Temporary Import Procedures

🫠 Everyone’s buzzing about the new tariffs.. here’s what we’re actually seeing on the ground. Reporting from our front row seat at Airpals, especially with large manufacturing companies, here’s what’s really happening and what operators should be thinking about right now. 👉 In pharma manufacturing, some finished drugs are exempt, for now. But raw materials, lab supplies, and production equipment aren’t. That’s where the cost increases are already hitting: R&D, clinical trials, compliance. These aren’t products being sold, but the impact still trickles down to margins. 👉 We’re seeing a surge in domestic parcel shipments as companies stockpile materials from overseas and move them across multiple U.S. facilities. Operators are managing hundreds of active shipping accounts, often across multiple carriers and thousands of employees. It’s chaos. And it’s expensive. 👉 Localization can only go so far. Whether you’re shipping U.S.-made components overseas or moving imported materials into the U.S. for testing or clinical trials, cross-border movement is still critical. And here’s the kicker: most teams are missing real savings by not classifying these shipments properly. Here are a few customs exemptions and classifications every ops or logistics leader should be familiar with: ✅ HTSUS 9817.85.01 – Duty-Free Entry for Prototypes Used for articles imported exclusively for product development, testing, or quality control. Think early-stage pharma compounds or lab devices...not for sale. ✅ HTSUS 9811.00.60 – Samples of Negligible Value Applies to commercial samples marked “not for resale” or physically altered. Good for reagents or product samples sent for testing. ✅ HTSUS 9813 – Temporary Importation Under Bond (TIB) Used when you’re bringing something in temporarily (testing, research, exhibition) and then exporting or destroying it. Useful for clinical trial materials or diagnostic instruments. Most teams know of these, but very few have the systems in place to use them effectively, especially across fragmented shipping accounts and workflows. If this resonates, or you know someone trying to adapt operations in the face of new tariffs, share this with them. This is where savings are slipping through the cracks. #tariffs #pharmamanufacturing #pharma #CPHI #logistics

Your Query, Our Solution — Temporary Import of Equipment for Installation In my latest column published in Daily Shipping Times (6th November 2025 edition), I addressed a practical issue faced by many manufacturers and project suppliers — importing equipment temporarily for installation and testing purposes. The query came from a Special Purpose Machine (SPM) manufacturer planning to bring leased equipment from Germany on a returnable basis. My response outlined the two permissible options under Indian Customs law, with detailed steps for documentation, customs clearance, and re-export — highlighting Notification No. 72/2017 dated 16.08.2017 and key points such as: 1- Use of Bond/Bank Guarantee (BG) to defer part of customs duty. 2-Proper invoice declaration and identification marks. 3-Importance of obtaining EDF/GR Waiver at the time of re-export. 4-Caution on period extensions and documentation accuracy. Temporary imports often seem simple but require meticulous compliance at every stage — from drafting contracts to final re-export. A small oversight can lead to avoidable disputes or duty loss. I hope this article helps MSMEs, exporters, and engineering companies dealing with similar cases. Read the full article in Daily Shipping Times (6.11.2025 issue). #FFFAI #EXIMVidya #YourQueryOurSolution #Customs #TradeCompliance #TemporaryImport #SPM #ExportControl #Logistics #DailyShippingTimes #wco #CBIC #imports #exports #EXIM #BCBA #IMC #ACCAI #AMTOI #TESTING Nishita Modi

An ATA Carnet (also called a Merchandise Passport) is an international customs document that allows the temporary import and export of goods without having to pay duties, taxes, or provide customs bonds in the countries visited. It is accepted in over 80 countries and territories that are members of the ATA Carnet system, governed by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Purpose: -Facilitates temporary movement of goods across borders for: *Trade shows & exhibitions * Professional equipment * Commercial samples for sales demos -Saves time and money by avoiding multiple customs declarations and deposits in each country.

Ever ship goods into the EU for a short-term reason? - A trade fair or music festival - Equipment for a construction project - Tooling for a client facility You don’t plan to sell the goods. You just need them to do the job, then you’ll export them again. Enter: Temporary Admission. This special procedure lets you import goods without paying duty, as long as you: 🔹 Don’t alter them 🔹 Use them for a permitted reason 🔹 Export them again within the set timeframe Used right, this can save thousands, especially for expensive equipment. I’ve seen companies pay full duties on laptops, robots, even demo booths, because no one flagged they were temporary. Don’t let customs charges kill a short-term use case. If the goods are coming back out, don’t pay to bring them in. That’s the end of this mini-series, if you found it helpful, let me know which procedure you’ve used (or need to explore!)