Notice to Importers: Changes to container shipment process

Notice to Importers: Changes to container shipment process

From July this year, all container shipments will be assessed by Port authorities under new conditions. Called Container Weight Verification, the process checks the weight of contents of all shipping containers before they are cleared to load onto ships and leave port. This change was designed by authorities to improve safety standards on container ships.

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How to avoid trip ups at customs

How to avoid trip ups at customs

What happens when your import arrives, is assessed by Customs and found to be inconsistent with its paperwork, or inconsistent with Australian trade requirements?

To better understand the Customs process and where delays (and costs) stack up, we’ve put together this infographic to explain things simply, using a footwear shipment as the example. But the same principles can be applied to imports across all consumer channels.

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Fraud and non-compliance together spells fire

Fraud and non-compliance together spells fire

Over Christmas we saw a huge surge in hover-boards flooding the market. They were flying through the mail centres, shipping yards are air freight terminals across Australia. But the result was dangerous.
Suppliers and importers have acted fraudulently to import these goods, declaring low value to avoid tax. Plus, knowing this would mean the goods suffered less scrutiny than more expensive imports, some – in fact, many – haven’t acquired an import permit from www.infrastructure.gov.au.
Fast-forward to the Victorian house fire. When importers act fraudulently and don’t gain the relevant certificates checking safety, people can get hurt. It also leads to a higher overall cost to taxpayers. In the end, we’re all the losers.

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Christmas Importing: Onus is on the Importer

Christmas Importing: Onus is on the Importer

Importing is tricky to manage well, and at this time of year the system is fraught with additional setbacks that can end in cost and time blow-outs for the unsuspecting importer. We have put together three major considerations for importers at this time of year, as well as suggestions on how to avoid paying more, or having stock caught up in unhelpful delays.

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Undisclosed Australian port charges cost importers a premium

Undisclosed Australian port charges cost importers a premium

Leading Australian Customs clearance agency Platinum® Freight Management warns of a growing trend for global manufacturers and their shipping partners to over-charge importers on Australian port charges for sea freight shipments. “The Australian importer is paying a premium for a service without knowing there are alternatives that may be just as effective and far less expensive.”

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5 ways to reduce importing/exporting costs

5 ways to reduce importing/exporting costs

The Aussie dollar is low. Retailers are hurting.

Now is the time to health-check your importing/exporting processes and save.

The Customs process is one of the great unknowns for most businesses, even regular importers or exporters. Retailers can easily save thousands of dollars in extraneous charges just by better understanding the system and working smarter within it.

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Brokers & Forwarders feature: Crisis Leads SME’s To Misbehave

Brokers & Forwarders feature: Crisis Leads SME’s To Misbehave

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are under threat on so many fronts.

Equally, the customs clearance system is under extreme strain due to increases in importing statistics.

Let’s look first at the freight forwarding and customs clearance systems. Why are they under increased pressure now?

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The Big Picture: Importing Tax Reform And SME Retailers

The Big Picture: Importing Tax Reform And SME Retailers

Our dollar is weak and falling further and SME retailers – indeed, all Australian retailers who import goods for sale – are hurting. Peter McRae, a leading Customs Broker specialising in SME importing, predicts that the hurt will increase in future too, as tax and importing reforms that are designed to protect Australian retailers will also pack a punch to the most exposed: SMEs.

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