The Risks of Manual FTA Qualification

The international trade environment is undergoing significant changes that directly impact businesses engaged in cross-border transactions. Recent developments underscore the urgency for companies to reassess their trade compliance strategies and implement advanced tools to manage risk and avoid penalties. Businesses must now contend with the IEEPA tariffs, potential changes to, or the expiration of the USMCA exclusions, and increased customs audits. Relying on manual processes to qualify goods under trade agreements like USMCA is no longer viable.

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The Risks of Manual Qualification: If your team is still manually tracking origin data or compiling certificates, you’re exposed to serious compliance and operational risks:

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• Human Error: Manual calculations and origin assessments are prone to mistakes, increasing the likelihood of non-compliance and penalties.

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• Time-Consuming: Keeping up with rules of origin, documentation, and certificates manually consumes valuable resources.

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• Poor Data Accessibility: If you’re storing documents across emails, spreadsheets, or siloed systems, you’re not prepared for a customs inquiry.

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And when Customs issues a CF-28, you won’t get a grace period. CBP does not care if your data is buried in siloed data or sitting in a misplaced Excel file. Kendrick Trade offers an online compliance platform designed to simplify and secure every aspect of trade qualification:

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• Automated FTA Qualification
Our platform reviews Bills of Material (BoM) against the specific rules of origin for each U.S. Free Trade Agreement. It generates fully documented qualification reports and certificates—no integration or IT lift required.

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• Centralized, Secure Data Management
All qualification data and supporting documentation are archived in one secure location. When customs comes calling, you can access everything instantly.

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• Real-Time Trade Updates
Stay ahead of changes to tariffs, FTA eligibility, and enforcement actions. Our system keeps you informed so your compliance decisions are always based on the latest intelligence.

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Don’t Wait for a CF-28 to Take Action: In light of current policy shifts—IEEPA tariffs, the uncertain future of USMCA exclusions, and intensified customs enforcement—there’s no room for manual processes, guesswork, or reactive strategies. Transition to Kendrick Trade’s online platform and take control of your compliance. You’ll reduce your audit risk, streamline your processes, and give your team the confidence to respond to Customs without panic.

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