Sailing
through customs with the ATA Carnet
Paris, 31
March 2000 - The ATA
Carnet* is the document most widely used by business to bring goods into a country
for periods up to one year without paying any form of duty or deposit. Today
the Carnet is accepted in 56 countries.
In each participating county,
a leading chamber of commerce operates the ATA system for the temporary duty-free
import of goods. Chambers are admitted to the international guarantee chain
only after approval by their own customs authorities and the ICC's International
Bureau of Chambers of Commerce (IBCC).
About 200,000 Carnets are
issued every year for goods valued at almost US$ 12 billion. They allow the
temporary admission of goods for trade fairs and exhibitions, commercial samples
and professional equipment. A single Carnet covers visits to an unlimited number
of ATA countries in a year and Carnets may be issued within a few days at low
cost and with minimal formalities.
Almost every conceivable
business activity can benefit from the system. Examples:
Entertainment
Whether the show features Celine Dion, the Vienna Philharmonic or the Royal
Shakespeare Company, sound and lighting systems, musical instruments and all
accessories reach the stadium with the help of ATA Carnets.
Broadcasting
TV crews covering the Sydney Olympics will rely on ATA Carnets. CNN uses hundreds
of them to facilitate its crews' worldwide travels.
Trade fairs
Those elaborate displays of machinery at the Leipzig Trade Fair and the shiny
new models on display at the Geneva Motor Show fascinate the crowds, courtesy
of ATA Carnets.
Medical conventions
Delicate surgical equipment required for demonstration purposes enjoys trouble-free
entry with the ATA Carnet.
Business promotion
Salespeople the world over rely on ATA Carnets to get their commercial samples
across borders, whether they be beer mats, brushes or bulldozers. ATA Carnets
keep the wheels of commerce turning.
* The letters "ATA"
stand for the French and English words "admission temporaire/temporary
admission".
You too can find out how
to use ATA Carnets to best advantage by downloading a full
explanation of the system by Patrick Coïdan, Chairman of the World
ATA Carnet Council. Mr Coïdan is CEO, Alliance of Swiss Chambers of Commerce,
and Director, Geneva Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Countries
in the ATA Carnet system, with links to national ATA Carnet sites.