It is extremely frustrating and confusing to get your goods across international borders since there are so many rules and regulations in place. Also, there are a number of factors involved in the customs clearance which might be unknown to people outside the trade. The clearance needs a lot of documentation as well as preparation and the rules vary for each country. Although international trade has become a lot simpler as compared to what it was before, people still need a guide to move along. Today, the trade barriers have been lowered and the rules have been simplified in multiple cases. With technology in hand, things have started to fall into pieces. So here’s everything you need to know about it:
What factors impact the clearance?
There are some factors which might delay your shipments. So you must be very careful with them:
- Nature of the cargo– If you are shipping products that are dangerous or products that are food or consumables, these products might be checked for a bit longer. This is also applied to restricted items like firearms, animals and plants, and they need detailed packaging, declaration, labeling and storage information.
- Free trade agreements– The trade agreements are mostly made among countries to reduce trade tariffs. There are multiple benefits of trading in a trade-free zone. But to avail of it, one must know if their products qualify for it. If they do, you need to produce an origin certificate as a proof.
- Digital customs– The customs system in most countries is digitalized. Businesses must know about Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) systems to conduct the process effortlessly. Failing to know the system or providing declarations on time can delay the clearance.
What rules should you be aware of?
Among the many, here are things that you must pay special attention to:
- Know the foreign trade rules of the countries you are dealing your shipments in. The key laws governing transportation must not take you by surprise.
- Understanding the export controls is extremely necessary if you are dealing with dangerous goods. The rules change according to the country you are importing or exporting the goods with.
- The government has certain restrictions while dealing in foreign goods exchange. There are varying rates for various goods categories. The clearing agreements must also be known to you.
Contact Clearit.ca to get your shipments across the international borders smoothly.
