HOW THE ATA CARNET SYSTEM WORKS

The ATA Carnet sustem is a perfect illustration of how close cooperation between business and customes can facilitate international trade.

 

Each country in the ATA chain has a single guaranteeing organiziation approved by its national customes authorities and WCF. The guaranteeing body is entitled to issue Carnets and to authorize local entities to deliver Carnets on its behalf.

 

The ATA international guarantee chain provides reciprocal guarantees assuring customs administrations that duties and taxes incurred in case of misuse will be paid - for example, if goods are sold instead of re-exported.

 

The ATA Carnet operates under international customes conventions administered by the World Customes Organization (WCO). The ICC/WCF World ATA Carnet Council manages the system in cooperation with the WCO. The Council and ATA experts promote the ATA Carnet in Africa, Asia and Pacific, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

 

Over the past 45 years the Carnet system has spread from a few Western European countries to include over 60 economies. In 2007, approximately 160000 Carnet were issued worldwide, covering goods valued at almost US$ 17 billion