As a business engaged in international trade, your company's import and export records are required to be submitted to the U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on a regular basis. These records contain valuable information such as the origin, destination, value, and description of the goods being shipped, as well as the names of the parties involved in the transaction.
The CBP makes this information publicly available on their website through their Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) portal. While this is intended to promote transparency and accountability in international trade, it also means that anyone with an internet connection can access your company's import and export records.
This can have several implications for your business. Firstly, customers may use this information to assess the quality and reliability of your products and services. They may also use it to compare your prices and terms with those of your competitors. This could potentially lead to increased competition or pressure to lower your prices.
Similarly, competitors can use your import and export records to gain insights into your business operations and supply chain. This could help them identify potential opportunities to gain a competitive advantage, such as by identifying new suppliers or markets.
Suppliers, logistics firms, Amazon sellers, and factories may also access your import and export records to identify potential business opportunities. They may use this information to offer their services or products to your company or to compete with you in the marketplace.
Marketers can also use your import and export records to target their advertising and promotional campaigns towards your customers or potential customers. They may use this information to create targeted ads that offer products or services that are similar to yours, potentially leading to decreased sales and revenue for your business.
Overall, the fact that your import and export records are publicly available on the internet can pose a significant risk to your business. It is important to be aware of this risk and take appropriate measures to protect your company's confidential information, such as using our service to insure manifest confidentiality along with monitoring your online presence.