Do you need a special license or permitt to import goods into the USA?

Question

If you do need a permitt or license where do you apply for one?
Do you need this if you importing just material goods such as clothing etc.

Answer 1

yes dont be ridiculous you need a license

Answer 2

Yes, you do need a license or permit to import goods into the USA. And there are some goods that you can NOT import into the USA, regardless of how many licenses or permits you have. You also have to pay customs duties on the goods you import.
If you are planning to go into business importing things, you need to stop in at your friendly Excise and Customs office and find out exactly what is required, and to do it before you try to import anything.
If you are importing things just for your own use, the same advice holds true. Find out before you do it.

Answer 3

For most merchandise, you do not need a special license or permit to import into the USA. You will need to educate yourself on the import regulations. Go to: www.cbp.gov (this is the website for Customs & Border Protection), click on the tap at the top for 'Imports' and do some reading.
If you are planning to import for business, give serious considersation to using the services of a Customs Broker to clear the shipment on your behalf. These are the folks who deal with importing every day and they will be able to guide you through the whole process. You find a list of them on the Customs website - look for the contacts page, ports of entry and then click on the broker listing.
Importing can be tricky. It's better to know in advance than to find out the hard way.

Answer 4

To answer your first question, no, you do not need a license or permit to import goods into the USA. If you bring a couple bottles of wine home from vacation, you will pass customs. If you smuggle a ton of cocaine by speedboat to LA, you have imported those goods into the USA.

The problem with your question is specificity. What are you importing and how much? Do you intend to import it legally? These seem to me important questions that others have assumed an answer.

I would contact your local chamber of commerce to get more details on how to go about doing this.

Answer 5

If you are planning to import goods into the United States, I suggest you read the following US Bureau of Custom's papers

"Importing into the United States: A Practical Guide for Commercial Importers" http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/publications/trade/iius.ctt/iius.pdf -- this is a 200-page document that tells you the eligible items you can import and the invoices required, among other things

How Cargo Flows Securely into the US http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/cargo_summary/cargo_flow_map.ctt/cargo_flow_map.pdf
US Import Requirements http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/publications/trade/usimportrequirements.ctt/usimportrequirements.doc
http://canada.usembassy.gov/content/can_usa/borderissues_brochure.pdf (look at the last page as it has a good link of websites for additional info)

Other websites worth checking are:

CMTAC Trade Information Database http://latrade.cmtac.org/trade_info/index.cfm
Don'ts of Importing
http://www.gattiassociates.com/CM/Articles/Articles1277.asp
Flowchart of the export process http://www.export.gov/exportbasics/index.asp
Going Global http://www.going-global.com/articles/

These trade association websites also have loads of information on how to start an export import business:

Federation of International Trade Association http://fita.org/index.html
Professional Association of Exporters and Importers http://www.paei.org/

You may also want to check out the following books:

- Import/Export: How to Get Started in International Trade
- Exporting, Importing, and Beyond : How to 'Go Global' With Your Small Business
- Selling to the World: Your Fast and Easy Guide to Exporting and Importing
- Start and Run a Profitable Exporting Business
- Start Your Own Import/Export Business

Answer 6

yes

Answer 7

Ask the drug dealers.