Understanding Import And Export Laws

Import and export laws can be especially complex, because they involve both national laws and international laws. In this case, businesses are simply dealing with various cross border laws that control the movement of products and services. Each country imposes separate import and export laws. They have regulations that are designed to protect their economic conditions.

Considering the presence of so many international trade laws that involve different countries, business owners could deal with many challenging national and international situations. Complexities we encounter in international trade settings may involve communication, governmental regulations, property rights, finance, licensing , documentation and legality.

We should also consider multiple external factors, such as adverse weather and natural disasters that could delay shipment and even damage our products. In general, we should keep ourselves updated with laws that apply in different countries.

Formal declarations could be necessary if products that we ship exceed specific limits in the law. Stipulated limits could be different in each country, so this could be another thing that we need to consider. Many exporters intentionally declare inaccurate weight and value of goods to ensure lower duty. This is an illegal practice and could incur a huge fine. In some cases, countries could prevent us from doing business in their territory again.

Contravention of these laws could be a serious offense, which could result in imprisonment. There are also severe transgressions that we need to avoid such as trade of hazardous materials, toxic substance, endangered species and illegal drugs.

During transportation, it is important for our products to be protected by proper packaging. Some products such as electronic appliances can be vulnerable to shocks, drops, temperature swings and exposure to sea water vapour. Salt can wreak havoc on delicate electronics. Wood-based products could also be affected by heat during shipments. Make sure that the shipping company is proficient enough in handling all kind of materials and products.

In other cases, shipments of raw material can be easier to handle. As an example, mineral ore could withstand exposure element, except excess moisture. Wet raw material can be unsuitable for further processing in factories.

When transporting plant-based products, such as seeds, fruits and vegetables; we should be sure about laws in destination countries. Some countries have strict laws to prohibit the spread of pests and weeds. Our products could be quarantined for examination to check the presence of pests. Even if our products are free from harmful organisms, they can be kept for days inside the containers.

This could cause fruits and vegetables unsuitable for consumption, due to their short shelf life. The same rule also applies to meat-based products. If there’s an outbreak of disease in our country, it is possible that we can’t ship products to many countries.

It is important for businesspeople to gather in an exporter club where they can share information on latest developments in the International market. This allows them to prevent unexpected problems due to things that are beyond their control.

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