International shipments of items, technology, and software are subject to numerous import and export obligations. Failure to apply for an export authorization or to file correct export documentation and shipping documents can result in personal fines, confiscation, and/or incarceration and may also result in loss of the item/material being shipped. The Office of Trade Compliance (OTC) is available to help you comply with the U.S. Federal export regulations.
Please note that while the OTC provides assistance for evaluating and/or filing export authorizations and related documents, the OTC is NOT in charge of managing actual shipments, including shipping and customs documentation.
Export Requirements
Basically, everything that leaves the U.S. is an export. This includes tangible items (laptops, cell phones, equipment, samples, paper documents etc.) and intangible products (trainings, know-how, files, data, etc.). When exporting, the Pitt Community should review the following:
Import Requirements
When importing items into the U.S., you should work with the shipper in order to ensure that all shipping documents are filled out properly and avoid any holding and associate fees by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Temporary imports may be eligible for license exceptions and duty free under the condition that proper forms are completed prior to shipping the items.
Special requirements:
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Items controlled under the ITAR always require a license before being imported.
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The following categories of items have restrictions when importing into the U.S.:
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Biological specimens
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Certain fish and wildlife, and products made from them
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Fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil
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Items from embargoed countries
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