ATA Carnet Knowledge Q&A

1. What are general temporary imported goods?

Goods imported from a country and then re exported from that country in their original state within a certain period of time are usually referred to as general temporary imported goods. For example, exhibits at exhibitions, commercial samples displayed to customers, and professional equipment used for testing or filming activities.

2. What are the characteristics of general temporary imported goods during the circulation process?

(1) Keep the goods in their original state; (2) The commercial value of the goods remains unchanged; (3) The ownership of the goods remains unchanged; (4) The goods need to go through multiple customs declaration procedures; (5) The temporary import and export of goods have a certain period of time; (6) There is a guarantee issue for temporary import and export of goods.

3. How to handle customs procedures for carrying general temporary imported goods?

Any country allows temporary importation of goods within its borders. Usually, the import time for such goods does not exceed twelve months. There are three ways for applicants to handle temporary import procedures.

A: Pay a deposit to customs

When handling temporary import procedures, the applicant must pay a deposit to the customs of the importing country (the amount is equivalent to the total import tariffs and other taxes of the importing country). Generally speaking, in Europe, a payment of 20-30% of the value of the goods is required, while in Australia it is 50%. After the goods are re exported, the customs of the importing country will fully refund the deposit to the applicant within a certain period of time. In Europe, the deposit is usually refunded within 2-6 months after the goods are re exported. The fee will be paid in the local currency of the importing country

B: Apply for temporary import guarantee

When applying for temporary import procedures, the applicant may provide a guarantor as required by the customs of the importing country to apply for temporary import guarantee.

C: Use ATA Carnet

ATA Carnet is an internationally recognized customs declaration manual and guarantee document. Accepted by 65 countries and regions around the world. The ATA Carnet can exempt the applicant from paying a deposit to customs or applying for temporary import guarantee. The applicant is able to pre arrange and use unified documents to handle customs procedures.

4. What is ATA Carnet

Carnet is a French word that means' manual '. ATA stands for "temporary admission" in French and "temporary admission" in English, meaning "temporary import". ATA Carnet means "customs clearance manual for temporary imported goods".

5. Does the ATA Carnet have a usage period?

have According to the ATA Convention, the maximum validity period for ATA Carnets is one year. The deadline cannot be extended, but for situations where the task cannot be completed within the validity period, a renewal certificate can be processed.

6. What is the function of ATA Carnet?

On the one hand, the ATA Carnet replaces other customs declaration documents; On the other hand, it eliminates the need for the holder to pay a deposit to customs or apply for temporary import guarantees. When handling the customs declaration procedures for goods, the holder only needs to present the ATA Carnet, which will be inspected and endorsed by the customs.

7. What are the benefits of using ATA Carnets?

(1) Unified customs declaration documents

The customs declaration documents in the ATA Carnet are internationally standardized in style and content, and the holder can prepare them before departure, so everything is under control. This avoids the tedious and unpredictable situation of filling out domestic customs declarations with inconsistent styles and contents in different countries. At the same time, it also saves a lot of time in filling out customs forms.

(2) Unified language

The ATA Carnet uses an internationally unified language, avoiding language barriers in various countries.

(3) Unified guarantee

The ATA Carnet is not only a customs declaration form, but also a guarantee document. When the holder declares customs with the ATA Carnet, the Chamber of Commerce becomes the guarantor of the holder. In this case, the holder no longer needs to pay a deposit in foreign currency or apply for temporary import guarantee to the customs of various countries. This reduces the amount of funds used, while avoiding transaction fees, fees, and interest losses incurred by banks in order to pay fees, and preventing cash theft or embezzlement. Especially when the holder needs to travel to multiple countries consecutively, the above advantages of ATA Carnet become even more prominent and important.

8. Which goods can apply for ATA Carnet?

According to international conventions, the main items include professional equipment, commercial samples, and items for participating in exhibitions and trade fairs. In addition, according to some international and domestic regulations, certain goods for other purposes can also apply for ATA Carnets. However, consumables such as brochures, promotional materials, and food abroad cannot apply for ATA Carnets.

9. Can I apply for ATA Carnet for product spare parts?

sure. For example, there are machines abroad that need maintenance, but it is impossible to determine which spare parts are useful and which are not. At this point, you can apply for an ATA Carnet and bring all possible spare parts abroad. For those spare parts that will eventually be used and no longer be re exported, the certificate holder only needs to handle the relevant import procedures locally. In addition, the tools required for maintenance can also be obtained through ATA documentation.

10. Can ATA Carnets be processed for goods repaired abroad?

may not. The repaired goods cannot apply for ATA Carnet. There are other customs clearance methods for this type of goods.

11. Can ATA Carnets be processed for products with export restrictions in our country?

sure.

12. If some goods may be sold or gifted abroad, can we still apply for an ATA Carnet?

Sure, but if there is really a sale or gift situation, the certificate holder must declare to the local customs and handle the relevant tax payment procedures.

13. Is there any qualification restriction for ATA Carnet application?

No, Government agencies, public institutions, enterprises (including joint ventures and sole proprietorships), social organizations, representative offices in China, and natural persons with registered or residing locations within China are eligible to apply.

14. Can the application for ATA Carnet be handled by a freight forwarding company or customs clearance company?

sure.

15. Can I apply for an ATA Carnet to travel to any country?

no Only member countries/regions of the ATA Convention and the Istanbul Convention accept ATA Carnets.

16. Is there any restriction on customs declaration rights for ATA Carnets in China?

No, The holder themselves, individuals or companies authorized by the holder can handle customs clearance procedures.

17. Can companies like DHL/UPS handle the customs clearance procedures for ATA Carnets?

sure. Although some ATA member countries do not accept goods transported through the postal system to be declared with ATA Carnets. But goods transported through companies such as DHL/UPS belong to international express services and are not within the scope of postal services.

18. Is there any restriction on customs declaration ports for ATA Carnets in China?

No, All customs ports in China can handle the clearance procedures for ATA Carnets.

19. Do exhibitors going abroad need to present exhibition permits to Chinese customs when holding ATA Carnets for customs clearance?

unwanted.

20. Do goods under the ATA Carnet in our country still need to undergo inspection?

According to the relevant regulations of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, goods under the ATA Carnet are exempt from 3C certification and quality inspection; However, for goods involving quarantine of animals, plants, and their products (inspection and quarantine category P or Q), quarantine must be carried out in accordance with regulations. The holder or their authorized representative may present the ATA Carnet as proof for inspection.

Why can I waive the deposit at customs by presenting the ATA Carnet for customs clearance?

Because the deposit has already been guaranteed by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade/China Chamber of International Commerce as the holder. In this case, the guarantee obtained by the customs is not a deposit, but a guarantee.

22. What is the cost of handling ATA Carnets?

When handling ATA Carnets, a certificate issuance fee and insurance premium must be paid. The specific amount is determined based on the total value of the goods. In addition, the applicant must submit a counter guarantee to the issuing chamber of commerce. The guarantee rate is uniformly formulated by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade/China Chamber of International Commerce.

Does the applicant have to submit a counter guarantee to the issuer?

Yes, this is a requirement of the ATA Convention. The guarantee mechanism is the guarantee for the normal operation of the ATA Carnet system. Each ATA member country has a designated guarantor association responsible for providing guarantees for the effective enforcement of domestic and foreign customs claims. Taking China as an example, for China's export ATA Carnet, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade/China Chamber of International Commerce is required to pay all valid claims from foreign customs. Therefore, the applicant needs to provide counter guarantee to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade/China Chamber of International Commerce when processing the ATA Carnet.

How high are the import taxes for foreign countries?

It's hard to say. Because import taxes not only include import tariffs and import value-added tax, but also include consumption tax, stamp duty, etc. The specific amount should be calculated based on the type of goods and the country of destination. In addition, the weight of the goods is also one of the factors to be considered. In ATA Carnet member countries, import taxes range from 5% to 150% of the value of the goods. Countries such as Russia, India, and Algeria have relatively high tax rates.

Can the holder purchase insurance for various import taxes?

may not. Paying taxes is the obligation of the certificate holder. The certificate holder can only purchase insurance for theft, transportation risks, customs clearance risks arising from theft or transportation issues, and customs clearance risks arising from delays.

How can I use the ATA Carnet multiple times within a one-year validity period?

Firstly, no matter how many countries you go to and how many times you go, it must be the same batch of goods listed in the inventory; Secondly, when applying for the ATA Carnet, it is necessary to inform the visa agency of the expected countries and frequency of travel, so that the visa agency can prepare sufficient documents in advance for them in the Carnet.

27. Where can I apply for an ATA Carnet?

The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade/China Chamber of International Commerce and its 23 branches are the visa agencies for ATA Carnets in China.

28. Can the issuing chamber refuse to issue ATA Carnets?

Certainly. The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade/China Chamber of International Commerce assumes the responsibility of guaranteeing each document. And no one can force others, they must bear the responsibility of guaranteeing them.

Where can I learn about the ATA Carnet system?

By logging into the ATA website (www.atachina. org), you can learn about the ATA Convention, Istanbul Convention, China Customs' regulatory measures and operating procedures for ATA Carnets, as well as the relevant operating procedures and regulations for applying for ATA Carnets.