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In international trade, the customs clearance of goods imported by air is
crucial. If not handled properly, it may result in goods being held up,
incurring additional costs or even facing fines. The following are some
effective strategies to avoid the common problems of air import customs
clearance organized by Logic.
1. Understand the customs clearance requirements in advance
Familiarize with the regulations of the destination country
Customs regulations vary greatly from country to country. Before importing
goods by air, be sure to study the customs policy of the destination country,
including restrictions on imported goods, prohibitions, and special
certification and licensing requirements.
Clarify Commodity Classification
Accurate commodity classification is the key to customs clearance.
Determine the correct classification of the goods according to the destination
country's customs coding (HS Code) system, which determines tariff rates,
regulatory conditions and many other important factors. A professional customs
broker or customs agent can be consulted to ensure the accuracy of the
classification of the goods. For example, an electronic product may fall under a
different HS Code category due to minor functional differences, which may result
in different duty rates.
2. Prepare complete documents
Complete basic documents
Ensure that you have complete commercial documents such as commercial
invoice, packing list and bill of lading. The commercial invoice should specify
the value, quantity and unit price of the goods in detail; the packing list
should accurately describe the packaging of the goods and the details of the
contents; and the bill of lading is the proof of ownership of the goods and is
used for picking up the goods. The information in these documents must be
consistent with each other, and any discrepancy may trigger a challenge from the
customs and lead to a delay in customs clearance.
Special documents in advance
For some special goods, additional documents are required. For example,
medical devices may require a medical device registration certificate; food may
require an imported food hygiene certificate. Understand and handle these
documents in advance to avoid confusion during customs clearance.
3. Choose a reliable customs clearance agent
Examine the agent's qualifications
An experienced and well-qualified customs clearance agent can greatly
reduce the risk of customs clearance. Check the agent's business license,
customs clearance qualification certificate and other relevant documents to
ensure that it is legally compliant.
Communication and cooperation
It is important to maintain good communication with the customs clearance
agent. In the process of cargo transportation, timely cargo information,
documents, etc. provided to the agent, so that they can do a good job in advance
to prepare for customs clearance.
4. Ensure accurate cargo information
Accurate cargo description
In the bill of lading, invoice and other documents, the description of the
goods should be accurate. This includes details such as the name, model,
specification and material of the goods. Fuzzy or wrong descriptions may cause
misunderstanding by the customs and lead to obstruction of customs
clearance.
Declare the value of the goods reasonably
Declare the value of the goods truthfully. Over-declaration or
under-declaration can cause problems. Over-declaration can lead to overpayment
of customs duties, while under-declaration can be suspected of duty evasion and
lead to customs investigations.
Customs clearance for airfreight imports requires rigorous preparation and
meticulous operation. By understanding customs clearance requirements in
advance, preparing complete documentation, choosing a reliable agent, and
ensuring that cargo information is accurate, common problems can be effectively
avoided, and cargo can pass through customs clearance and enter the domestic
market quickly.