Custom Clearance and International Trade Quiz

Custom clearance The documented permission to pass that a national customsauthority grants to imported goodsso that they can enter the country or to exported goods so that they can leave the country. The custom clearance is typically given to a shipping agent to prove that all applicable customs duties have been paid and the shipment has been approved. Customs clearance work involves preparation and submission of documentations required to facilitate export or imports into the country, representing client during customs examination, assessment, payment of duty and co taking delivery of cargo from customs after clearance along with documents. Some of the documents involved in customs clearance are :

1. Exports Documentation: Purchase order from Buyer, Sales Invoice, Packing List, Shipping bill, Bill of Lading or air way bill, Certificate of Origin and any other specific documentation as specified by the buyer, or as required by financial institutions or LC terms or as per importing country regulations.
2. Imports Documentation: Purchase Order from Buyer, Sales Invoice of supplier, Bill of Entry, Bill of Lading or Air way bill, Packing List, Certificate of Origin, and any other specific documentation required by the buyer, or financial institution or the importing country regulation. The purpose of custom clearing Ethiopia Customs Service (Customs) is the government agency with the job of protecting the community from potential risks arising from international trade and travel, while facilitating the legitimate movement of people and goods across the border. They do this by: • intercepting contraband (such as illegal drugs) • checking travelers and their baggage, cargo and mail • assessing and collecting Customs duties, excise taxes and Goods and Services Tax (GST) on imports • protecting Ethiopia businesses against illegal trade • enforcing import and export restrictions and prohibitions • collecting accurate import and export data Sending items overseas To ensure that your item arrives safely, you may be required to complete customs documentation when sending overseas. A customs declaration must be completed for each international consignment that contains any item other than a document. The type of form and detail required vary depending on what service you are using. Receiving items from overseas Items travelling across international borders are subject to international standards of customs clearance. In each country, the Customs Department, often jointly with the appropriate agricultural authority, is responsible for monitoring international borders and implementing its country's regulations. The purpose of these regulations is to stop prohibited items from entering the country and to collect taxes on others. While present in all nations, customs regulations and requirements vary from country to country. Activities of customs clearance operation Role and Responsibility • Role: o Expert semi-armed organization o Responsible for any legal action pertaining to duty levied by the government on any imported and exported goods. • Responsibility: o Manage, control and levying taxes and fare on any imported and exported goods o Curb and prevent any kind of act regarding customs wrongdoings o facilitate international trade Subordinating Department: • Secretariat o Research, examine, study, report and regularly give advices on important issues to Director General of GDCE; o Prepare, compile and maintain necessary documents of Director General of GDCE; o Examine all documents; draft of requests, files or other opinions before submitting to the management of GDCE for approval; o Prepare and manage internal audit on Customs and Excise Units and perform other missions determined by Director General of GDCE. • Department of Administration and Management o Prepare, manage customs officers’ issues including statistics, compliance, change or transferal of position, promotion, admiration or punishment, and set up policy relating to salary cadre, supporting fees and other leave fees; o Prepare and organize training for customs officers and as well as officers of relevant ministries and private sectors if necessary; o Manage the reception and delivery of official documents; o In charge of other administration tasks including producing report, evaluating work efficiency and issuing nomination and mission letters; o Control statistics of the use of weapons in the unit; o Manage duties of GDCE related to finance and accounting issues, participate in determining and examining plan on revenues-expenses and other payments, manage the demands, purchases, distribution and maintenance of equipment and tools and other properties of GDCE; o Perform other duties determined by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. • Department of Planning, Technique and International Affairs o Propose reasonable policies related to tax collection procedures, revenue target, and develop master plan and action plans of Customs and Excise Units; o Develop, research and participate in supervising the implementation of regulations and policies related to customs tariff; customs valuation on export-import goods, evolution on rules of origin in accordance with the evolution of national economy and international trade including amendment of commodity classification, assessment on the impact of trade facilitations practices, development of methods for analysis and management of customs’ laboratories; o Develop and manage the implementation of the plan for development of customs information system especially automation system on customs procedures as well as gathering and maintaining export-import statistic, managing the utilization and maintenance those systems; o Investigate and continually amend the customs transaction value list of export-import goods, value of currency and exchange rate in accordance to actual situation as the basis for consideration and decision on work implementation of local customs units; o Examine and counsel on customs technical aspects especially on customs valuation, origin and commodity classification and participate in auditing on these above issues as well as settlement of other issues; o Perform duties as the international affairs center related to customs sector as a whole; o Study and analyze information related to economy and international trade by comparing with data of customs administration of regional and global trading partner countries; o Cooperate with World Customs Organization, other customs administrations and other organizations which involve in customs sector; o Coordinate and cooperate with relevant units of ministries, government institutions under the framework of economic cooperation and international trade; o Participate in supervising and evaluating efficiency of customs operations; o Perform other duties determined by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. • Department of Prevention and Suppression o Cooperate in developing policies for investigation and suppression of all kinds of smuggling activities, tax evasion and other violations within customs territory; o Appoint intelligent network and special forces for prevention and suppression of all customs frauds and other violations; o Store goods under temporarily detention waiting for final decisions from competent organizations and manage those goods according to specific purpose; o Nominate operation team for investigation and suppression of smuggling activities by taking action on major targets throughout the country according to the instruction of Director General of GDCE;