Brazil agrees to carnet system

Brazil agrees to carnet system    The Brazilian government has agreed to adopt the use of carnets, an international passport for merchandise honored by more than 75 countries, according to a notice Thursday from the trade law firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg (ST&R).
   'The Brazilian Senate’s approval of the Istanbul Convention will facilitate trade in many items by eliminating the need to endure extensive customs procedures, pay duties and value-added taxes, and purchase temporary import bonds,' the notice said.
   The Istanbul Convention, adopted by the World Customs Organization in June 1990 and in force since 1993, is primarily designed to facilitate the temporary entry and exit of goods by removing the need to pay customs taxes or complete entry procedures. Commercial representatives, exhibitors, executives and other professionals use carnets to move goods among signatory countries with relative ease and flexibility and little cost.
   According to ST&R, goods eligible to use carnets include:
   ' Commercial samples, professional equipment and goods for exhibitions and fairs.
   ' Ordinary goods crossing borders in connection with international business such as computers, tools, cameras, industrial machinery, automobiles, gems and jewelry, and wearing apparel.
   ' Extraordinary items such as paintings, circus animals and equipment used in sporting events and music performances.
   Carnets are not available for consumable or disposable goods (e.g., food and agriculture products), giveaways and postal traffic.