A toy company decides to buy more products from an overseas company to reduce costs.

To ensure that goods clear customs more quickly when sourcing products from overseas, a company should engage a freight forwarder. Freight forwarders specialize in logistics and transportation, handling all aspects of the shipping process including documentation, customs clearance, and coordination with carriers. They have expertise in navigating customs regulations and can expedite the clearance process, reducing delays and associated costs.

A consolidator combines smaller shipments into a single larger shipment but does not specifically handle customs clearance.

An overseas carrier transports goods but does not manage customs processes.

A shipping association might provide support and resources but is not directly involved in customs clearance.

References:

Coyle, J. J., Langley, C. J., Novack, R. A., & Gibson, B. J. (2016). "Supply Chain Management: A Logistics Perspective."

Murphy, P. R., & Knemeyer, A. M. (2018). "Contemporary Logistics."