What Role Does A Custom House Agent Play In International Trade?
A customs broker or house agent is a professional who mainly specialises in offering assistance in the customs clearance process. Everyone knows that world trade largely impacts the growth and development of a country’s economy.
However, navigating the complex customs regulations and procedures can take time and effort. This is why it is very important to hire a custom house agent in Kolkata to get the required services.
Who Is A Customs House Agent Or A Broker?
A customs house agent or broker is a licensed expert specialising in offering assistance and expertise in customs clearance compliance. They act as the bridge between the importers, customs authorities and exporters to ensure a seamless flow of goods across the border.
What Are The Functions Played By The Customs House Agent?
The customs house agent has many responsibilities per the Customs Act 1962, IATA regulations, and the Customs Broker Licensing Regulations 2018. Here are some of the main activities of the customs broker-
1. Clearance of the conveyance
These agents are authorised to take any necessary customs clearance procedures for the conveyance. It further ensures compliance with the customs regulations that facilitate the smooth transport of goods across the border.
2. Import and Export of operations
The customs broker helps the businesses fulfil the required customs needs for importing the goods to a country or exporting the goods to other countries. It involves handling the paperwork, customs declarations, and valuation of the goods, as well as tariff classifications and ensuring that they comply with the required trade laws.
3. Customs Station Audits
Custom auditing is reviewing and verifying the accuracy of customs declarations and documents per customs regulations. By conducting the audits, the customs broker will ensure that the business complies with the customs laws and regulations.
Difference between customs house agent and Freight forwarder
The customs house agents and the freight forwarders are the main stakeholders in maintaining international trade. The customs house agent specialises in customs clearance and ensures that the product transport complies with customs regulations.
On the contrary, freight forwarders mainly focus on shipment logistics. They assist in different aspects like booking a cargo space, negotiating prices with carriers and organising multi-modal forms of shipments.
In every global trade, having a customs house agent’s assistance is crucial. AP Clearing Agency has a CHA or customs broker to help manage international trade and logistics seamlessly.
