Good Logistics shares the experience and advice of its specialists on how entrepreneurs can avoid the most common mistakes in the process of filling out freight documentation.
In the practice of customs brokers, the following situation often arises: the English and Ukrainian versions of the foreign trade agreement do not correspond to each other. If the client does not want to spend time and effort checking all language versions for full compliance, it is better to indicate in the contract which one has the greatest legal force. For example, it can be specified that in case discrepancies are found between the Ukrainian and English versions, the English version should be relied upon.
Sometimes the actual terms of delivery do not correspond to those specified in the contract. In such cases, an additional agreement should be concluded and entered into a separate clause of the contract. To avoid unnecessary time and financial costs, brokers recommend not specifying delivery terms in the foreign trade agreement, but instead referring to the documents accompanying the goods. Thus, each batch of goods can be shipped under separate conditions.
If delivery terms do not match in the contract and invoice, a letter of error will have to be prepared for the customs service, indicating that the invoice contains inaccuracies.
Before indicating that the gross weight of the transported cargo is the same as the net weight in the shipping documents, think about the method of transportation. If you transport goods on pallets, the gross and net weight cannot be equal by default.
It is better to handle payment terms in the same way as transportation terms in the foreign trade contract. That is, not to specify them in the contract, but to indicate them separately for each batch in the shipping documents. Let's simulate a situation: the contract states full prepayment, but in fact it did not happen. At customs, payment documents will be required in any case. If they are not available, you will have to create an additional post-payment agreement, which will result in loss of money and time.
If you are processing goods of a trademark registered in Ukraine at customs, you must obtain the consent of the representative of this brand. If the representative is abroad, this can be done through a special organization. If you have been waiting for a response for more than three or four days, you can export the goods without consent.
In conclusion, it should be noted that customs clearance is a process that involves a lot of formalities, and if you want to be sure that your cargo will cross the border on time and you will not have to deal with additional payments and fines, contact the specialists of Good Broker. We are glad to cooperate!
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