Basics of Imports

Course Overview

Explore how nations regulate imports through pre-import procedures, pre-shipment inspections (PSI), and customs clearance processes. Understand the importance of verifying shipment contents, compliance with destination country regulations, and standards for labeling, safety, and packaging. Learn about quarantine protocols, wood packaging requirements, and filth or contamination standards. Discover the role of commercial invoices, packing lists, and transport documents in customs clearance, including required and additional information for specific products. Examine the consequences of non-compliance, from customs denials and seizures to fines and prosecution, and understand the functions of delivery verification under international trade agreements.

• Ways in which nations use pre-import processes and procedures to regulate imports
• Reasons why nations want to verify that goods really are what they are stated to be on the shipping documents prior to shipment
• The impetus for the WTO Agreement on Pre-shipment Inspection (PSI)
• Time and place of typical pre-shipment inspection (PSI)
• General sequence of steps in the customs clearance process for imported products
• Adverse consequences an importer may face if customs inspection reveals undocumented items in a shipment
• The general requirement that imported items comply with all destination country regulations relating to such items (e.g., product safety and labeling requirements)
• Why various types of products that may be subject to quarantine immediately upon arrival in a country of transit or destination, reasons for quarantine, and disposition of such products
• Standard international requirements for wood packaging material (WPM)
• Filth, contamination and fitness standards for imported goods that will be consumed by humans and animals
• Compliance of imported products with product marking, labeling and packaging requirements
• The multi-lateral process of delivery verification (DV) for goods exported under export licenses for certain types of goods exported from participating origin countries to participating destination countries
• Typical reasons for denial of customs entry under various circumstances
• Customs seizure as a primary customs enforcement measure for goods arriving in violation of laws and regulations
• Consequences if an importer cannot remedy a violation that has resulted in a seizure (forfeiture, fines, criminal prosecution)
• The commercial documents that are always required by customs authorities for imports
• Why additional documents are required for import of particular types of products (e.g., agricultural and health certificates, dangerous goods, other shipper certifications)
• Functions of the commercial invoice for customs clearance purposes
• Particular information that must always appear on a commercial invoice used for customs purposes
• Additional information that must appear on a commercial invoice for particular types of products when used for customs purposes
• Why customs authorities require a packing list for an import shipment
• Common omissions of customs-required information on packing lists
• When a pro-forma invoice must be used instead of a commercial invoice for customs clearance purposes
• Information that must always appear on the transport document under which goods are imported
• Additional types of information that some destination countries require be shown on the transport document under which goods are imported