Helpful Information about xx
Freight Forwarders and Small Package Carriers
Although shipping with one of the big integrated carriers (FedEx, UPS, DHL) is easy they are limited in their capabilities. If you have any volume at all freight forwarders will give you a better deal and better service.
Air carriers make money by consolidating cargo. So will you.
Look at consolidating your shipments and look at density. There are several areas of the packing and movement of goods that have major impacts on freight costs
Inco Terms, Terms of Sale whether you are buying or selling
Properly specified Inco terms establish your costs, risks and liabilities. Critical to international contracts, some of the most common terms create the greatest liabilities for your company. There are 13 Inco terms and a discriminating supplier manages their terms carefully
Shipping Documents & Commercial Invoices
One of the most critical elements of a shipment is the shipping documents. Typically the Commercial Invoice, Packing List and SLI.
There are two movements when you ship:
The physical freight
The documents
They follow parallel but separate routes and one does not arrive without the other.
We can take your organization through the set up of accurate and compliant documents that enable smooth customs clearance
Export Filings
Most countries require a shipper to file for export before departure. There are fixed penalties for errors.
You can have your forwarder file for you but you still responsible for the data filed.
The simplest way to provide the forwarder with authority to file is to complete an SLI (Shippers Letter of Instruction) with each shipment.
Imports and Customs
Probably the most complex part of international trade is the customs process in any country you import into. Not only will errors delay freight movement, they create liabilities that accumulate and that can stand for over five years.
Duty and tax costs add to your purchasing costs on every movement and the company needs a clear understanding of its duty costs and data to support it.
International Trade Regulations
Complex and needs a combination of legal, trade and customs knowledge and experience. Whether it is US customs, Korea, China, EU, UK you trade with every country has complex regulatory requirements. Free Trade agreements are long, difficult to interpret successfully and written by lawyers. Very helpful to reduce tariffs, but FTA’s come with large liabilities We have a background in most FTA’s and can advise on a route to legally informed implementation.