EARTH CUSTOMS,INC.

Industry Resources

Listed below are other Web sites relating to the industry which you may find useful. Please read the Disclaimer.

Air Freight

• Airport Information
• International Air Transport Association (IATA)

Customs

• Visit U.S. Customs' improved site for decisions from the Office of Regulations & Rulings, and press releases. Import and export resources include weekly import quotas and an online version of the 1999 Harmonized Tariff Schedule; Or download the tariff below.
• Download the 1999 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).
• The ATA Carnet is an international Customs document that simplifies the temporary import of goods duty-free into the U.S and many other countries. It is often used to supply tradeshows and exhibitions with sample products. Provided by the U.S. Council for International Business

Export/Import

• Tradeport is an on-line trade assistance program for exports sponsored by the Department of Commerce. The program features an interactive trade tutorial, including a step-by-step check list to guide export transactions, a library of public and private data bases along with access to nearly 40,000 manufactures and service companies.
• New exporters should obtain a copy of the publication A Basic Guide to Exporting. This publication is available from the Government Printing Office for $9.50, stock number 003- 009-00604-0 by calling (202) 512-1800.
• The Trade Information Center (TIC) is the single comprehensive resource for information on all Government export assistance programs.
• The National Trade Data Bank is the U.S. Government's most comprehensive source of international trade data. It provides quick and easy access to thousands of files, including basic export information, trade statistics, market research reports, overseas contacts, how-to guides, and trade opportunities.
• U.S. Export Licenses and Controls
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration is notified of all regulated products imported into the United States by the U.S. Customs Service, as the importer, or his/her representative, must file an entry notice and acquire a bond to cover their goods for release with Customs. FDA then makes a decision as to the article's admissibility. If FDA does not wish to examine the entry, the product is allowed to proceed into the United States.
• Market Information
• Technical & Specialized Market Assistance
• Export Finance
• The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has issued a pamphlet which details its Winter '97 publications. It includes publications on environmental management, NAFTA documentation and procedures, foreign marketing, export sales agents and distributors, and ICC marketing codes.

Earth-Services General Industry

• Learn how to enhance your knowledge of global logistics management through the non-profit educational services of the Institute.
• A comprehensive Web site containing links to airlines, airports, and other transportation related resources is Princeton University's Intelligent Transportation Systems Program Transportation Resources site.
• A one-stop Internet Information Service and leading-edge Internet Technology for Carriers, Freight Forwarders & Shippers .
• Recognized worldwide as the source of Customs duties and taxes for over twelve years Worldtariff offers a unique mix of subscription services designed to make international trade easier and more profitable.

Government Agencies

United States

• Bureau of Export Administration
• U.S. Department of Transportation
• Federal Aviation Administration
• International Trade Administration (ITA)
• The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is an independent, quasi-judicial federal agency that provides objective trade expertise to both the legislative and executive branches of government, determines the impact of imports on U.S. industries, and directs actions against certain unfair trade practices, such as patent, trademark, and copyright infringement. The agency also updates and publishes the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
• Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy.

Multilateral Trade Agreements/Organizations

• CARICOM - Caribbean Community and Common Market
• Central American Common Market including Guatemala. El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.
• European Community
• MERCOSUR - Southern Common Market between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay (also known as the Treaty of Asunción)
• The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world's oldest regional organization and is in the process of constructing the 'Free Trade Area of the Americas' (FTAA). OAS' Foreign Trade Information System (SICE for short, from its Spanish acronym - Sistema de Información al ComercioExterior) was established to provide foreign trade information to residence of member states in order to help them promote the entry of their country's products into foreign markets and to assist them in the decision-making process.
• The World Trade Organization (WTO) replaces the site of rules known as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) with a permanent institution, and provides the principal contractual obligations determining how governments frame and implement domestic trade legislation and regulations. The WTO was formed as a result of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations in 1994. There are 116 WTO members and 37 observers countries as of January 1999.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

• Earth-Services companies has established a network of transportation and customs issues between the US and other countries:

• The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, Inc. (NCBFAA)
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) provides information and directives to facilitate global commerce. Among the books they publish is "Incoterms 1990", a rule book defining the 13 sales-terms such as "FOB" and "CIF".

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