basis appropriate to the work (protest, ruling request, penalty defense, drawback filing, or CIT litigation). We provide a clear engagement scope and fee estimate after a free initial consultation so you know the cost before proceeding.
What is an Importer Security Filing (ISF or '10+2') and what happens if it is wrong at the Port of New York and New Jersey?
For ocean cargo arriving at the Port of New York and New Jersey, the importer must transmit an Importer Security Filing (ISF, commonly called "10+2") to CBP at least 24 hours before the goods are laden aboard the vessel. Late, inaccurate, or missing ISF data can draw liquidated damages of up to $5,000 per violation, cargo holds, and higher examination rates. We help importers correct ISF problems, respond to ISF liquidated-damages claims, and put compliant filing procedures in place to avoid repeat penalties.
Do I need a customs bond to import through the Port of New York and New Jersey?
Yes. A commercial importer bringing goods through the Port of New York and New Jersey generally needs a CBP customs bond — either a single-entry bond for occasional shipments or a continuous bond for regular importers — to guarantee payment of duties, taxes, and potential penalties. If the bond amount is insufficient, CBP can reject your entries and demand a bond increase, and bond claims (liquidated damages) can follow violations. We advise on bond sufficiency and defend importers against CBP bond and liquidated-damages claims.
If my customs broker made the mistake, am I still liable for a the Port of New York and New Jersey entry?
Usually, yes. As the importer of record, you bear ultimate responsibility for the accuracy of every entry filed at the Port of New York and New Jersey, even when a licensed customs broker prepared it, under CBP's "reasonable care" standard. You may have a separate claim against a negligent broker, but CBP will look to you for unpaid duties and penalties. We defend importers in penalty actions, untangle broker-related errors, and help establish the reasonable-care procedures that protect you going forward.

Contact Trembach Law Firm

Trembach Law Firm, APC

27001 Agoura Road, Suite 350, Calabasas, CA 91301

Phone: (818) 514-7680

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