Last week the World Customs Organization (WCO) held the 23rd meeting of the eATA Working Group. Every year, the Working Group discusses progress on digitalizing the ATA Carnet (eATA) and the Carnet de Passages en Douane (eCPD), which will facilitate the free movement of goods and vehicles across borders and their temporary admission into a Customs territory with relief from duties and taxes.
The WCO and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) informed delegates that the eATA Carnet Project is currently in a critical phase, during which the Contracting Parties must decide when to transition to digital Carnets and notify the WCO and the ICC of their single point of contact for further collaboration and a smooth transition to the digital ATA Carnets by the end of 2027.
The ICC also provided guidance on the key phases and requirements for the Global Transition Plan. Further details on the eATA Carnet Project and its supporting tools are available on the ICC website.
The meeting featured presentations from German Customs, Irish Customs, and the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, who shared insights and their experiences in digitalizing the ATA Carnet process, highlighting the value of collaboration between Customs and National Guaranteeing Associations and the necessity of additional test transmissions before the official shift to full digitalization by the end of 2027.
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.