Glendy Sung Archives

Incoterms® 2010 Seminars

Published on January 21, 2013
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Seminars in Person

In partnership with The World Academy, the USCIB provides training on Incoterms® 2010. These workshops are for individuals already familiar with Incoterms® and who are looking for advanced instruction.

Sessions are held around the country so check the World Academy here for a complete schedule.

Online Training

This course represents 6 hours of online instruction and training in Incoterms® 2010. Its aim is to ensure a firm foundation in the use and application of the Incoterms® 2010 rules.

The course content was written by Professor Jan Ramberg, author of the ICC Guide to Incoterms® 2010, Vincent O’ Brien, international trade specialist and Gary Collyer, Technical Adviser to the ICC Banking Commission.

Buy Now

Incoterms 2010 Online Training

These classes will cover…

  • What we need to know about Incoterms®
  • 2000 vs. 2010
  • Managing INCO Trade Compliance Issues: USPPI and Ultimate Consignee
  • Gaining Competitive Advantage on Inbound Logistics
  • Best Practices: Making the right choices
  • Internal training options: Connectivity in your company
  • Risk Management and Insurance Controls
  • Transfer of Title and Revenue Recognition
  • INCO and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)

Course Contents

The training is divided into 3 Modules:

Incoterms® Rules Module

A comprehensive overview of the use of the Incoterms® 2010 rules and the obligations of the seller and buyer.

Case Studies Module

Interactive case studies that allow trainees to apply their understanding of Incoterms® rules by simulating work scenarios.

Assessment Module

A series of randomly generated multiple choice questions testing trainees’ understanding of the application of Incoterms® rules.

Each trainee receives access to the course for one year. On completion of the training and assessment each student receives an ICC Certificate of Achievement indicating the score achieved in the course assessment.

 

To Enroll

Click here to purchase the online training modules.

To order your copy of Incoterms® 2010 Click Here.

Antarctica

Published on January 1, 2013

DISCLAIMER: USCIB makes every effort to keep information on this page up to date. Users are advised to consult with the local customs authorities of the country or territory in question to ensure accuracy and conformity with local laws. USCIB cannot be held liable for any incorrect or out-of-date information contained on this page.

 

Antarctica

ATA Carnets may be used to travel to Antarctica if the customs jurisdiction immediately prior to entering Antarctica is a member of the ATA system.

For example, if customs clearance is made through a New Zealand customs checkpoint, the Carnet will be an accepted means of customs clearance.  If on the other hand, the goods enter the territorial claim of Argentina, a carnet will not be accepted, as Argentina is not part of the ATA system.

To view the territorial claims of Antarctica, visit https://classroom.antarctica.gov.au/

The Nuts and Bolts of Getting Equipment Overseas

Published on December 11, 2012

Distributor uses ATA Carnets to showcase mission-critical testing devices

By Bill Armbruster for USCIB

Critical bolts on a copper mine ball mill
Critical bolts on a copper mine ball mill

When you are traveling with high-value goods overseas, it helps to have things nailed down in advance.

Gregory Young, vice president of International Bolting Technologies Inc., remembers the hassles he used to have when traveling outside the U.S. to demonstrate to potential foreign customers sophisticated electronic equipment. To ensure that the product cleared Customs, Young hired a Customs broker in the foreign country to file documents for temporary admission and airfreighted the equipment four weeks before his (Young’s) arrival to demonstrate the equipment.  Once the job was complete, he again airfreighted the product back to the U.S. using a second broker to clear U.S. customs.

“Depending on the country, those steps alone could cost up to $2,000,” says Young.  “Furthermore, many countries require that goods brought in under temporary admission be returned to their original point of entry, so making a multi-country trip is not practical.”

The USM-3 Ultrasonic Bolt Meter measures bolt stretch, as little as 0.00001 inch or 0.0001 millimeter, and diagnoses problems caused by the over- or under-tightening of bolts.  “Improper bolt stretch can result in catastrophic failure,” adds Young.  Industries using the USM-3 range from aerospace – it was used on the payload of a space shuttle mission to repair the Hubble space telescope – to automotive, mining and petrochemical refineries.  International Bolting Technologies, based in Orange City, Florida, is a distributor for Norbar USA, which manufactures the bolt meter in Connecticut.

In 2008, when a customer recommended to Young that he try an ATA Carnet for demonstrating his equipment to Finland and Russia to potential customers there, Young was all ears.  “The U.S. Export-Import Bank had mentioned the ATA Carnet to me previously, but at that time I did not grasp how it could truly benefit my situation,” Young says.

An ATA Carnet is an internationally agreed customs document that allows for the temporary tax- and duty-free entry of goods into 71 countries. USCIB administers Carnets in the United States, under appointment by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Customs duties and VATs (value-added taxes) vary widely around the world.  In the European Union, the minimum VAT is 15 percent with Finland at 23 percent.  In Mexico, the VAT ranges from 10 to 16 percent.  Duty is imposed on top of the VAT.

Norbar’s USM-3 Ultrasonic Bolt Meter
Norbar’s USM-3 Ultrasonic Bolt Meter

The USM-3 is an expensive, cigar box-sized device.  Carrying it by hand, before he started using Carnets, caused Young a lot of anxiety, as he was often required by customs to surrender physical possession of the unit.  “Customs forms ask whether you have any commercial merchandise to declare. Due to the high value of the goods, Customs would take them from me and place them in storage, leaving me with just a receipt.  They would only return the goods after a customs broker had filed the necessary documents for temporary admission,” Young says.  “Customs clearance could take days, depending on the country,” he adds.  With the Carnet,

Young carries the USM-3 with him and clears customs without the aid of a broker.

Young has used Carnets five times, most recently in October on a trip to the International Mining Expo in Acapulco, Mexico.  “The Carnet made everything a lot smoother,” he says, noting that the equipment attracted considerable attention. He expects the leads he developed at the Acapulco show will translate into sales for his three-person company.  Exports account for about half of its business, so by cutting red tape, Carnets allow Young to concentrate on sales.

Young notes that it only takes two or three days to receive his Carnet from USCIB after he applies for it. “It’s a short turnaround, and it’s very affordable,” he says. Carnets cost $215 to $355, depending on the value of the product. “The people at USCIB are very professional and very helpful,” citing, in particular, Carnet staffers Kristi Bang and Fred Mardis.

Young expects that his next overseas trip will be a two-week visit to three or four countries in Europe next May. Asked whether he plans to use the Carnet then, he replied, “Absolutely. It would be too time-consuming and expensive to go back to the old method. I would never even consider taking one of my products to another country without a Carnet.”

Learn more about the ATA Carnet Export Service

USCIB Launches Carnet Online 2.0 – Building a Better Application

Published on August 20, 2012

ata_carnet_logoUSCIB’s Carnet and Trade Services Department is pleased to announce that our new and improved ATA Carnet application is now available.

The newly updated Carnet online application system has many new features and enhancements, which were created to allow Carnet users to manage their accounts in a more efficient and effective manner.

This next generation of our application has a new visual appearance and also includes some major modifications to the data that we capture and how Carnet users navigate the online application system. A revised User Guide is available on www.carnetonline.org.

ATA Carnets, commonly known as “merchandise passports,” are temporary export customs documents issued by USCIB and a network of organizations in 71 countries, as part of a global system overseen by the International Chamber of Commerce and the World Customs Organization. Good for one year, Carnets are used primarily to transport professional equipment, product samples and goods for trade shows.

Staff contact: Cynthia Duncan

More on USCIB’s Trade Services

Merchandise Passports Gain a Foothold South of the Border

Published on July 10, 2012

MexicoA year after Mexico began honoring ATA Carnets, usage south of the border is taking off. Mexico reports that more than 1,300 ATA Carnets from around the world have entered the country.

ATA Carnets, commonly known as “merchandise passports,” are temporary export customs documents issued by USCIB and a network of organizations in 71 countries, as part of a global system overseen by the International Chamber of Commerce and the World Customs Organization. Good for one year, Carnets are used primarily to transport professional equipment, product samples and goods for trade shows.

According to Amanda Barlow, USCIB’s director of marketing for Carnet and Trade services, some 500 U.S. Carnets have been issued for travel to Mexico since the country officially joined the system in May of last year. “This confirms our belief going in that interest in Mexico would drive a significant uptick in our Carnet business,” she said.

Mexico, at the outset, began accepting ATA Carnets at 10 major ports of entry. A few months later it expanded that list to include Cabo San Lucas – a coup for the U.S. film and fashion industries, for whom the region is a sought-after filming destination. The expansion also aided news outlets covering the recent G20 Summit in Los Cabos, as well as many touring U.S.-based rock bands.

USCIB has undertaken training missions to U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in southern ports with heavy cargo and passenger traffic, including: Otay Mesa, CA; Nuevo Laredo, TX; Mobile, AL; and Miami and Orlando. “We also had the great opportunity, in conjunction with CANACO, our counterpart organization in Mexico, to train Mexican customs officers-ud-736-UD-736 in Tijuana,” says Barlow.

Beginning this fall, USCIB plans additional training in Nuevo Laredo, and will work with CANACO on further training at Mexican entry points that receive significant cargo from the United States. Barlow said Mexico’s adoption of the system has gone very smoothly, with only a few minor inconveniences and delays.

“It’s a real testament to the dedication of our partners at CANACO and in the Mexican government to implementing the system, which will have major benefits for Mexican business as well as U.S. exporters,” said Barlow.

For its part, CANACO has issued a couple of dozen Carnets for: Robot Cup in Turkey, World Tour of Mana, Frankfurter Sparkasse Ironman European Championship, the London Olympic Games and various trade shows.

Staff contact: Cynthia Duncan

More on USCIB’s Trade Services

USCIB Expands Its Trade Services With New Electronic Certificates of Origin

Published on July 6, 2012

folder mouse

USCIB recently launched its new electronic Certificates of Origin (eCOs) service.  This new trade service, unveiled at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America annual conference, adds to our suite of innovative services for exporters and international business professionals.

Certificates of Origin are international trade documents attesting to the origin of specified goods. Many customs authorities require them to obtain preferential duty rates or to fulfill obligations for letters of credit from a financial institution. USCIB’s eCOs save time and money, bypassing the delay and expense of employing messengers to obtain certification.

After a few simple steps, and certification by USCIB, eCOs can be shared electronically or printed from any computer. USCIB has licensed eCertify, as the software provider to process its eCOs, following in the footsteps of other Carnet Guaranteeing Associations worldwide.

According to Cynthia Duncan, USCIB’s senior vice president for Carnet and trade services, “There are many reasons to enter the CO market, especially as export and customs-related documents are increasingly going digital, allowing for a more efficient model over the current paper-based, messenger-intense standard. As a trusted name in the United States and among customs administrations around the world, USCIB has over four decades of experience in export documentation.”

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the world business organization that USCIB represents in the United States, is working to set international operational standards for COs, through its ICC Guidelines on Certificates of Origin and CO Task Force.

The ATA Carnet Department (recently renamed the Carnet and Trade Services Department) is now managing its online bookstore, USCIB International Bookstore, formerly known as ICCBooks USA. The USCIB International Bookstore specializes in the titles of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and in the future plans to expand its trade-related offerings. The Bookstore is the exclusive distributor of ICC titles in the U.S.

Staff Contact: Cynthia Duncan

More on USCIB’s Trade Services

World Trade Week in New York Celebrates Export Success

Published on May 15, 2012
Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D. – N.Y.) congratulates award winners Kristin McDonough and Peter Bengston of the New York Public Library’s Science, Industry and Business Library.
Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D. – N.Y.) congratulates award winners Kristin McDonough and Peter Bengston of the New York Public Library’s Science, Industry and Business Library.

The global trade community in New York gathered on May 14 to celebrate the contributions of international commerce to the region’s success as World Trade Week was marked by USCIB and an array of pro-trade groups. Several innovative companies and organizations were honored at an awards breakfast hosted by Baruch College’s Weissman Center for International Business.

Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D. – N.Y.) presented an export appreciation award to the New York Public Library’s Science, Industry and Business Library, whose invaluable resources and expertise support international trade outreach and entrepreneurship. In her presentation remarks, Ms. Velázquez applauded the House of Representatives’ vote to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States

New York City Deputy Mayor Robert Steel delivered keynote remarks, noting that strong exports and presence of many international businesses had helped New York City to outperform the national economy since the 2008-09 downturn. He said the city needed to focus on continuing to generate high-quality jobs, and that Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration was taking a number of steps to nurture a pro-startup environment, including the development of the new Cornell-Technion science and technology campus on Roosevelt Island.

USCIB’s Michael Megliola and Justine Kharnak at the ATA Carnet booth
USCIB’s Michael Megliola and Justine Kharnak at the ATA Carnet booth

Cynthia Duncan, USCIB’s senior vice president for trade services, is a member of the World Trade Week 2012 steering committee. The ATA Carnet service, which helps exporters and others speed shipment of goods temporarily to more than 80 countries, duty-free and tax-free, was on display along with other USCIB services at a booth in the exhibition hall.

Other award winners included North Shore International Inc., Karp Associates, Inc., Action Environmental Group, B&H Photo & Electronics Corp., and the Westconn International Trade Association.

Overall more than 300 people attended the awards breakfast, and many more took part in a series of informative events throughout New York City during World Trade Week.

Staff contact: Cynthia Duncan

More on USCIB’s ATA Carnet Export Service

Talking Trade FIT

Published on February 11, 2012

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Talking Trade @ FIT

Export Promotion Marketing

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Moderator

Donna Sharp, Senior Partner, SHARP GLOBAL

Panelists

Amanda Barlow, Director, Carnet Development, US Council for International Business

Herb Ouida, International Trade Consultant

John Stillwaggon, Accounts Receivable Specialist, Accounts Receivable Risk Management, LLC, Coface

The panel will discuss the different government and financial programs to help exporting companies expand aboard.

When

Thursday, May 3, 2012

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Where

FIT

227 W. 27th St.

New York, NY 10001

“C” Building 9th
floor Board Room

RSVP

Please send the names and affiliation of Non-FIT attendees of this event via email to: Nicole_Martin@FITnyc.edu by Thursday, 19 April, 2012

Merchandise Passports Showcased at Abu Dhabi Energy Summit

Published on February 7, 2012

USCIB and the global ATA Carnet system were represented by Amanda Barlow, USCIB’s manager of Carnet development, and representatives from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), which took place in Abu Dhabi January 16-19.Reed Exhibitions, owner of WFES and partner of USCIB for many years, invited USCIB and WATAC to exhibit in the USA pavilion.

At the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi (L-R): USCIB’s Amanda Barlow (USCIB), U.S. Ambassador to the UAE Michael Corbin, and Mahdi Al Mazim and Dawood A. Mohamed of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.

Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have recently joined the global Carnet network, which is overseen by the International Chamber of Commerce. Carnets are internationally recognized customs documents that permit temporary duty-free, tax-free shipment of goods for trade shows, demonstration samples and professional equipment. USCIB is the guarantor of ATA Carnets in the United States and issues them in cooperation with a national network of service providers.

The summit, which attracted over 25,000 participants and 600 exhibitors from around the world, is the world’s foremost annual meeting committed to advancing future energy, energy efficiency and clean technologies. Major figures addressing the event included UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, president of the UN General Assembly.Ms. Barlow was joined at the summit by Mahdi Al Mazim, director of membership and documentation at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, and Dawood A. Mohammed, the chamber’s senior executive for membership and documentation. Together they represented ATA Carnet issuing and guarantee associations in the 71 countries that belong to the system.

While in the United Arab Emirates, Ms. Barlow also paid a visit to the Dubai Chamber, meeting with local business leaders and the media. The Dubai Chamber and USCIB discussed ways of mutual cooperation in the promotion of the ATA Carnet system. For more on this meeting, click here.

Staff contact: Cynthia Duncan

World Future Energy Summit website

More on USCIB’s ATA Carnet Export Service

How to Use a Carnet

Published on January 30, 2012

Improper use of a Carnet may result in an assessment of duties, taxes, and penalties.  To avoid such assessments, follow the rules governing the use of a Carnet before your departure or ensure your authorized representatives, customs brokers or freight forwarders handle your shipments within these prescribed guidelines. Before your departure or shipment of your goods, review Know Before You Go for known restrictions or recommendations pertaining to the country your goods are entering.

An ATA Carnet consists of green covers (front and back) and counterfoils and vouchers.

Front green cover: Foreign customs may deny entry of goods under a Carnet if the green cover is neither signed by a Holder/authorized representative nor validated by U.S. Customs for initial departure.   Back green cover contains “Notes on the Use of the Carnet.”

Counterfoils and vouchers are control documents. Counterfoils should remain in the Carnet for use by the holder. Vouchers are removed and kept by customs. Counterfoils and vouchers are always issued in sets of two and are color-coded.

  • Yellow counterfoils are used for exiting from and returning to the U.S.(There are no yellow vouchers);
  • White counterfoils and vouchers are used for entry into and departure from foreign countries; and
  • Blue counterfoils and vouchers are used for transits. Transits are most often used when merchandise is conveyed by land and must pass through or stop in a country that lies between the country of departure and the next country of entry (e.g., leaving Germany to go to Italy, but passing through or stopping in Switzerland).

It is important to use all sets in numerical sequence.  For example, for entering and exiting a foreign country, each set is comprised of a white importation and re-exportation,”No.1.” The second set would be numbered “ No.2” and so on.

For complete details, please refer to the Carnet folder provided with all ATA Carnets.