The Customs and International Trade team offers an unparalleled experience to its clients with the goal of achieving maximum optimization, efficiency, and security in their operations. Our team has extensive experience in the management of customs and foreign trade operations, project development and implementation of customs optimization mechanisms (Free Trade Zones, international logistics distribution centers, Plan Vallejo, International Trading Companies, AEO, among others), planning and execution of cross-border operations, as well as in representing our clients in trade defense investigations, judicial processes and sanctioning procedures initiated by the competent authorities.

SERVICES PORTFOLIO
Customs Advice
  • Customs valuation.
  • Rules of origin.
  • Tariff classification.
  • Standards and technical regulations.
  • Review of contracts related to foreign trade operations.
  • Audits and due diligence on eventual contingencies. 
  • Review of qualifications, authorizations, customs clearances, and their policies.
Free Trade Zones
  • Structuring, planning and feasibility analysis of Free Trade Zone projects.
  • Request for qualification as Free Trade Zone users.
  • Processing of applications for the declaration, extension, expansion or reduction of Free Trade Zones.
  • General advice on Free Trade Zone matters (operations between users, sanctioning regime, due diligence, and verification of compliance with commitments and obligations). 
Authorized Economic Operator (AEO)
  • Advice on the feasibility analysis and AEO qualification process.
  • Diagnosis of compliance with the risk system of international supply chain and minimum requirements.
  • Request for AEO authorization before the National Tax and Customs Directorate and assistance in the verification visits of compliance with minimum requirements. 
  • Evaluation and visits to business partners.
Special Import - Export Systems - Vallejo Plan
  • Feasibility study for the implementation of a Special Importation-Exportation System as a customs optimization mechanism in any of its different types. 
  • Structuring and submission of the request for authorization to operate under the Special Importation- Exportation System.  
  • Implementation and administration of the mechanism.
     
International Trading Companies (C.I.)
  • Preparation, submission, and follow-up on the application for authorization as a C.I. 
  • Advice and assistance in the preparation of reports of suspicious transactions detected. 
  • Support in the elaboration and presentation of import and export reports.
  • Preparation of the Market Study to be included in the C.I. export plan.
International Logistics Distribution Centers (ILDC)
  • Enabling and structuring of operations, customs tax planning and advice on requirements and obligations. 
  • Submission and follow-up on the application for authorization as ILDC.
Customs and Foreign Trade Diagnostics
  • Diagnosis in customs, foreign exchange and foreign trade matters in order to propose optimization alternatives in the operations of our clients, identify possible risks and propose action plans. 
Customs and Foreign Trade Litigation
  • Advice and/or representation in the handling of sanctioning procedures initiated by the competent authorities, customs judicial processes and trade defense investigations (safeguards, antidumping measures, and countervailing duties).
Trade Defense
  • Advice and representation of interested parties (domestic producers, importers, and exporters) in the framework of trade defense proceedings (antidumping, countervailing and safeguard measures). 
  • Feasibility studies for the implementation of trade defense measures. 
  • Advice on the regulatory framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO). 
     
Trade Agreements
  • Analysis and impact studies of international trade agreements.
  • Assistance in the negotiation of international trade agreements.
  • Advice on the application of rules of origin and attention in disputes.
  • Proceedings before competent authorities.
  • Compliance with standards and technical regulations.
  • Customs optimization based on preferential tariffs.
  • Compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
  • Workshops, seminars and training on the application and benefits of trade agreements.
Investment Promotion and Protection
  • Advice on Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs).
  • Investment planning for obtaining protection benefits.
  • Advising on Investor - State dispute resolution.
Business Continuity Plan (BCP)
  • Business Impact Analysis (BIA) identifying the urgency of recovery of each of the company's operations.
  • Identification and risk analysis of critical business operations.
  • Support in the development of continuity system verification programs and organizational culture.
Supply Chain Internal Control Documents, Procedures and Policies
  • Elaboration of foreign trade operations and supply chain manuals.
  • Process diagramming of our clients' foreign trade operations, developing protocols, policies and assessments.
Experience
Provided advice to MATTEL on the compliance of technical regulations for the importation of toys to Colombia.


 

Provided advice to AUTOGERMANA, BMW’s distributor I Colombia, on customs matters connected with the importation of vehicles and parts to Colombia.
Provided legal advice to ASTELLAS US LCC in relation to the legal requirements for importing pharmaceutical products in Colombia.

Revision of the relevant documents for the import operations and review of its customs procedures in order to determine whether Astellas is complying with Colombian Customs regulations.

Provided legal advice to H&M HENNES & MAURITZ, GBC, AB in order to operate within the Colombian territory.

The legal advice on customs and international trade consisted of the general and specific requirements for the importation of goods into Colombia, as well as the review of customs mandates and legal advice on technical regulations for the importation of its products into Colombia.

Provided advice to TOPCO Associates LLC on the revision and analysis of the requirements and import preferences for goods covered by the Commercial Treaty signed between Colombia and the United States of America.
Provided legal advice to SANOFI AVENTIS COLOMBIA S.A.S. on preferential treatment based on the origin of its goods.
Provided successful advice to RIZZANI DE ECCHER S.P.A. Sucursal Colombia during its request for classifying parts of machinery as a Functional Unit in order to import it to Colombia.
Provided legal advice to VOLVO GROUP COLOMBIA S.A.S. in relation to the importation of its products in Colombia.

The legal advice included the revision of the relevant documents to perform import operations, and preparation of documents to request the authorization as a Trusted User.

Provided advice to ITAÚ BBA in the USD370 million financing of Puerto Bahía, a new port terminal in a free-trade zone in the Cartagena bay, Colombia.

As part of the advice, the firm performed a due diligence procedure related with customs and free trade zones.

Provided successful advice and representation to SYKES, PROTISA (CMPC), IMPALA TERMINALS, among others before the national authorities for the declaration of special free trade zones
Provided successful advice and representation to EXPRESS LUCK to become a Free-Trade Zone User in the Pacific Free-Trade Zone. Development of the authorization request in compliance with the current regulation.
Provided advice and representation of DSM NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS before the highest administrative court in proceedings related with tariff classification of nutritional products.
Provided successful advice and representation of TAM AIRLINES before the customs authorities in administrative procedures related with its operation in Colombia.
Provided legal advice to ASCENSORES SCHINDLER DE COLOMBIA Regarding the applicable regulation on customs and international trade for importing elevators and legal advice during and administrative procedures related to tariff classification.