English for customs officers

17.Foreign goods, services, ideas, investments and business people have to be able to benefit from opportunities to compete in the market on terms equal or comparable to those enjoyed by local producers.

18.Guaranteeing access for foreign competitors to domestic markets by reducing government trade barriers is the most important function of a liberal trade policy.

II. Explain the meaning of the following proverb in English and translate it into Russian:

As you make your bed, so you must lie on it.

III. Study the following chart. Fill in the missing parts. Use a dictionary.

160

IV. Fill in the correct word. Choose from:

V. Solve the crossword.

Across:

2. Undertaking by which the surety assumes obligations towards the Customs.

4. The act of taking out or causing to be taken out any goods from the Customs territory.

6. … from import duties and taxes is clearance of goods for home use free of import duties and taxes, irrespective of their normal tariff classification or normal liability, provided that they are imported in specified circumstances and for specified purposes.

8. The person actually transporting goods or in charge of or responsible for the operation of the means of transport.

11.Inward … is the Customs procedure under which certain goods can be brought into a Customs territory conditionally relieved from payment of import duties and taxes, on the basis that such goods are intended for manufacturing, processing or repair and subsequent exportation.

12.The accomplishment of the Customs formalities necessary to allow goods to enter home use, to be exported or to be placed under another Customs procedure.

161

Down:

1. Measures applied by the Customs to ensure compliance with Customs law.

3. … of goods is physical inspection of goods by the Customs to satisfy themselves that the nature, origin, condition, quantity and value of the goods are in accordance with the particulars furnished in the Goods declaration.

5. Money … is the process by which the illegal source of proceeds is concealed by means of financial transactions or any other means to make it appear legitimate.

7. Importation into a Customs territory of goods previously exported from that territory.

9.Customs … procedure is the Customs procedure under which imported goods are stored under Customs control in a designated place without payment of import duties and taxes.

10.Customs … is the boundary of a Customs territory.

13. A part of the Customs territory of a Contracting Party where any goods introduced are generally regarded, insofar as import duties and taxes concerned, as being outside this territory.

162

UNIT 8. THE ROLE OF CUSTOMS

Study the following words and word combinations from the text.

164

TEXT 8.1. THE CHALLENGES FACED BY CUSTOMS

ADMINISTRATIONS TODAY

International trade significantly contributes to the economic growth of the state. Customs administrations, playing a vital role in international trade, are mandated to control the cross-border movement of goods and thereby safeguard national interests. In recent decades the rapid development of world trade has brought new challenges1 for Customs administrations.

The role of Customs in the 21st century has evolved in many respects. Customs authorities are responsible for such diverse tasks as immigration control and the enforcement of commercial policy through the implementation of preferential trade agreements, the operation of quotas and the application of restrictions, public health and safety legislation, quarantine controls, currency controls, counterfeiting and piracy legislation and the collection of external trade statistics. These are just a few areas in which Customs administrations are now becoming increasingly involved. Trade demands for additional services such as deferred payment of duty have also had their effect on Customs.

The application of all Customs responsibilities has led inevitably to the complexity of Customs regulations. The range of goods and services is constantly expanding. Consequently Tariff books and procedure manuals are becoming significantly more detailed. Officials, who in the past applied a fairly simplified tariff schedule specifying Customs duties on a limited range of goods, are now faced with the increased complexities of tariffs based on the Harmonized System.

It is becoming increasingly difficult in some countries for Customs officers to be aware of all existing regulations affecting importations. This has led to a lack of uniformity in the application of the law. It provides increased opportunities for the circumvention of Customs law and produces an ideal environment for the spread of practices such as irregular payments. Customs can expect an increased workload from increasing international trade and traffic.

The problems of smuggling, particularly drugs, continue to rise in many parts of the world. Fraud and evasion of duties have become even

1 Challenge – something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person's ability.

165

more acute problems in developing countries. The increase in organized crime and terrorism has placed a great responsibility on Customs Services globally to provide effective and efficient controls which establish and maintain the economic security of the Nations they serve. In this respect a common challenge shared by all Customs administrations is to facilitate legitimate trade, which is an engine of sustainable economic development, without compromising Customs controls.

Every trade transaction involves at least two Customs interventions – one at exportation and the other at importation. Accordingly, Customs Services around the world and the business community meet a million times each day. It is clear therefore that the manner in which Customs Services conduct their business has a substantial impact on trade efficiency. A common challenge for Customs administrations is to develop and maintain good relationships with business.

Governments throughout the world recognize the value of Customs Services in their national economies and realize that the service being provided by Customs is one they cannot easily dispense with.

As a result, Customs Services around the world are re-examining the way they operate and deal with their customers. The challenge is to facilitate the international trade process at a minimum cost to economy, and without compromising the collection of revenue or the protection of the community from illegal cross-border movements of goods.

EXERCISES

I. Match the words from the text with their corresponding definitions.

166

III. Match left to the right to find synonyms.

IV. Insert the right words. Choose from the list below.

1.The traditional Customs responsibilities of (a) and (b) still remain with us.

2.Some Customs authorities are responsible for such diverse tasks as

(a)and (b) through the implementation of preferential trade agreements.

3.Customs can expect an increased workload from increasing (a) and (b).

168

4.Customs Services will, therefore, be expected to meet the (a) and (b) by better organization, and improved techniques including computerization and new technology.

5.Customs Services around the world are re-examining the way they (a) and (b) with their customers.

6.(a) and (b) are becoming significantly more detailed.

7.(a) and (b) will become even more acute problems in developing countries.

8.Every trade transaction involves at least two customs interventions – one at (a) and the other at (b).

9.Governments throughout the world (a) the value of Customs Services in their national economies and (b) that the service being provided by Customs is one they cannot easily dispense with.

10.Things which we regard as commonplace today, world-wide telecommunications via satellite, (a) and (b), were scarcely conceivable just a few decades ago, also the world has changed from the Customs' perspective.

V. Complete the sentences using the Present Simple, Present Progressive, Present Perfect or the Past Simple form of the verbs below. Some verbs can be used more than once.

1.Now Tariff books and procedure manuals … significantly detailed.

2.Governments also … to see the danger of inefficient Customs Services. As a result Customs Services around the world … the way they operate and deal with their customers.

3.Every trade transaction … at least two Customs interventions – one at exportation and the other at importation.

4.Lately the problems of smuggling … in many parts of the world.

5.In the past officials … a simplified tariff schedule.

6.We realize that the world … rapidly.

169