An export declaration is a form that is submitted by an exporter at the port of export. It provides information about the goods being shipped, including type, number, and value. This information is used by customs to control exports, in addition to compiling statistical information about a country’s foreign trade. In the USA an export declaration must be filed when any single commodity being shipped is over 2500 USD. Therefore if you have multiple commodities less than 2500 you do not need to file an export declaration. HOWEVER, if any of the items require an export license or permit you will need to file the export declaration. The Export declaration in the USA is also referred to as an EEI, electronic export information, or AES which refereed to an older system that was used to file the EEI called Automated Export system. In other countries, the threshold or requirements for filing an export declaration may or may not be higher. A shipment from the United States to Canada that exceeds in value does not require an export declaration unless it requires an export license or permit. Shipments from the US to Puerto Rico require an export declaration to be filed, On the other hand, cargo headed from the US to American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and most of the other U.S. territories are treated as domestic shipments and do not need an export declaration. The U.S. Virgin Islands is a special case: shipments from that territory to either the U.S. mainland or Puerto Rico do not need an export declaration, but cargo headed from the US in the other direction requires an export declaration. An export declaration filing is included in your door to door or door to port rate. However, you will need to submit an SLI or fill out the export declaration information at the time of booking so we can file with customs.
What is an SLI – Shipper’s Letter of Instruction?
An SLI is a Shipper’s Letter of Instruction. This document gives us permission to submit export customs data on your behalf and gives your consent to screen air cargo as well as confirming the general elements of the shipment including pieces, weight, addressees, commodities (including HTS codes if known) etc. Alternatively, you can complete this information online and sign electronically while booking via the ExFreight website.
The exporter of record or primary beneficiary of the shipment (referred to as the USPPI or U.S. Principal Part of Interest) is responsible to provide an SLI for submission to the Automated Export System.
Although all export shipments departing the United States require an SLI, filing electronically through the AES system is only required for products exceeding $2,500 in value.
A Shipper’s Letter of Instruction is required for both air freight and ocean freight export shipments.
USMCA is the short abbreviation for United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The USMCA replaced the previous NAFTA agreement between respective participating countries. A USMCA certificate or USMCA form is a certificate of origin for goods manufactured in North America being shipped to a country within North America. If you are shipping goods manufactured in USA, Mexico, Canada to USA, Mexico, Canada you should use a USMCA document instead of a certificate of origin document. Failure to supply a USMCA document with your shipment will result in additional duties being applied to your shipment. A certificate of origin (Also known as C/O or CO) is a document which attests that the product listed in the document has met certain criteria to be considered as originating in a particular country. A certificate of origin is prepared and completed by the seller of the goods, and may be subject to official certification by an authorized third party. In most cases that third party is the local chamber of commerce. Certain countries require a certificate of origin when importing a product to justify the product’s eligibility for entry and/or its entitlement to preferential treatment (duties).
A certificate of origin (Also known as C/O or CO) is a document which attests that the product listed in the document has met certain criteria to be considered as originating in a particular country. A certificate of origin is prepared and completed by the seller of the goods, and may be subject to official certification by an authorized third party. In most cases that third party is the local chamber of commerce. Certain countries require a certificate of origin when importing a product to justify the product’s eligibility for entry and/or its entitlement to preferential treatment (duties)
A commercial invoice is a customs document. It is used as a customs declaration provided by the person or corporation that is exporting an item across international borders. There is no standard format however, the document must include the following specific pieces of information: The seller’s name and address, the buyer’s name and address, the ship-to name and address, the commodities being sold/shipped, the country of manufacture, and the harmonized codes (HS codes) for those goods, the quantities for each commodity being shipped, the value of each commodity, the currency of those values. Some countries require that the commercial invoice to be signed with a pen ( preferably blue or colors other than black so it can be confirmed as an original signature) and stamped with an official company stamp. A commercial invoice is not to be confused with a ProForm invoice. A proforma invoice is used for the creation of sales at the request of the buyer before the placement of the order, whereas a commercial invoice is used for confirmation of sale.
A packing list is a document that includes details about the contents of a package. The packing list is intended to let transport companies, government authorities, and customers know the contents of the shipment. These details help each of these parties handle the package accordingly. The packing list will include the following details: Shipper’s name and address, Buyers name and address, ship-to name and address, commodity shipped, the quantity of each commodity being shipped, the weight of each commodity being shipped.
A power of attorney gives Exfreight or it’s agents the authority to act on behalf of the customer in customs matters. Below you will find a list of various POA forms. You only need to sign the POA for your imports and specifically for the country you are importing for. For example, a US exporter who is exporting to Europe does not need to sign the European import POA. In that instance, we will contact the consignee at the destination and have them sign the required form.
- USA imports power of attorney (POA) form
- USA imports foreign importer power of attorney (POA) form
- Canada import power of attorney (POA) form
- UK import power of attorney (POA) form
- Europe import by sea via Rotterdam power of attorney (POA) form
- Netherlands import by sea power of attorney (POA) form
- Netherlands import by air power of attorney (POA) form
- Netherlands import by air foreign power of attorney (POA) form
- Germany import by air power of attorney (POA) form
- France import by air power of attorney (POA) form
VGM certificate is a document attesting to the weight of the cargo loaded in the container. Effective from 1st July 2016, with the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) amendment covering container weighing regulations, a packed container will no longer be allowed to be loaded on board vessels unless its Verified Gross Mass (VGM) has been provided by the shipper to the ocean carriers and/or port terminal representatives prior to the load list cut-off date.
The new regulation was adopted by the IMO (International Maritime Organization) to increase maritime safety and reduce the dangers to cargo, containers, and all those involved in container transport throughout the supply chain.
A Carnet is an international customs and temporary export-import document. It is used to clear customs in 87 countries and territories without paying duties and import taxes on merchandise that will be re-exported within 12 months. You can set up a Carnet and Exfreight can process the export and import clearances with it and defer any duties and taxes. Exfreight does not set up Carnets but we can process your shipment once you have set up a Carnet. There are additional fees to process export and import clearances with Carnets. Please check with operations for the additional fees which range from an additional 100 – 350 dollars per customs entry.
All air cargo must be screened prior to transport. When ExFreight handles air freight bookings from door-door, the consent to screen is contained within the pickup bill of lading. It is also contained within the terms of conditions acceptance during the online booking process.
On the occasions when a shipper or intermediary files the AES (export declaration) separately rather than ExFreight, a completed consent to screen form must be provided. The screening consent must also appear on the shipper’s letterhead.
