TWI can issue a carnet for you or for your clients.
What is a Carnet?
A Carnet is an international customs document that provides duty-free customs clearance for temporary trade show imports into foreign countries and can simplify entry by eliminating the need to post a Temporary Import Bond. The Carnet not only reduces cost, but also acts as a United States registration of goods.
What Are The Benefits of Using Carnets?
Carnets save time, effort, and money. Because the Carnet is valid for up to one year, users can travel to as many Carnet member countries as necessary during that period. In addition, partial and split shipments can be made. You don’t have to take all of the merchandise listed on your General List on each trip; one Carnet can cover the needs of several trips for different purposes.
Did You Know....
…..that your General List is the key to ensuring hassle-free travel on a Carnet?
According to U.S. Customs Chief Inspector, Mario R. Cornejo, U.S. Customs can – and – will – seize domestic goods if they don’t adequately match the general list (created from the Commercial Invoice/Packing List). Cornejo emphasizes that the General List must include adequate descriptions with serial numbers whenever possible. Because the Carnet is a "goods-specific” document (goods may never be substituted), the holder must be able to prove that the goods being presented are the goods on the list. This is especially important in the event that there is a claim from foreign customs and the holder needs to prove that the goods are back in the U.S.
Just as important is the value placed on the goods which must be market value. Customs inspectors are looking for discrepancies in values since undervalued goods can result in a revenue loss to their country. Travelers who thought they were cutting costs have learned the hard way that the cost of getting their goods back often far exceeds any additional application or security fees had the General List been correctly valued from the beginning.
