How to use the Customs and Trade Compliance agent skill

What the skill makes the agent do

Once installed, the agent follows a structured approach when you ask about importing or exporting goods. It classifies products under Harmonized System codes using the General Rules of Interpretation, checks whether free trade agreements or duty-saving programs apply, screens trading parties against sanctions and restricted lists, and prepares or checks entry documents such as commercial invoices and certificates of origin.

It also covers how to respond to customs audits and penalty notices. The skill is written as guidance only. It does not connect to any customs system, so the agent cannot file anything or query live databases on your behalf.

Install the customs-trade-compliance skill

Download the ZIP file from this page and unzip it. The package contains a single file, SKILL.md. Place the unzipped skill folder in one of these locations: ~/.claude/skills/ for your personal use, or a project's .claude/skills/ folder to share it with a single project.

You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

• Personal: ~/.claude/skills/
• Project: .claude/skills/ inside your project folder
• Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills (upload)

Trigger the skill with natural requests

You do not need a special command. Describe the trade task in plain language. The skill's description covers customs clearance, tariff classification, trade compliance, import and export documents, and tariff optimisation, so requests on those topics are the ones it is meant to handle.

Include the details that matter: product description, materials, origin country, destination, Incoterms if known, and the parties involved. The more specific the request, the more useful the first pass.

• "Help me classify a set of electronic components under the HS code system."
• "Check whether our product assembled in Mexico could qualify for USMCA preferential treatment."
• "Screen this customer against sanctions lists and tell me what to check next."
• "Draft a checklist for the commercial invoice and certificate of origin for this shipment."
• "How should we respond to a CF-28 request from customs?"

Worked examples the skill covers

The skill's built-in examples show the kinds of reasoning it applies. In an HS classification dispute, it works through General Rules of Interpretation 1 and 3(a), technical specifications, binding decisions and explanatory notes. For a free trade agreement check, it traces bill-of-materials components to assess regional value content and tariff shift eligibility. For a sanctions screening hit, it walks through false-positive resolution, escalation steps and documentation requirements.

What the skill needs and how it runs

The skill lists no required dependencies. It does not run scripts and does not use the network. Everything it provides is written guidance that the agent applies to your question.

• Requires: nothing listed
• Runs scripts: no
• Uses network: no

Safety notes before you rely on the output

Treat the output as a draft. The content is general guidance and can be wrong for a specific shipment. Have a licensed customs broker or trade lawyer verify any classification or filing before you submit it or act on it.

Do not use the skill as a sanctions clearance decision. A false negative can create serious legal exposure. Check real counterparties in an official, authoritative list tool. The skill is also not detailed for jurisdictions outside the US, EU, UK and Asia-Pacific.

• Verify classifications and filings with a licensed broker or trade lawyer.
• Confirm every sanctions result in an official list tool.
• Check coverage before using it for other jurisdictions.

Tips for better results

Give the agent the full picture: the product's materials and function, not just its name. For classification, ask the agent to explain which General Rule it applied, so a reviewer can check the reasoning. For documentation, ask for a checklist you can take to your broker rather than a finished form.

• Name the origin, destination and Incoterm for each shipment.
• Ask for the reasoning, not only the answer.
• Use the output as a checklist to review with a specialist.