Vioptic is a Canadian company that designs and develops complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensors for various consumer electronics applications. These sensors are used to capture and convert images into digital signals for display or transmission for mobile phones, webcams and security and surveillance system applications. It supplies to Paralen, an American multinational software corporation, as well as to a number of smaller American companies that specialize in state$-$of$-$the$-$art surveillance equipment. All of the company's products are made in a "configure to order" operational strategy, and have an end$-$to$-$end information technology system that has ensured that communications with suppliers and clients improve its efficiency all along its supply chain.

Vioptic is ready to be more global in scope, and hopes to tap into Asia$-$Pacific markets. Given the scope and size of this market, it is unsure what would be a good first point of entry, although working with Paralen has given it the opportunity to meet executives from a Japanese camera firm.

When Vioptic wants to send its finished image sensors to its client Paralen in the U$.$S$.,$ which professional intermediary would be most appropriate to help it with route selection, carrier selection, carrier rate negotiations, prepayment of freight charges, customs documents and tracking of the progress of the shipment while en$-$route to the destination?

A$)$ Customs broker

B$)$ Non$-$vessel operating common carrier $($NVOCC$)$

C$)$ Trading house

D$)$ Freight forwarder