Documents Required for Import and Export
The documents required for importing from China, whether for commercial or personal shipments, are as follows:
- Purchase invoice.
- Packing list.
- Certificate of origin.
- Bill of lading.
- Health certificates when importing food products and other goods, depending on the type of shipment.
- Hazardous and flammable material shipments require an MSDS certificate.
- Certificate of conformity for the goods; this is required for imports in some countries.
Important Import and Export Terminology
Bill of Lading
A contract between the exporter and the company carrying the goods. The carrier issues it, and it identifies the export or loading port, arrival port, mode of transport, freight charge, and payment method. This document confirms that the carrier received the goods aboard the vessel.
Waybill
A document that provides a full description of the goods, their types, and their names, whether they are transported by wagon, trailer, or vehicle. It is specific to road transport.
Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF)
A term indicating that the goods include inland transport and shipping costs until they reach the importer’s port.
Ex Works or Ex Factory (EXW)
This term means that the price applies only at the factory premises or factory warehouse, and the buyer bears responsibility for transporting all the goods without any responsibility on the factory.
Quotas
The quantity of imported goods permitted at a reduced tariff negotiated under a trade agreement.
Most Favored Nation (MFN)
One of the principles of the World Trade Organization. It provides for granting trade privileges and facilities between countries in commercial transactions.
Storage Fees
A charge similar to container demurrage but payable to the port. Delay penalties are paid for every day the goods remain on the port grounds beyond the period scheduled for unloading the containers.
Demurrage
The period beyond the time agreed between the importer and the shipping company. The agreed period ranges from one to two weeks, during which the containers are unloaded after being received at the importer’s port and the empty containers are returned to the shipping company. Otherwise, delay fees and penalties are charged.
Customs Duties
Taxes imposed on goods and borne by the importer after the goods are unloaded from containers upon arrival at the importer’s port. The competent government authorities assess these taxes either as a percentage or as a fixed amount added to the goods, regardless of their type.
Certificate of Origin
A certificate issued by the chamber of commerce in the exporter’s country that identifies where the goods to be exported were manufactured or produced. It is necessary to establish the nationality of the goods so the applicable duty rates or preferential treatment can be determined. It is also used to control the entry of economically boycotted or prohibited goods.
Commercial Invoice
An invoice issued by the exporter that states the quantity, value, and specifications of the goods sent and the delivery term associated with the price. It is certified by chambers of commerce.
Tariff Book
A publication containing all customs tariffs and other detailed, product-specific import requirements applied by a country to its imports. It is essential for every importer.
Customs Declaration Form (CDF)
A form completed by the customs broker to estimate the quantity of goods and the vessel’s load and submitted to the competent authorities for collecting the customs duties applicable to the importer’s goods.
Bonded Areas
Public or private warehouses supervised by customs authorities where goods are stored under customs supervision before clearance procedures. When goods leave these warehouses, the customs duties due on them are collected instead of being collected at the time of import. If the goods are re-exported, no taxes need to be paid.
Export Declaration Form (EDF)
A document stating details of the goods, including the exporter, carrier, export port, and import port. It is submitted to the competent authorities in the exporting country.
Rules of Origin
A set of rules contained in trade agreements to help determine a product’s country of origin. Determining the country of origin can qualify goods for preferential customs exemptions provided under free-trade agreements.
Pro Forma Invoice
A preliminary invoice issued by the factory. It contains a full description of the products, prices, import specifications, expected delivery dates, payment terms and dates, route, packing, shipping, insurance, and unloading. An importer may need this document to obtain a government import license or open a letter of credit.
Packing List
A document issued by the exporter that states the contents and number of each package, shipment weight, importer’s name, and commercial-invoice number, and accurately describes the products and their specifications.
Import License
A license or permit issued to an importer by a competent government authority, allowing the importer to bring in specified quantities of specified goods that cannot be imported without such a license. It is a government tool for controlling and monitoring cross-border trade and a mechanism for applying trade policies related to preferential treatment, pre-approval requirements, and mandatory health and safety requirements.
Export License
A government document that allows an exporter to export specified goods to a country.
Health Certificate
A certificate that states analytical data for the goods and identifies the materials used in their manufacture. It certifies that the product is fit for human or animal consumption.
Phytosanitary Certificate
A certificate stating that exported grains, seeds, or plant seedlings are free from disease.
Certificate of Weight
A certificate stating the actual weight of the goods. It is required for homogeneous goods whose value depends on weight, such as rice, sugar, and iron.
Specification List
A document stating the goods’ specifications, dimensions, and measurements, including length, width, thickness, and any other specifications. It also states the quantity in cubic metres and is normally used for goods valued by volume and measurement rather than weight or packing, such as timber and some types of iron.
Certificate of Surveillance or Inspection
A document for goods that may spoil during shipping. A designated party inspects them before export and again upon receipt at the arrival port.
Analysis Certificate
A certificate required for materials that must be analyzed to determine the proportions of their components. It must be issued by a specialized body such as a laboratory.
Clearance Papers
Papers issued by port customs authorities to the vessel’s captain, indicating that the vessel has fulfilled its obligations and may leave the port.
Customs Declaration
When imported or exported goods pass through inspection or customs-clearance points, they must carry declarations to facilitate their passage. Several customs-declaration forms are available to suit the specific customs procedure.
Customs Clearance
The transactions and formalities that include paying duties and presenting the documents required to clear imported goods after they are unloaded at an air, sea, or land customs checkpoint.
Discriminating Duties
Duties imposed on imports from a particular country at a higher rate than that imposed on similar imports from other countries.
Transit Trade
The transport of goods from dispatch centers to receiving centers and ports for temporary storage, some manufacturing, packing, or packaging, and subsequent re-export without paying customs duties on them.
Label
A piece of paper, printed statement, metal or leather tag, or similar item attached to goods or their container. It describes the container’s contents, identifies the party to which the goods are shipped, and states their origin and price.
Brand Name
A symbol used to distinguish one commercial product from similar products made by competitors. Trademarks receive legal protection against infringement under domestic and international law.
Manifest
A statement prepared by the vessel’s captain for goods unloaded from the vessel at a particular port. A copy is sent to the customs authority and shipping agents. The manifest contains a full description of the goods, importer’s name, weight, number of packages, volume, vessel name, voyage number, loading port, and discharge port.
Protective Tariff
A tariff established to protect or encourage a domestic industry by imposing a high customs rate on imported goods that compete with similar locally produced goods. Such a tariff promotes and diversifies national industry, but at the same time raises production costs and consequently affects consumers’ purchasing power.
Re-exportation
The export of goods or commodities previously imported from a foreign country without manufacturing them or making any fundamental change to them. This may occur when an importer rejects goods because they breach shipping conditions. Goods may also be re-exported to their country of origin or another country when customs or health authorities refuse to clear them because they are unfit for human consumption.
Export Restraint Agreement
An arrangement between an exporting country and an importing country that limits trade in one or more specified products. It restricts exports and imports between the two countries to defined limits or to a proportion of domestic sales in the importing country. An export-restraint agreement therefore protects domestic producers in the importing country from foreign competition.
Export Subsidies
Subsidies paid by a government to encourage exports.
Matreed provides you with what you want.
