CCEB Component C key terms

The monetary amount on which import duties and taxes are calculated, usually the transaction value actually paid or payable for the goods, adjusted as the law requires.

The primary valuation method, based on the price actually paid or payable for goods when sold for export, provided the buyer and seller are unrelated or the relationship did not affect the price.

Buyer and seller linked by ownership, control, family ties, or employment, so that their relationship may have influenced the price and valuation must be tested for acceptability.

Additions or deductions made to the price paid to reach customs value, such as freight, insurance, commissions, royalties, or post-importation costs that are legally excluded.

A valuation approach where the customs value includes cost of goods, insurance, and freight to the place of importation, common in many jurisdictions though not in the United States.

An international nomenclature maintained by the World Customs Organization that organizes traded goods into chapters, headings, and subheadings, forming the basis of national tariff schedules.

Six legally binding rules that govern how goods are classified under the Harmonized System, resolving questions of incomplete goods, mixtures, sets, and competing headings.

The attribute that gives a composite good or set its fundamental identity, used under GIR 3(b) to classify mixtures and sets by the component that predominates.

A four-digit code in the Harmonized System describing a group of goods, which is further divided into six-digit subheadings and national tariff lines.

A written decision by customs authorities, issued in advance of importation, that fixes the classification, origin, or valuation treatment of specified goods for a stated period.

A pre-importation determination by customs on how goods will be treated, giving importers legal certainty on classification, origin, or valuation before shipment.

The rules that determine a good's economic nationality, including wholly obtained goods, substantial transformation, and specific product rules such as change of tariff classification or value-added thresholds.

A change in a good's name, character, or use resulting from processing in a country, the core test for conferring origin where no specific product rule applies.

An origin rule requiring non-originating materials to shift to a different HS heading or subheading through production in the exporting country before preferential origin is granted.

Legal provisions that establish the country in which a good is considered to originate, determining eligibility for preferential tariff treatment and application of trade measures.

A document declaring the country in which goods were produced, used to claim preferential duty rates or satisfy importing-country requirements for origin verification.

A statement, often made by an approved exporter on an invoice or other commercial document, asserting that goods qualify as originating under a trade agreement.

An exporter authorized by customs to make origin declarations without a certificate for each shipment, based on demonstrated compliance and record-keeping.

A tolerance allowing a limited percentage of non-originating materials that fail a product-specific rule, or a threshold below which duties and taxes are waived on low-value shipments.

A rule permitting originating materials or processing from a partner country to count as domestic for origin purposes, expanding sourcing options within a trade agreement.

The duty percentage or specific amount applied to imported goods, which may vary by tariff line, origin, and applicable preferential agreement.

A reduced or zero duty rate granted to goods meeting origin and documentation requirements under a free trade agreement or unilateral preference scheme.

A duty calculated as a percentage of the customs value of the imported goods, so the amount payable rises and falls with declared value.

A duty charged as a fixed amount per unit of measure, such as per kilogram or per litre, regardless of the goods' monetary value.

A duty combining both ad valorem and specific elements, for example a percentage of value plus a fixed charge per unit.

A trade remedy duty imposed on imports sold below fair value in the importing market, causing or threatening material injury to domestic producers.

A trade remedy duty levied to offset foreign government subsidies that benefit imported goods and injure domestic industry.

A temporary restriction, such as a tariff increase or quota, imposed on imports of a product surging in volume and causing serious injury to domestic producers.

The formal statement submitted by an importer or agent describing goods, their value, origin, classification, and applicable procedure, on which customs acts.

The person legally responsible for lodging a customs declaration and ensuring the accuracy of the information and supporting documents provided.

A licensed intermediary who prepares and files customs declarations and advises importers on classification, valuation, and documentary requirements.

A written authorization permitting an agent or broker to act on an importer's behalf before customs, defining the scope of representation.

A standardized multi-copy form used in many jurisdictions to declare goods for import, export, or transit and to record customs treatment.

A customs examination of an importer's books and records after goods are released, verifying the accuracy of declarations and compliance with obligations.

The legal duty to retain import and export records, invoices, and supporting documents for a prescribed period so customs can verify compliance.

A certified status granted to traders meeting supply chain security and compliance standards, typically attracting reduced inspections and faster clearance.

Measures protecting goods and information from tampering, theft, or infiltration from origin to destination, supported by standards such as container seals and facility controls.

A special procedure allowing goods to move between customs offices under customs control without payment of duties, subject to a guarantee.

A secured facility where imported goods may be stored with duties suspended until they are re-exported, entered for home use, or otherwise disposed of.

A special regime permitting imported materials to be processed and re-exported with relief from duties on the imported inputs.

A customs arrangement under which duties are not paid at importation, but remain owed unless the goods are re-exported or otherwise accounted for.

A financial security, such as a deposit or bond, provided to customs to cover potential duty liability under a special procedure.

A disagreement between customs and the importer over the declared value, often resolved through administrative review, appeal, or a binding valuation ruling.

The standards of honesty, confidentiality, and diligence expected of customs professionals, including avoiding conflicts of interest and refusing to facilitate false declarations.