A properly designed and implemented supply chain is responsive to domestic and international conditions, and will provide sustainable benefits and tax savings to your business. Reviewing your supply chain will enable you to:

- Rationalize your manufacturing capacity;

- Optimize your distribution network;

- Obtain total visibility across your supply chain through the realignment of inventory ownership;

- Make your business more flexible and adaptable to future business changes;

- Increase shareholder value and cash flow through the creation of sustainable structural tax improvements;

- Align your fiscal and operational tax models to ensure they are optimized;

- Optimize your indirect taxes, and customs processes;

- Provide more effective control of your business; and

- Simplify your transactions and processes.

Furthermore, if you are considering a joint venture partnership or an acquisition (M&A), then it would be prudent to consider the following questions:

- What do you know about the potential target company?

- What is the current scope of their business license and have they been operating within this scope?

- Has the potential target company been exporting and/or importing materials or finished products? If so, have they complied with their customs and other regulatory requirements?

- Does the target company have any machinery or equipment which are covered under an import incentive scheme? If so, have all compliance requirements been met?

- Are they manufacturing under customs supervision?

- What is their relationship and history with the Customs authority?

- Has the company secured all required import and/or export permits for its goods and will these permits be valid after the acquisition or to the joint venture?

- Who have they been trading with?

- If you are exporting to the EU or the US, will the target company meet AEO and/or C-TPAT requirements?

Bryan Cave International Consulting (“BCIC”) takes a holistic approach to reviewing and re-designing your total supply chain. We cover all strategic and operational aspects of your business, including:

- Reviewing communications channels within your organization;

- Assisting with new investments, from planning to implementation;

- Assisting with direct and indirect tax planning;

- Engaging the authorities in negotiating for investment incentives;

- Advising on the effective use of international trade rules and free trade agreements (“FTAs”);

- Reviewing your operations for compliance with Customs and other regulatory requirements;

- Classifying products in accordance with HS tariff codes;

- Determining preferential duty qualification (rules of origin; operational procedures) for goods;

- Determining the proper value of goods in related party transactions for purposes of Customs valuation;

- Determining the status of royalty payments for Customs purposes and how best to minimize exposure;

- Supporting and engaging the Customs authorities on enforcement matters;

- Providing customs, trade and investment intelligence, fine-tuned toyou’re your specific needs;

- Providing training on customs matters, including valuation, origin, compliance and HS tariff classification of products;

- Providing training on the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act requirements, as well as domestic anti-corruption regulations;

- Assistance in establishing a credible in-house customs and trade compliance function;

- Review of procedures and practices to determine whether there are any immediate potential FCPA exposures.

- Review of your products for the purpose of determining whether they are subject to any export control requirements.