Transportation of goods from Korea to the USA is very popular not only because of high-quality South Korean products. An essential factor is the Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), thanks to which most goods are imported into the United States free of duty and MPF (merchandise processing fee). Still, you will need to go through compliance checks when shipping from Korea to USA. To avoid any delays in the transportation of cargo, all documentation for your shipment must be filled out correctly.
What Documents Are Required for Customs Clearance
After your cargo is delivered for customs inspection, it will undergo a verification procedure. You will need the following documents to pass it smoothly:
- Commercial Invoice
- Packing List
- Bill of Lading
- Required Certificates or Permits
Each type of product has its own certificates of conformity. They are mandatory for certain types of goods, such as radios and telecommunications devices. You will not be able to offer imported goods on the US market without them.
Stages of Import Customs Clearance
Regardless of whether you chose ocean or air freight, you will have to go through the following stages of cargo customs clearance:
- Submitting a customs declaration. Customs officers check all accompanying documents. If some of them are missing, the customs clearance procedure is suspended.
- Payment of import duties and taxes. The total amount of payments is determined in accordance with the documents you provide
- Cargo inspection. Customs inspectors randomly check the shipment of goods to ensure it corresponds to what is stated in the documents.
- Completion of customs clearance. If no violations are detected, you can continue delivering goods to warehouses and stores.
If you follow all legal and regulatory requirements, cargo delivery will be fast and smooth. Find out the details of document preparation from the consultants of 3PL company PartnerTrade to perform all paperwork more efficiently.
