A World Customs Organization (WCO) Committee and the Contracting Parties to the Customs Convention on the ATA Carnet for the Temporary Admission of Goods (ATA Convention) recently held a meeting on the transition from paper ATA Carnets to an electronic Carnet system.
Based on the result of the electronic ATA Pilot Project and collaboration with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Committee approved the Global Transition Plan for moving from a paper to a digital Carnet system, including the transition road map.
Further development will go on through the eATA Working Group meeting and Capacity Building activities, aiming to start use of electronic Carnets in 2024.
The Carnet is a customs document secured in the seller’s country, which guarantees the importing country that it will be compensated for the duties and taxes applicable if the goods it covers are not re-exported. It is valid for a maximum of one year. ATA is a French and English acronym of “Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission.” Carnets are commonly used by sales people and manufacturers to bring their wares into foreign countries to show as commercial samples to potential customers or to display at trade fairs and exhibitions.