Manzhouli's ATA Carnet facilitates car travel to Russia

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2015-03-02

A batch of 14 vehicles participating in the second China Manzhouli International Auto Culture Festival and driving across China's Guangzhou, Manzhouli, Russia's Moscow and France's Lyon exited from Inner Mongolia's Manzhouli Port on August 13, 2014. They were recently admitted to China through Manzhouli and Guangzhou ports after Manzhouli customs handled their ATA Carnet verification procedures.

ATA stands for a combination of French and English terms: Admission Temporaire /Temporary Admission. Administered by the World Customs Organization, the ATA Carnet is an international customs document that permits the tax-free and duty-free temporary export and import of goods. The carnets are very efficient and convenient for three categories of merchandise: commercial samples, professional equipment, and goods for use at exhibitions and fairs.

As an important customs document system for temporary export and import of goods, the ATA Carnet is currently in force in 69 countries or customs, and more than $12 billion goods have been handled by ATA Carnet.

Manzhouli customs was approved to carry out ATA Carnet issuing and application by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) on Jan 16, 2013. In 2014, Manzhouli customs issued 140 ATA carnets, an increase of 26.13 percent year-on-year.

Thanks to the ATA Carnet system, car travel to Russia has become popular.

Meanwhile, Manzhouli customs works hand in hand with the Manzhouli sub council of the CCPIT for the ATA Carnets application. For example, the customs has set up a special post to handle procedures and held work conferences to publicize related policies. Moreover, a customs hotline that can answer questions on cross-border driving has been opened.

Edited by Michael Thai