Articles

Importers often try to avoid customs clearance processes, relying entirely on the customs broker. On the one hand, the broker is a customs expert, possesses relevant experience and, ultimately, … receives a commission for his/her work. It seems that the importer should not be involved in the processes managed by the customs broker. On the other hand, such self-exclusion can result in very unpleasant financial and reputational consequences. This article considers the most common misconceptions of importers in cooperation with customs brokers, which cause losses for both sides.

In response to EU and other countries’ sanctions, Russia and Belarus retaliated by imposing export bans on certain products to what were branded ‘unfriendly countries’. As a result, some products, … although not subject to EU import restrictions, cannot be imported because they cannot be taken out of the exporting country. So how can one learn which goods are restricted? Information on export prohibitions, restrictions and tariffs are now available on Access2Markets.

Customs put the pieces of the various authorities' puzzle together and release the goods with an overall decision. Therefore, among many other players, the customs administration plays an extremely … important role in effective operations in the port, and close cooperation among all the stakeholders is an obvious guarantor of quality. In this part, we examine the tasks and challenges facing the logistics industry, the core mandate of customs and their challenges, and how can another dimension of effective process flow be created?

The aim of Port Community Systems (PCS) or trade Single Windows (SW) activities is not to replace existing systems. Rather, it is to create a sufficient landscape of electronic infrastructure … and exchange mechanisms to link the administrative processes with the operation of all stakeholders involved. Collaboration/ cooperation is the key to getting everyone on board and creating the right modern environment for an effective port. This can create an attractive environment for trade and, thus, an increase of economic activities. So, what role do PCS play, and are or can they be a building block for the process?

In order to stimulate 'thinking outside the box' in the EU debate on the future of the Customs Union, the European Commission has established a Wise Persons Group on Challenges Facing the Customs … Union (WPG) to reflect on four key topics: e-commerce, risk management, the effective management of non-financial tasks and the future of customs governance structure. The group consists of 12 representatives of business, science and state institutions. The result of their work is presented in the report published on 31 March 2022, reviewing both the current customs situation and the origins of the systemic problems, as well as providing 10 recommendations for a major breakthrough.

Reader‘s question: We are a medium-sized EU manufacturing company. We import and export goods, and customs clearance is handled by customs agents. We are going to set up our own customs warehouse, … apply for the AEO status and obtain authorisations for customs simplifications. We have also faced restrictions in regard to the sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus. The question is, who in the company should be responsible for fulfilling the customs requirements and complying with them so that customs-related processes run smoothly?

The end-use customs procedure can offer the benefit of an import duty relief when the goods are imported for a specific use, or it might be the only option to import certain goods. Let's look … at the specifics of this procedure by answering the reader's question about the conditions for the import into the EU of propane gas, which will be used in the technological process of a manufacturing plant. We also provide an overview of the general import requirements for chemicals.

The war in Ukraine and all the wars and armed conflicts happening around the world highlight the role of customs and customs specialists, especially as it regards compliance with restrictions … and prohibitions. Customs specialists must be not only active, but also proactive, so that bad hands do not get access to the tools they can use to cause suffering. Many other topic-related aspects were discussed, and views from various countries were shared during the 10th Authors’ Meeting, which took place on 17th March 2022.

Retrospective termination of the export procedure due to Brexit: different formalities of the EU member states using the example of Lithuania and Germany. In this article, we would like to address … a topic that is not entirely new but which is still frequently invoked and raises many questions. In particular, when different customs offices have different requirements for an alternative proof, uncertainty arises, and questions arise. While it is not a Brexit-specific problem, many export procedures opened to the UK still remain unsettled. The German customs administration has reacted to this with simplifications. But one thing after the other.

As of January 1st this year, the corresponding changes made by the European Commission in regard to the nature of transaction codes (see new codes in the Annex below) provided in the data element … ‘Nature of transaction (8/5)’ of the customs declaration have affected many businesses, and many of them have questions about which transaction code is to be used instead of the previous ones.

Any state that allows animals, plants or products of animal and plant origin to enter its territory shall establish additional measures aimed at protecting people, animals and plants from infection, … pests and diseases. Having a similar purpose, these measures differ depending on the country of their application. The article offers examples of the use of such measures in some countries, in particular, the UK (where the IPAFFS system is replacing the EU's TRACES), Ukraine and the Eurasian Economic Union.

The previous document shall be entered in box 40 of the customs declaration or in the data element (2/1). The correct declaration of these data is particularly important in the case of customs … procedures such as transit, customs warehousing, temporary admission, inward processing. According to the information provided in this box, customs authorities control the discharge of the procedure, and failure to discharge the procedure properly may give rise to tax liability.

One of the most important boxes of the customs declaration is the 44 (relevant data elements ‘Additional information (2/2)’, ‘Documents produced, certificates and authorisations, additional references … (2/3)’ and others), which contains the documents based on which the customs declaration is completed. It also indicates certificates, permits, and other information that we will review in discussing practical examples.

How to stop the war in Ukraine? Countries apply sanctions. Canada cut Russia and Belarus from the Most-Favoured-Nation Tariff treatment. In just one day, the EU released nine decisions and regulations … concerning restrictive measures against Russia. Customs in Lithuania extended controls to check whether sanctioned banks were not used for payment. Many businesses, especially SMEs, for the first time, one way or another, have encountered the impact of sanctions. So what are sanctions? What are the related developments in general?

While many countries of the world find it morally correct to act regarding the importation of forced labor products, in the case of Xinjiang cotton the actions will be very difficult to achieve. … Countries may enact “feel good” laws forbidding importation of such products and international bodies can develop guidelines and principles in commerce, but without the proper enforcement tools nothing can be accomplished unless these laws and guidelines can be enforced.

As is well known, the war started by Russia in Ukraine affects a wide range of areas, both security and economic. It may also affect aspects related to imports and exports between Israel and … Ukraine, which have signed a free trade agreement (FTA) in 2019. The reminder on that comes from the European Commission, which on February 23rd, 2022 released a notice to importers regarding imports from the non-government controlled territories of the Donetsk and Lugansk oblasts of Ukraine.