History
The ATA Carnet, a tool for
International Trade Facilitation
In 1961, the Customs
Cooperation Council (CCC) - forerunner of the World
Customs Organization
(WCO) - adopted the "Customs Convention on the ATA Carnet for the
Temporary Admission of Goods".
International Customs Conventions in force
Operating under the ATA Convention, which entered into force on 30th July 1963, The Customs conventions corresponding to the
three main categories of goods covered by the system are:
- Commercial samples - The GATT
International Convention to facilitate the importation of commercial samples
and advertising material (Geneva 1952)
- Professional equipment - The CCC's
Customs Convention on the temporary importation of professional equipment
(Brussels 1961)
- Goods for presentation or use at
trade fairs, shows, exhibitions or similar events - The CCC Customs Convention
concerning facilities for the importation of goods for display or use at
exhibitions, fairs, meetings or similar events (Brussels 1961).
These various Conventions are
progressively being replaced by one single international Customs Convention on
temporary admission named the WCO Istanbul Convention.
Over the
years, the ATA Carnet system has spread from just a few West European countries to
most of the industrialized world, including a growing number of developing
countries and emerging economies.
More than 175 000 ATA Carnets are issued every year
covering goods valued at more than US$ 25 billion.
To view the country ranking based on the total number of ATA Carnets issued in 2012, please click on the link below.