Customs in the Eyes of a Travelling Commercial Manager
As the travelling commercial manager for a large corporate organisation, I have seen a great deal of the world. Through various business trips to markets all over the globe, I have spent a fair amount of time in airports and customs’ halls. Over the years, I have had some very interesting experiences when dealing with customs officers in different countries.
Most commonly, I encountered customs officers who were suspicious. They were often concerned that I was bringing in tools, technology or other goods that could potentially be dangerous or unapproved for sale in those countries. On many occasions I had to assure them that I had gained all the correct permissions to bring my goods in and that the items were all legal according to the specific laws of their country. On a few occasions, we had to arrange for our package to be opened and inspected on the spot to prove that everything was in order.
One of the more annoying experiences I had involved getting caught up in red tape. This happened when I tried to bring in materials that my company had purchased from a company in another country, but the customs officers were not convinced that we had the right import paperwork. Thankfully, this could be quickly resolved upon producing the appropriate invoice and documents.
In the more extreme cases, I have had to deal with official corruption. In some parts of the world, it is a fact that custom officers will occasionally use their positions of authority to try and solicit bribes. I am very aware that this is a serious issue, particularly in countries where bribery is an accepted way of doing business. I always comply with local laws when it comes to dealing with customs, and always declare any goods that might be deemed suspicious.
When everything goes to plan, customs can be a very straightforward process. Fortunately, there are a range of digital tools and resources available today that make paperwork and preparing goods for import so much easier. With the help of electronic processing, it is now much simpler to comply with the regulations of different countries, ensuring a smooth and the hassle-free exchange of goods.
Overall, dealing with customs is essential for anybody involved in goods exchange, but it can be tricky to navigate. As long as businesses make sure they stay on the right side of the law when dealing with customs officials, the process should become much simpler and much less time-consuming.
