Solutions Provider Helps Customers Cash In Customs Charges

Supply-chain solutions provider Union-Transport Inc. (UTi) has established a U.S. Customs Duty Drawback branch based in its Chicago office. The branch will give UTi customers the mechanism to gain refunds of import duties paid on exported merchandise; they're entitled to these refunds under a long-standing but underused U.S. Customs program. Through the branch, UTi plans to offer a more productive and user-friendly way to save money under the drawback program -- which many eligible firms historically have felt is too cumbersome and not worth the effort -- says Roger MacFarlane, UTi chief executive for the Americas. UTi -- headquartered in Rancho Dominguez, Calif. -- has six primary business lines: transportation (air and ocean freight forwarding), documentation, brokerage, information, logistics, and consulting.