Introducing
the
A4
Carnet
United States Council
for
International Business
October 1, 2004
A4 Background
Members of WCO, including US
Customs and Border Protection
(CBP), agree to adopt new A4 model
WCO requires the A4 be issued no
later than December 18, 2004
Our Objective and Process
1.
2.
To devise a US-issued A4 Carnet that
was usable for all our audiences.
USCIB consulted with:
CBP (HQ and at ports, e.g., JFK)
Customers (i.e., Holders)
Holder representatives, e.g., freight forwarders
A4 Overview
Customers familiar with the current
Carnet will find the A4 equally
simple
No substantive changes, only
format changes
Streamlined document
A4 Overview … Major Changes
Smaller size
8 ½ wide x 11 ¾ long
General List
printed on the back of the green cover
many Continuation Sheets will be green
photocopies provided
Counterfoils
pairing of counterfoils
4 sets per sheet
A4 Overview
Changes continued
Vouchers
detached from counterfoil
no U.S. exportation
Folder
die-cut
binding
pocket
A4 Benefits
1. Portability: smaller size is more
manageable for customers, forwarders
and Customs; easily fits into a brief case.
2. Tracking: counterfoil pairing makes for
easier tracking into and out of each
country.
3. Duplex printing: 1 page General Lists
print on voucher---No staples!
A4 Benefits
continued
4. “Counterfoil” and “voucher”
labels: easy to locate the sheet used by
Holder and by Customs
5. Folder:
die-cut-- for quick identification of the Carnet
pocket--convenient place to organize your export
documents
“Instructions for Using a Carnet”—improved and
simpler
binding--more stability, pages are more secure
A4 Benefits continued
6. Counterfoils
no “dangling” stubs of paper
Large type makes it easier to locate the
next counterfoil (and view the Carnet number)
7. Streamlined document:
thinner, no
yellow vouchers for CBP, fewer “hanging”
General Lists
Green Cover
Acme Widget Company
123 Main Street
Anywhere, OK 11112
US1/22/33333
0
Susan Smith, John Doe,
Speedy Shipping Co., and/or
any authorized representative
Commercial Samples
Exhibitions and Fairs
23/09/30
New
Ann Jones
USCIB, New York
22/10/01
Unchanged:
Holder signs Carnet
US CBP validates prior to
initial export. Without, foreign
customs can deny entry
acts as registration, US
Customs form 4455
shows countries in which
Carnet may be used
Changes:
number of continuation
sheets follows Carnet number
CBP must validate on FIRST departure
US1/22/33333
0
General List
Unchanged:
Sample
Sample
Sample
Holder provides reasonable
written description of goods,
serial numbers, value, weight,
origin
like-items grouped together
Changes:
most General Lists printed on
the back green cover
continuation sheets printed on
green paper
signature of holder is
eliminated
US1/22/33333
3
New
Exportation and Reimportation
Counterfoils (yellow)
Unchanged:
3
Void
Void
completed by CBP
pay special attention to partial
shipments (i.e., missing items)
secure CBP validation upon reentry, even if after expiration
Changes:
NO voucher for U.S.-issued
Carnets
pairing of counterfoils
Validated by CBP when exiting and re-entering the U.S.
US1/22/33333
3
Counterfoils (yellow)
Changes
Large Numbers
32
Void

Void
(con’t):
4 sets per page, some may
say “Void”
large numbers in lower left
corner
“Counterfoil” in upper right
corners
Validated by CBP when exiting and re-entering the U.S.
US1/22/33333
New
2
Importation and Reexportation
Counterfoils (white)
Unchanged:
2
Large
23/06/30
completed by Foreign Customs;
beware of and abide by “final date
for re-exportation”
pay special attention to partial
shipments (i.e., missing items)
Changes:
Void
pairing of counterfoils
4 sets per page, some may say
“Void”
Validated by Foreign Customs upon entering and exiting the foreign country
Importation Vouchers
Acme Widget Company
123 Main Street
Anywhere, OK 11112
2
US1/22/33333
Unchanged:
Susan Smith, John Doe,
Speedy Shipping Co., and/or
any authorized representative
Commercial Samples
Exhibitions and Fairs
(white)
23/09/30
Holder completes D-F and signs
shaded areas completed by
Foreign Customs
removed by Foreign Customs to be
matched with reexport voucher
use voucher and counterfoil with
same number, e.g., #2
Changes:
separation from counterfoil
Validated by Foreign Customs upon entering and exiting the foreign country
Acme Widget Company
123 Main Street
Anywhere, OK 11112
2
US1/22/33333
Unchanged:
Susan Smith, John Doe,
Speedy Shipping Co., and/or
any authorized representative
Commercial Samples
Exhibitions and Fairs
Re-exportation
Voucher (white)
23/09/30
Holder completes D-F and signs
shade areas completed by Foreign
Customs
note only those items departing
payment of duty noted in H(b-c)
removed by Foreign Customs;
matched with Import voucher
validate reexport voucher #2 if
import counterfoil # 2 was opened
Changes:
separation from counterfoil
Validated by Foreign Customs upon entering and exiting the foreign country
US1/22/33333
1-10
1
1-4
1
2
5-10
2
Missing Items/
Partial Shipments
Ensure proper item
numbers are noted
on counterfoils (and
vouchers) for goods
entering/exiting in a
piecemeal fashion
US1/22/33333
New
1
Unchanged:
completed by Foreign Customs
used for:
1
Void
2
Void
2
Transit Counterfoils
Traveling through but not
“entering” a foreign country
special circumstances, e.g.,
jewelry and fairs in Switzerland,
Poland
Changes:
pairing of counterfoils
4 sets per page, some may say
“Void”
large number in lower left corners
Validated by Foreign Customs when transiting a foreign country
Acme Widget Company
123 Main Street
Anywhere, OK 11112
1
US1/22/33333
Susan Smith, John Doe,
Speedy Shipping Co., and/or
any authorized representative
Commercial Samples
Exhibitions and Fairs
23/09/30
Transit Vouchers
Unchanged:
Holder completes D-F and
signs
Changes:
separation from counterfoil
Validated by Foreign Customs when transiting a foreign country
Getting Assistance
ATA Carnet Headquarters
www.merchandisepassport.org
Fred Mardis
voice: 212.703.5080
email: [email protected]
Glendy Sung
voice: 212.703.5073
email: [email protected]