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Introducing the New-Look ATA Carnet Widely used “merchandise passport” gets a face-lift
New York, N.Y., November 10, 2004 – ATA Carnets, the internationally recognized customs documents that speed the temporary export of many categories of goods, have been around since the 1950s.  And like many people of a similar age, they’re getting a face-lift.   According to the United States Council for International Business, which guarantees and issues Carnets in the U.S., the changes, which take effect December 20, will meet the demands of exporters and other Carnet users, and will help to ensure the smooth acceptance of these critical export documents in many new countries.   Known as “merchandise passports,” ATA Carnets are customs documents for temporary duty-free, tax-free export of professional equipment, commercial samples and goods displayed at trade shows.  Companies around the world use them to reduce costs and speed global operations.	The new ATA Carnet is easier to carry – and to use
“The Carnet system has grown dramatically in recent years, with countries like China, India and Russia joining the system,” said Cynthia Duncan, USCIB’s vice president for Carnet operations.  “It’s high time the document itself was overhauled.  All in all, we think the new Carnet is a much superior document – smaller, compact and more user-friendly.”   Cosmetic changes to the ATA Carnet include a new look to the protective cover, a more portable size (European A4, which is close to letter size and smaller than the old legal-size Carnets) and sturdier binding.  Service enhancements for U.S. customers, brought about in part by a wholesale switch to an online application process, will mean faster processing and additional services for Carnet users.   USCIB also announced its first increase in Carnet prices in nearly 15 years, with the average increase being 11 percent.  At the same time, Carnets will be ready for use at the time of receipt, with no photocopying necessary, while guaranteed two-day delivery (and optional one-day or even same-day processing) should cut down on the wait.  And Carnets may now be used for travel to China without the previous $100 surcharge.   Carnets are accepted in over 75 countries, and the global ATA Carnet system is overseen by the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the World Customs Organization.  The acronym “ATA” is a combination of the French and English abbreviations for “temporary admission.”  In the U.S., Roanoke Trade Services, Inc. and the Corporation for International Business also issue Carnets under agreement with USCIB.   USCIB promotes an open system of world trade, finance and investment.  Its membership includes some 300 leading U.S. companies, professional services firms and associations whose combined annual revenues exceed $3 trillion.  With a unique network of affiliations to international business groups, USCIB facilitates international trade by issuing and guaranteeing ATA Carnets, and by promoting international cooperation in such areas as customs policies and commercial dispute resolution.   Contact: Cynthia Duncan, VP Carnet Operations, USCIB (212) 703-5079 or cduncan@uscib.org   More on the ATA Carnet Export Service   USCIB Guide: “Introducing the A4 Carnet”   Details on new Carnet pricing   Moving to the Online Application

 

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