Trading internationally can be a matter of much complexity. Fortunately, our experienced international trade team can provide advice and information to new and experienced exporters, importers or businesses contemplating setting up overseas. We can assist with requirements concerning documents and certificates to or from any destination country, support with classifying the origin of goods and advice on Incoterms.
If our team can’t help directly, we are likely to know someone who can. Our connections with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and the Department for International Trade (DIT) boost the potential of finding solutions and answers to your enquiries.
We deliver a customs declaration service for UK importers and exporters, of all sizes, in every region of the country. The service is offered direct to businesses ensuring that customs clearance is accurate, timely and avoids additional costs through delays or errors. With direct links to the HMRC Customs handling system and all inventory linked ports, we can ensure that your goods, no matter where they enter or leave the UK, will be cleared for onward transportation smoothly. We can help you keep your time-sensitive supply chains, moving efficiently and economically.
Now, export documentation is required for political, customs and financial reasons. The Chamber processes around 13,000 documents a year in normal circumstances. Our primary service in this segment is Certificates of Origin – both the European Community and the Arab-British certificates. These are used as documentary evidence to show where the goods being exported were originally manufactured. They can be required for different reasons, such as customs clearance or payment via Letters of Credit. It can also be required by customs in the country of import to determine tariff rates. Post transition period, the European Community certificates will be replaced with the United Kingdom certificates.
The Arab certificates are for a meticulous group of Arab League State countries. The Chamber is an agent of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, as agents we can liaise with embassies on your behalf to obtain certified and legalised documents.
On behalf of the HMRC, we process their Movement Certificates – EUR1 and ATR. An EUR1 used to support claims for preferential rates of duty in the country of importation. To qualify, the goods must ‘originate’ in the EU. The preference system only applies to countries which have certain trade agreements with the EU. This will change to the agreements with the UK from 2021. An ATR is used to claim preferential rates of duty on goods that are duty paid and in free circulation in the EC to solely Turkey.
ATA Carnet, commonly called Passport for Goods is another document issued by the Chamber. Carnets facilitate the temporary exportation of goods for up to 12 months; acting as a passport presented at each customs post, this enables the temporary exportation of goods without having to lodge duties on deposit with overseas customs.
For more information on these and other services the Chamber offers, contact the international trade department at the Northants/Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce at 01604 490490.
Alternatively, for all documentation enquiries, email exportdocs@northants-chamber.co.uk; and for customs declaration enquiries, email chambercustoms@northants-chamber.co.uk
