What is required for goods to be “in-bond”?

Goods that are considered "in-bond" refer specifically to items that have arrived in the United States but have not yet gone through the customs clearance process. This means that they are not subject to duties and taxes until they are officially cleared through customs, which allows for certain operational flexibility. The purpose of in-bond procedures is to enable goods to be stored, transported, or processed within the U.S. without the immediate obligation of paying tariffs that would typically apply once customs clearance occurs.

In this context, goods "entering the U.S. without clearing customs" indicates that they are temporarily in the country under a special status that allows for specific handling prior to customs duties and formal entry procedures being finalized. This procedure is particularly relevant for businesses that require time to organize the logistics of the goods before they are officially declared and cleared, or when goods are destined for other countries and may be transiting through the U.S.

The other alternatives do not accurately reflect the definition of in-bond goods. For instance, goods do not need to be cleared by local authorities to be in-bond, nor must they be processed for export, and the law does not stipulate that these goods must be manufactured within the U.S. to qualify for in