Ukraine on March 1 will join the ATA Carnet system, which permits the temporary importation of various types of goods without duties or taxes. Ukraine recently reached agreement to enter the World Trade Organization, and "entry into the carnet system is a strong signal that the country is committed to promoting economic growth and openness, and to becoming a major European hub for trade," said the United States Council for International Business, which administers the carnet system in the U.S. Carnets are internationally recognized customs documents for temporary duty-free, tax-free import of commercial samples, professional equipment and goods displayed at trade shows. The acronym “ATA” is a combination of the French and English abbreviations for “temporary admission.”
The extension of the carnet network into the former Soviet bloc nations is "a major priority for the worldwide system and particularly for our European counterparts,” said Cynthia Duncan, USCIB’s senior vice president for carnet operations. “This will increase access to the Ukrainian market and further meet the demands of U.S. exporters with an interest in the region.” Ukraine will waive import duties on professional equipment, goods for exhibitions and fairs, and commercial samples. ATA Carnets will be accepted for transit operations and postal traffic, but not unaccompanied goods, and will be guaranteed by the Ukranian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The USCIB said carnets are honored in more than 80 customs territories and can be used for multiple trips during a one-year period. The global ATA Carnet system is overseen by the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. In 2007, over 155,000 Carnets were issued worldwide, covering goods valued at almost $12 billion.
Journal of Commerce
