THE International Chamber of Commerce Philippines (ICCP) is batting for the country’s inclusion to the so-called ATA Carnet, an internationally recognized system that allows the temporary and duty-free entry of goods to facilitate participation in trade fairs and exhibits.
ICCP Chairman and Philippine Chamber of Commerce Chairman Emeritus Francis Chua said he is gathering support for the Philippines take part in the ATA Carnet System devised by its mother organization, the International Chamber of Commerce and the World Customs Organization.
“We want to start trade facilitation early on in this government, and write a bill and get sponsorship of Congress for this Carnet. It’s like a visa or passport for cargo,” Chua said in a recent interview.
He added that the ICCP is planning to hold talks with the newly installed heads of the Departments of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Customs to jumpstart the approval and adoption of the system.
The Philippines will need Senate approval to become a signatory to the Customs Convention on ATA Carnet, and to be able to implement the APA Carnet system.
The Philippines’s accession to this system has been a long-standing advocacy of the ICCP and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
The ATA Carnet, according to the ICC web site, is an international export-import document that facilitates the duty and tax-free temporary admission of goods into the 74 country-members of the ATA International Guarantee Chain.
With the Carnet in place, commercial samples of goods, professional equipment, and goods for presentation or use at trade fairs, shows and exhibits can be imported and exported, duty and tax-free for up to one year, and reexported or re-imported within 12 months.
An advantage of ATA Carnet holders is that they need not file a deposit or a guarantee when bringing in goods into the country of temporary importation. The ATA Carnet also cuts out the need for Customs declaration at checkpoints.
