Trade Documents Checklist — and the Small Details That Hold Cargo at the Border
Each core document explained: who issues it, what it does, and the details that most often go wrong and cost time and money.
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Practical guidance on customs clearance, import and export, and international freight.
Frequently asked questions
Import clearance normally takes 1–2 working days once all documents are complete. Goods requiring special permits may take longer.
For an accurate quote: origin and destination at city or port level, the commodity and tariff code if known, total weight and package dimensions, piece count, the Incoterm, the cargo ready date, and whether you want insurance. Send what you have — we will give an indicative figure and ask for the rest.
Yes — end to end, including duty exemption for machinery and raw materials and raw-material account reconciliation.
No — we handle everything from a single air parcel to full containers and project cargo. For smaller volumes we offer LCL and consolidation of goods from several suppliers at the same origin, which is usually cheaper than shipping each one separately.
Origin and destination, commodity type, weight and dimensions, number of packages, Incoterms and cargo readiness date.
Both are certificates of origin used to claim a reduced import duty, but under different agreements. Form E covers the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area; Form D covers trade between ASEAN member states. In both cases the tariff code and goods description on the form must match the customs entry, or the preference can be refused.
Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading or Air Waybill, any import permit, and a Certificate of Origin where FTA privileges apply.
Use the Track Shipment page with your job reference number, or sign in to the Customer Portal for full status and documents.
Want advice on your specific shipment?
Send us the details and our team will come back with pricing and the steps to prepare.