Seven countries will participate in electronic ATA Carnet project

Belgium, China, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, the UK and the U.S. have been selected to take part.

Seven countries were selected or targeted to participate in a the Mercury II Pilot project to digitalize the ATA Carnet, a customs document allowing duty- and tax-free movement of goods for up to one year.

The Carnet is a customs document secured in the seller’s country, which guarantees the importing country that it will be compensated for the duties and taxes applicable if the goods it covers are not re-exported. It is valid for a maximum of one year. ATA is a French and English acronym of “Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission.” Carnets are commonly used by sales people and manufacturers to bring their wares into foreign countries to show as commercial samples to potential customers or to display at trade fairs and exhibitions.

Of the countries that expressed interest in participating in the Mercury II Pilot project – either via Customs or National Guaranteeing Associations – Belgium, China, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States have been selected or targeted to take part.

The World Chambers Federation of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC WCF) is currently working closely with the pilot participants to advance the project which is planned to start running in the first quarter of 2019.

The new digital ATA Carnet system is currently approaching the end of development and will be tested internally before the beginning of the running pilot phase.

Established in 1960 under the joint efforts of World Customs Organization (WCO) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the paper based ATA Carnet is currently in force in 78 countries and economies throughout the world.