Do i need an import license in the state of florida in order to import a clothing line from italy?

Question

i am trying to import a young made in italy line of clothing, also need information as to should i be in miami mechandising mart?

Answer 1

Assuming you have a shipping agent in Italy to take care of the production, packing, and export duties, the most important juristiction concerned is the U.S. Department Of Commerce - International Trade Administration  - Office of Textiles and Apparel. They expect you to have been issued a textile visa or wavier from Italy to certify the shipment. " However, a visa does not guarantee entry of the merchandise into the U.S. If the quota closes between the time the visa is issued in the foreign country

and the shipments arrival in the U.S. the shipment will not be released to the importer until the quota opens again."

All commercial shipments of textiles or textile products of vegetable fibers, wool, man-made fibers, and silk blends covered by a category number from a country with which the U.S. has such an agreement must be accompanied by a visa in order to enter the U.S. Properly labeled commercial samples valued at $800 or less need no visa and are not subject to quotas.

Shipments of handloomed fabric, hand-made articles made of handloomed fabric and traditional folklore products of the cottage industry, are exempt from quota and visa requirements if they are a product of a country with which the U.S. has both a bilateral and a visa agreement which specifically exempts such products, provided the foreign government has issued a proper and correct exempt certification.  

These agreements only waive the quota and visa requirements.  They do not waive the duty. There are 19 ports in Florida, naval and air, each with their own duty schedule.

"Experts spend years learning how to properly classify an item in order to determine its correct duty rate. For instance, you might want to know the rate of duty of a wool suit. A classification specialist will need to know, does it have darts? Did the wool come from Israel or another country that qualifies for duty-free treatment for certain of its products, where was the suit assembled, does it have any synthetic fibers in the lining...."

You also need a stateside agent or broker and perhaps a lawyer and accountant to navigate the Florida state regulations, since leather and fur may concern the Department of Fish and Game and the manufacturers may be of interest to the Department of Health or the Governor's Office on Tourism, Trade and Economic Development and your sales will concern the Department of Commerce.