International Shipping |
|
|
Hargrove, Inc. proudly recommends R.E. Roger, Inc. for all our international shipping needs. The following FAQ's have been reprinted with permission from R.E. Rogers, Inc., Los Angeles, CA. |
|
| Q. | What is a "Trade Fair" entry? |
| A. |
The trade fair act of 1959 gives authority to the U.S. Department of Commerce to "certify" a trade show organized in the U.S. and allow it to have certain specific privileges with regard to the handling of temporary importations of merchandise to be exhibited at the trade show. The customs procedures and documentation requirements regarding the handling of trade fair entries vary from city to city. A trade fair bond is filed by the customs brokers designated for the show on behalf of the trade show organizer and guarantees that duties, taxes and penalties will be paid to U.S. Customs in the event that the importer does not comply with the trade fair or other import regulations. A fee is charged to the exhibitor for use of the trade fair bond. This fee is not refundable. |
| Q | If goods are imported on a temporary basis but the trade fair has not been "certified" (thereby prohibiting use of a trade fair entry), can the status of the import be changed from temporary to permanent at the close of the show? |
| A | It is within the discretion of the Customs authorities in each port to allow importation of goods that were previously classified as being temporary import only. Some cities do not allow this change at all. Where a change is allowed, penalties may be assessed in addition to duties of from 110% to two times the amount of duty. |
| Q | What is the normal amount of time for customs clearance in the U.S.? |
| A | Depending on the type of shipment and the receipt of advance documentation, some air freight shipments may be cleared before their arrival to the U.S. Otherwise, air freight shipments are cleared in one to two working days. If an inspection is required, the clearance may take an additional one to two days. Overtime clearances are allowed only on a case-by-case basis in most ports in the U.S. Ocean freight shipments are normally cleared in two to three working days. If an inspection is required, the clearance may also take an additional one to two days. |
| Q | Are ATA Carnets allowed in the US? |
| A | Yes, under certain circumstances. An ATA Carnet is a lower cost alternative for shipments intended to be imported on a temporary import basis and subsequently re-exported. It is prohibited to change the import status of merchandise imported using an ATA Carnet. The goods must be re-exported and returned to the point of origin. ATA Carnets are technically not allowed for use at fairs and exhibitions in the U.S. They are not accepted under any circumstances in San Francisco or Houston. |
| Q | Should exhibitors use the officially appointed freight forwarder/customs broker for a show? |
| A | While it is often true that it is not necessary in many
cases for exhibitors to utilize the services of the freight forwarder/customs
broker appointed by the show organizer, there are many benefits associated
with using them such as:
|