Ata Carnet

Summary of Ata Carnet

A document that can be used to effect the temporary admission of certain items into a country without completing normal customs formalities. The ATA is derived from the combination of the French and English terms Admission Temporaire–Temporary Admission. A carnet is issued by the local affiliate of the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce and is used to cover specific items only. The carnet is valid for multiple uses within a one-year period. In the event the user of a carnet does not re-export the merchandise within the prescribed period, the customs authorities will look to the issuer of the carnet for payment of duties. For this reason, the issuing agencies charge a small fee and ask to be indemnified against duty obligations that may arise.

The United States permits the use of carnets to cover temporary admission of commercial samples, advertising materials, and professional equipment.

Current adherents to the convention permitting use of ATA carnets are:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, German Federal Republic, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Yugoslavia.

(Main Author: William J. Miller)

Definition of Ata Carnet in International Trade

The following is a concept of Ata Carnet in the context of international trade law, from the Dictionary of International Trade (Global Negotiator): An ATA (Admission Temporary Admission) Carnet is an international customs document that allows the temporary importation of commercial samples, professional equipment, or goods going to a trade fair or exhibition in countries that are part of the ATA Carnet system. The system covers over 70 nations and territories in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Without this document you would have to go through each individual country’s customs procedures for the temporary admission of goods. An ATA Carnet is valid for one year and allows for movement of the goods shown on the Carnet as many times as required during that period to any of the destinations applied for. The national organizations affiliated to ATA guarantee the payment of duties to local customs authorities, should the goods not ultimately be re-exported. Applications for an ATA Carnet shall be done in exporter’s local Chamber of Commerce. Model of ATA Carnet.