The State Customs Service and AMEU discussed the issues of assessing maritime transportation

The Association of International Forwarders of Ukraine (AMEU) has prepared methodological recommendations for the State Customs Service on how the cost of sea transportation is formed.

The meeting also discussed the prospect of reducing disputes between customs and business, said the head of AMEU Viktor Berestenko.

According to him, businesses that work with foreign trade are well aware of one of the most painful topics – adjusting the customs value.

“When we at AMEU began to analyze the causes of such disputes, we discovered an interesting pattern: a significant part of the issues arise around transportation costs. So often that we even systematized typical formulations, which then regularly fail to withstand scrutiny in courts,” said Viktor Berestenko.

He also added that the State Customs Service invited AMEU to a conference call. The association has prepared methodological recommendations: how the cost of sea transportation is formed, where it is reflected in documents and how to distinguish a real understatement from a formal error.

“Customs offices from all over the country joined the conversation — and this is the change we have been waiting for so long: when business and customs speak the same language — the language of data. We showed how to evaluate documents as a whole, and not just pick out one column. Take into account Incoterms delivery terms. Do not replace customs value control with control of business contracts. Fewer unfounded decisions — fewer lost disputes — more protected budget,” said the head of the AMEU.

Read also: “There should be a plan B and C.” How logistics planning has changed in Ukraine. Interview with Henri Petrosyan, director of LUKRO.