| There might be all sorts of issues to
be dealt with by foreign businesses in customs clearance for
their imported goods in China. Even though there is no success
formula, attention to the following details should help ease
the necessary clearance procedures.
1. The date of landing of the imported goods should be duly
noted and the time and details of the shipment should be promptly
checked to ensure that customs declaration will commence within
the 14-day period prescribed by the Customs. In the event
of failure to make customs declaration within 14 days from
the date of landing, the imported goods will be subject to
a fine from the 15th day onward at a rate of 0.3% of the price
of the goods calculated on a daily accumulative basis.
2. Prior to the landing of the goods, all documents and invoices
required for customs declaration should be prepared and checked
before submission to the customs officer or agent for declaration
purposes. A sum equivalent to the amount of customs duty chargeable
on the imported goods should also be made available.
3. Throughout the process of customs clearance, a designated
staff of the importer should keep in close contact with the
customs officer or agent and promptly provide any documents
required, such as product manual, copy of letter of credit,
quarantine certification and trade agreements. Technical personnel
should also be readily available to answer questions from
the Customs to facilitate the examination of documents and
assessment of duty.
4. As soon as the customs duty demand note is issued, the
customs duty and other relevant charges should be paid before
the deadline so as to avoid paying overdue fine (chargeable
from the seventh day from the demand date).
5. Should the Customs require inspection of the goods, a technical
staff designated by the importer should keep in close contact
with the customs officer and answer on site or by phone any
queries relating to the inspection.
6. Upon inspection and release by the Customs, the imported
goods should be promptly delivered or transferred in order
to minimise warehousing or transfer charges. In taking delivery
of the goods, the importer should inspect the external packaging
of the goods. If the packaging is found to be damaged, the
importer should suspend taking delivery and demand the warehouse
operator or carrier to produce the valid commercial records.
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