SHIPINGKNOWLEDGEABLE GUIDELINE
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Document Requirement for Shipping China
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The ATA Carnet serves as a customs document that ensures payment of customs duties and taxes to the government upon arrival at the destination country. It facilitates the temporary importation of goods into numerous countries, encompassing Canada, China, India, Ireland, Kenya, Pakistan, Qatar, and numerous others. Its purpose is to enable businesses to temporarily import or export goods without incurring duties, taxes, or additional charges. Notably, the ATA Carnet is not a substitute for standard customs documents like the CMR (Commercial Manifest), but it offers greater convenience as it can be obtained prior to the shipment’s arrival at its intended destination.
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To commence the process, you simply need to request an ATA Carnet from any local Chamber of Commerce or one located in a country listed under the ATA Carnet program. This involves filling out an application, submitting it to the Chamber of Commerce for approval, and paying a processing fee. Your application will be evaluated within 10 business days, and you will be notified of the approval status.
The ATA Carnet remains valid for a maximum of 12 months. Once ready for use, you carry it with you when traveling from your country, along with the items you intend to temporarily import or export. Upon arrival at the destination country, you present your items, along with the ATA Carnet, to the customs official. They will stamp it, serving as a customs declaration form. This stamp signifies that all declarations have been made promptly, eliminating the need for further paperwork.
Upon returning home after your trip, you are not required to complete any additional paperwork or pay further customs fees. The temporary importation license has already been handled, ensuring a seamless and efficient process.
Free entry and exit license exemption
The ATA Carnet can be used to temporarily import and export goods and transit goods without a license or import/export permit, providing the importer and exporter with a great tool that saves time and money.
Exemption customs declaration procedures
The ATA Carnet is recognized by customs authorities as a document that replaces the need to obtain an import and export license or permit. It allows importers to avoid paying tariffs on their imports, thereby saving them time and money. The ATA Carnet system also allows for the faster movement of goods into and out of countries by simplifying customs procedures.
Free Customs Broker Certificate | Duty Free Guarantee Procedure
Customs duties are levied on all imported goods as they clear customs within a country. The owner of the goods is accountable for settling these duties, necessitating the completion of a customs declaration with the respective country’s customs authority. However, the utilization of the ATA Carnet for importing or exporting goods eliminates this requirement. It allows you to avoid filling out separate forms in each country and paying any import duties or taxes. This arrangement not only saves you time and money but also alleviates the workload of customs authorities in your country.
Since its inception in 1964, over 3 million ATA Carnets have been issued, attesting to its widespread acceptance and use in international trade today.
With regards to ATA Carnet Customs, goods temporarily exported using an ATA Carnet are exempt from import duties and taxes. Nevertheless, if the goods fail to return to China within the Carnet’s validity period or were not declared for temporary export upon entry, a customs declaration must be submitted, and import duties and taxes must be settled prior to the goods’ re-importation into China.
ATA Carnet related charges for import clearance
The Convention on the Facilitation of International Maritime Transport, also known as the Warsaw Convention or the ATA Documentary Convention, aims to simplify international shipping processes and provide more convenient services for freight forwarders and importers. According to Article 10 of the Convention, “No fees need to be paid for customs clearance procedures for ATA documents during normal working hours of customs.” It should be clarified that this provision applies to customs clearance operations during normal working hours. Therefore, when handling customs clearance, you need to carefully check the customs endorsement information on the ATA documentation.
In China, different types of documents correspond to different types of goods. The T1 document is used for importing goods, the T2 document is used for exporting goods, the T3 document is used for temporary exports, such as goods returned after repair, and the T4 document is specifically used for temporary imports, such as goods purchased in China.
These costs vary by country and region and may change over time. When using ATA documentation in China, some ports may charge a certain handling fee for customs procedures during non working hours or when there is no one on duty.
If you apply for export customs clearance through Chinese courier or agency companies, these institutions will be responsible for handling customs procedures for you and providing you with corresponding service fee invoices.
On the ATA document book, you will see two types of endorsements: one is to declare and accept endorsements, in the format of “declare/accept according to the ATA document book number […]”; Another method is to verify the endorsement, in the format of “verified by […] based on the serial number […] of ATA document number […]”. Please note that these endorsements are considered valid.
When importing goods from a foreign country, it is important to understand the country’s time restrictions for storing and re exporting goods. If the country does not have a time limit for re export, you are free to import the required quantity of goods. However, if the country sets time limits or specific dates, you must fully consider this factor when formulating import plans. For example, if it is stipulated that only 90% of the goods can be used before re export, you may need to consider other options instead of importing in full. In addition, even if there is no clear re export date, if the document indicates that exports must be made within 6 months or other specific times, you should plan in advance to avoid rushing to find new buyers before the deadline.
Re-exported cargo in different batches under ATA Carnet
When a company uses an ATA document to import goods and subsequently exports these goods in batches, the same ATA document can be used, which is called batch re export of goods. This approach is particularly common when companies hope to reach the minimum value of goods under the ATA documentation as soon as possible.
For goods to be re exported in batches, some countries have specific requirements when using the same ATA document for re export. If there are such requirements in a certain country, you should consult your agent or the customs department of that country to obtain relevant information.
If you plan to re export goods in batches, it is usually recommended that you provide separate declarations for each batch of goods. These statements should be written in pencil on the back of the original ATA document book.
Time Restriction on ATA carnet
Customs regulations require that ATA documents must be used within the validity period of the documents. Using expired ATA documentation will result in penalties. If there is no specific time limit on the ATA documentation and only a time period is specified, the goods must be re exported before the expiration date of that time period.
The holder of ATA documentation may use the goods within the period specified on the certificate, which shall be jointly agreed upon by all relevant parties. For example, importers and exporters may have agreed that the goods listed in the ATA documentation can be used for one month from the date of import. If there is a time limit or expiration date on the ATA document, that period will be included in the validity period of the ATA document. The period for re export should be at least the same as the usage period indicated on the ATA documentation. Even if the ATA documentation itself does not specify a specific re export period, but can only be used for a period of time (such as one year), in any case, re exports must be made before the time limit is reached.
Certificate holders can apply for an extension before or immediately after the re export deadline expires, although they are not required to do so. Every time customs procedures are processed, the customs need to sign corresponding vouchers and receipts at the same time, and keep them as proof of customs declaration. The receipt will remain in the ATA document book and be returned to the holder.