Task 23. Work in groups. Make a list of the 30 most important vocabulary words for a customs officer. Compare with the other group(s). What are the most common words?

Vocabulary

Unit 14

Customs procedures

Warehousing

Text 1

Task 1. Read and translate the text.

The current Customs procedures were introduced by the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (the Kyoto Convention). Almost 80% of international trade is now being facilitated under the provisions of this important global instrument which provides international commerce with the predictability and efficiency that modern trade requires.

The efficiency and effectiveness of Customs procedures can significantly influence and advance economic competitiveness and social development by promoting international trade and investment in a safer trading environment.

Customs warehouse

The Customs warehousing procedure enables importers and exporters to keep their goods temporarily (for 2 months) in customs warehouses without the payment of duties and taxes and without the application of economic restrictions and prohibitions.

Goods can be imported for storage in a warehouse and re-exported in the same state. But traders can use this procedure to improve the packaging and marketable qualities of the goods and to prepare them for shipment. Such operations include: repacking, sorting and grading, breaking bulk, grouping of packages.

This customs procedure gives importers and exporters a number of advantages. For example, they can import goods in bulk, at discounted prices and place the goods in the customs warehouse. Then the trader can re-negotiate sales abroad on more favorable terms and re-export the similar quantities of goods at higher prices, making foreign exchange gains. Bonded warehousing facilities usually offer a higher degree of security than conventional warehousing.

In some cases exporters are permitted to use warehousing facilities to combine domestic goods with identical imported goods to satisfy a single export order.

The warehousing procedure can be used to assist home manufacturers in producing goods for export. There are traders who specialize in wholesale trade and act as agents for manufacturers. They consolidate small import orders from different companies and import consignments in bulk. After that they offer their goods to home producers at lower prices than the prices for small importations.

Besides, warehousing procedure helps exporters to obtain refunds of import duties and taxes before the actual exportation of the goods, thereby facilitating their cash flow.

Customs warehouses may be either public or private. ”Public warehouse” is available for use by any trader and “Private warehouse” is reserved by a warehouse-keeper who must be authorized by the Customs.

The warehousing procedure enables the authorities: to assist manufacturers in producing goods for export and thus develop a country’s external trade as well as to earn foreign currency for the services rendered at the warehouses and provide employment opportunities.

Working on the text

Task 2. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following:

таможенный режим; временно размещать товары; в том же состоянии; улучшить товарный вид; преимущество; закупать большими партиями; выгодные условия; получать прибыль в иностранной валюте; производить товары на экспорт; оптовая торговля; объединять заказы

Task 3. Match to make word combinations:

cash _______

employment _______

foreign _______

external _______

economic _______

marketable _______

breaking _______

discounted _______

favorable _______

home _______

export _______

Task 4. Find words with the same suffix or prefix in the text and add some more words.

marketable – favorable - dutiable, available

shipment - . . .

trader - . . .

application - . . .

re-export - . . .

regularly - …

physical - …

criticize - …