Another way that brokers can be effective tools is to have them explore duty-free opportunities for your particular business lanes. Certain dutiable products may enter the U.S. duty free depending on their intended use and length of stay. Listed below are two areas that may be utilized for cost savings in various commodity business arrangements where a temporary importation is required. (Duty-free opportunities are explained further in Chapter 8.)

• Carnets You can achieve duty-free status via a Carnet. There are three types of Carnets that you may find on the Customs website (www.cbp.gov). The most widely utilized is the ATA Carnet. "ATA" stands for the combined French and English words "Admission Temporaire - Temporary Admission." It is an international Customs document that a traveler may use temporarily to import certain goods into a country without having to engage in the Customs formalities usually required for the importation of goods, and without having to pay duty or value-added taxes on the goods. Not all countries participate in the ATA Carnet process. The U.S. does allow for the temporary importation of commercial samples, professional equipment, and certain advertising materials by a nonresident individual. Carnets are a security that participating countries accept as a guarantee against the payment of Customs duties that may become due on goods temporarily imported under a Carnet and then not exported as required. The Council for International Business can be contacted to determine if the country to which you are traveling...