Cross-border e-commerce customs clearance knowledge and analysis of international parcel clearance procedures
The earliest customs agency appeared in the ancient Greek city-state Athens in the mid-5th century BC. After the 11th century, the Republic of Venice in Western Europe established an institution named after “Customs”, namely the Venice Customs. In China, the history of customs is also long. There are records of the “Guan and Guanshi Campaign” in ancient books from the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, with the development of foreign trade, checkpoints were set up in Heqing and other places. During the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties, municipal shipping departments were successively established in Guangzhou, Quanzhou and other places. It was not until the Qing Dynasty announced the opening of the sea ban that it was named “customs” for the first time during the Kangxi period, and four customs were successively established in Guangdong (Guangzhou), Fujian (Fuzhou), Zhejiang (Ningbo), and Jiang (Shanghai).
However, after the Opium War in 1840, China gradually lost its tariff autonomy, customs administrative rights, and tax revenue and expenditure custody rights. The customs gradually evolved into a semi-colonial customs, which was controlled by Britain, the United States, France, and Japan. It was controlled by other imperialist countries and became a tool for Western powers to plunder China. It was not until the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 that the People’s Government took over the customs, ending the history of semi-colonial customs and establishing a socialist customs.
Customs clearance for international parcels means that after international parcels arrive at the destination country or region, they need to undergo customs inspection and approval to ensure the legality and safety of the parcel. This step is an important part of the international parcel delivery process and may also affect the arrival time of the parcel.
International parcel customs clearance time
The time required for customs clearance of international packages varies depending on the region, package type, package value, customs busyness and other factors. Normally, the customs clearance time for international parcels is about 2-7 working days, but sometimes it can take longer. For example, when a package is of high value or contains prohibited or restricted items, or when customs in the destination country or region are busy, these factors may lead to longer customs clearance times.
It should be noted that customs clearance time is calculated from the time the package arrives in the destination country or region, not from the time it is sent. Therefore, when sending international parcels, sufficient time should be reserved to prevent delays or loss of parcels due to extended customs clearance times.
International parcel customs clearance process
The customs clearance process for international parcels varies by country or region, but generally includes the following steps:
- Customs declaration: After the package arrives at the destination country or region, a customs declaration is required.
- Customs Inspection: Ensure that the contents of the package comply with customs requirements and regulations.
- Customs Approval: Determines whether duties or other fees are required and ultimately determines whether to release the package.
- Taxes and Payments: If a package is subject to duties or other charges, you will need to pay the appropriate fees in order for customs to release the package.
- Package delivery: After customs clearance is completed, the package will be sent to the destination and finally delivered to the recipient.
During the customs clearance process, the customs may unpack and inspect the package to further confirm whether the items in the package comply with regulations. If a package contains prohibited or restricted items, it may be detained by customs or returned to the sender.
The above content combines information from two articles, covering not only the historical background of China's customs, but also a detailed introduction to the specific procedures and precautions for international parcel clearance.