Happy Fourth of July

Here is some American History for those of you who want to read further.

King George III and Great Britain had lost a great deal of money during the French and Indian War, and began imposing tariffs on the colonies to help pay off the debt. Colonists were not happy with the idea of newly imposed taxes & tariffs, so they began to boycott British goods. This led to the Boston Tea Party, which led to the British response of The Intolerable Acts, the First and Second Continental Congresses, Paul Revere’s infamous ride through the Battles of Lexington & Concord and finally the beginning of a war via the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, which is ultimately an explanation of a vote that was held July 2nd, 1776. The founding fathers ranged vastly in age. James Monroe was 18 during the revolution, and Benjamin Franklin was 70 at the time he signed the Declaration of Independence, both had significant impact on the forming of our nation.

This year has been very interesting for us because tariffs are at the forefront of our industry and the front page of the paper every single day. People who never before knew anything about tariffs, duties or Free Trade Agreements are taking interest in what we do. Some things that remain constant; good partners, a thorough and documented compliance program, and a properly classified commodity catalog (or as we say in the technical world – an HTS) pay benefits to any Supply Chain organization every single day.

If you are taking some time away this week, enjoy your time to its fullest and decompress. All of the work will be there upon your return, as will the rigors and excitement of international trade. If you’re working, take a little time to reflect on how people with different backgrounds, beliefs & political ideologies came together to create something incredible. I am off to the mountains amidst nature, as I always yearn.

I wish you, your family & friends a safe and Happy Fourth of July!