LILIA C. SERRANO

San Diego, California sits at one of the most active trade corridors in the Western Hemisphere. The San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry process billions of dollars in cross-border commerce annually, and importers operating in this region face a complex web of U.S. Customs and Border Protection requirements. Lilia C. Serrano, a CBP-licensed customs broker holding filer code NU5, is based in San Diego and serves commercial importers who need professional representation navigating this high-volume trade environment.

For importers moving goods from Mexico into the United States, working with a locally licensed broker is a practical advantage. Serrano's San Diego base positions her to handle entries at the Otay Mesa commercial crossing, one of California's primary freight ports of entry, as well as shipments arriving via air or connecting through the Southern California logistics network. This includes goods subject to FDA, USDA, or other partner government agency oversight that frequently accompany cross-border and Pacific Rim imports.

Core customs brokerage services typically include customs entry preparation and submission through the ACE portal, harmonized tariff schedule (HTS) classification to determine applicable duty rates, importer security filing (ISF) submission for ocean freight shipments, and customs bond procurement and management. For importers who are newer to the process and researching how to import goods into the USA, a licensed broker like Serrano can translate regulatory requirements into actionable steps and help avoid costly delays or holds at the port.

San Diego's import landscape encompasses a wide range of commodity types — from consumer goods and textiles manufactured in Mexico to electronics and machinery sourced from Asia via the Port of Long Beach and routed inland. Proper HTS code classification is critical in each of these scenarios, affecting not only the applicable duty rate but also eligibility for trade programs, section 321 de minimis treatment on qualifying low-value shipments, and potential duty drawback claims on goods that are subsequently exported.

Importers with recurring shipment programs, especially those running established Mexico-origin lanes or Pacific Rim supply chains through Southern California, benefit from working with a broker who understands the local port environment, CBP's ACE portal submission requirements, and customs bond requirements that apply to their import volume. Lilia C. Serrano can be reached directly at 619-250-4011 for inquiries regarding customs brokerage services in the San Diego area.