This is one of those scenario’s we see all the time:
Asia Customs Broker: Hello, Mr. Ahmad, we are sorry. The customs manual documentation cannot be completed because we are missing the HS codes. Can you provide us with the correct one so that we can proceed with the permit application and import declaration, please?
Logistics Employee: Can’t you check our previous shipments? This is not the first time we have imported similar materials into our warehouse! You should have all the details!
Topics: Asia, Free Trade Agreements, HS Classification
If you grew up as a suburban, middle-class kid in Canada like I did, you probably had some household chores that you were responsible for. One of mine was taking out the trash every week. I’d collect it up and get it ready to put out by the curb. I’d ask my Dad if there was anything else. He would suggest I roll my old car down to see if they would take it. Once it left the end of my driveway, I never gave it a second, thought. Our trash, not my car.
Was it bad for the environment? Could it cause harm to someone else? Could it be used to make a bomb? Ok, maybe a little dramatic.
Topics: Export Consulting, North America
There seems to be a lot of chicken littles out there shouting that Trade is “falling”. The hyperbole and rhetoric during the campaign likely awoke and frightened the trade chicken littles.
Global Trade and the underlying “deals” are not single looped knots in a child’s shoe, which can be undone with a single pull of a loose end. They are more akin to a Gordian knot which are difficult to undo and when trying to unravel often lead to unintended consequences.
Topics: North America
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… an Aussie Christmas with sunny skies, blistering heat, packed beaches and rapidly depreciating personal bank accounts. But if that’s not enough to get you excited, there is, of course, the recently released Goods Compliance Update (“The Update”) from the Australian Border Force (“ABF”).
The Update aims to highlight pertinent issues identified by the ABF, compliance areas of focus, and provides some statistics on the Compliance Programme results for the 2015/2016 Financial year. I’ll reiterate that second point - the ABF highlight the compliance areas of focus, hence if your activities fall within these areas it is recommended that you assess, and if appropriate address, any risks.
Topics: South Pacific, Export Consulting, Import Consulting
Recently there have been a lot of headlines about who will do what when it comes to trade. In the U.S. a big piece of the recent election turned to “protection” of industries, workers, etc. In fairness, I’m a free trade kinda guy. It directly pays my salary. I’m willing to bet there are a number of people who don’t realize their salary, in part at least, is also subject to free trade.
Free trade agreements don’t just work for goods that cross borders, they also play in a lot of other arenas. For instance, the service sector, which includes remediation of disputes, human rights, fair labor standards and practices.
Ever wonder why we haven’t had any “major” conflicts in the past 70 odd years? Trade in general and free trade specifically have a lot to do with it. Why would you want to go to war with your biggest customers?
