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Shanghai & Shenzhen
There might be all sorts of issues to be dealt with by foreign businesses in customs clearance for their imported goods in China. Even though there is no success formula, attention to the following details should help ease the necessary clearance procedures.
The date of landing of the imported goods should be duly noted and the time and details of the shipment should be promptly checked to ensure that customs declaration will commence within the 14-day period prescribed by the China customs broker. In the event of failure to make China customs declaration within 14 days from the date of landing, the imported goods will be subject to a fine from the 15th day onward at a rate of 0.3% of the price of the goods calculated on a daily accumulative basis.
Prior to the landing of the goods, all documents and invoices required for customs declaration should be prepared and checked before submission to the customs officer or China import agent for declaration purposes. A sum equivalent to the amount of customs duty chargeable on the imported goods should also be made available.
Throughout the process of customs clearance, a designated staff of the importer should keep in close contact with the customs officer or agent and promptly provide any documents required, such as product manual, copy of letter of credit, quarantine certification and trade agreements. Technical personnel should also be readily available to answer questions from China Customs to facilitate the examination of documents and assessment of duty.
As soon as the China customs duty demand note is issued, the customs duty and other relevant charges should be paid before the deadline so as to avoid paying overdue fine (chargeable from the seventh day from the demand date).
Should the Customs require inspection of the goods, a technical staff designated by the importer should keep in close contact with the customs officer and answer on site or by phone any queries relating to inspection.
Upon inspection and release by the Customs, the imported goods should be promptly delivered or transferred in order to minimize china warehouse or transfer charges. In taking delivery of the goods, the importer should inspect the external packaging of the goods. If the packaging is found to be damaged, the China importer should suspend taking delivery and demand the hong kong warehouse operator or carrier to produce the valid commercial records.
