国际贸易之 货运、海关和其他事宜Shipping, Customs, and Other Issues

国际贸易之 货运、海关和其他事宜Shipping, Customs, and Other Issues

对于货物的进出口，有必要特别关注一些细节问题（to pay close attention to detail）。从厂家发货到买家收货、从运输到交货（shipping and delivery），不同的阶段都有一些事情需要额外留意（to watch for）。

运输管理

运输管理非常关键（crucial）。一旦买方支付货物费用或者同意通过信用证[a letter of credit（L/C）]来支付，他们就有权利知道货物在任何指定时间内（at any given time）的状态。因此，买方总是不断地联系（keep in constant contact）制造商、贸易公司、船运公司或采购代理公司，以确认货物的交付情况。卖方也不时通过监控系统了解运输进度。

⊙Where are the goods now?货物现在在哪儿？

⊙The freight forwarder can help.货运代理可以帮忙。

⊙We already have a letter of credit from the buyer.So it's safe to say we're good to go on this deal.

我们已经收到了买方的信用证。要说我们可以放心交易了是没错的。

⊙Contact our sourcing agent to make sure the product is on its way.联系我们的采购代理以确保货物已经在路上了。

⊙Where exactly are we in the transportation process?我们到底在运输的哪个环节？

⊙When can we expect to receive our shipment?我们预计什么时候能收到货物？

⊙We've actually purchased the shipment, so we'd better keep track of where it is.

我们实际上已经支付过了，所以我们最好跟踪货物所在位置。

⊙Contact the manufacturer and see what's holding our order up.联系制造商看货物到底搁在哪儿了。

⊙I need to call the shipping company to track down what happened to the order.

我需要打电话给船运公司看我们的货物出了什么情况。

海关（Customs）

每个国家的通关情况各有异同。通常情况下，清关工作必须由有资质认证的或海关注册的报关代理人（licensed or registered customs agent）来负责。过程并不复杂，但有一定的费用（cost some cash）。清关费通常至少150美元。根据现行的货物种类收取固定的关税，该费用应当由报关代理人在清关过程中垫付。

⊙The shipment is about to clear customs this week.货物这个星期就应该清关了。

⊙What kind of tariffs will we have to deal with?我们要支付哪种关税？

⊙The customs broker fee is out of this world.这个报关费低得不得了。

⊙Next time we should look into purchasing a long-term customs clearance agent.

下一次我们应该考虑雇一个长期的清关代理公司。

⊙How much is customs duty for our order?

我们货物的关税是多少？

认真遵守进口规则

必须保证你在报关单上填写的货物内容和实际货物相符。有人为了逃避关税会填写一些关税较低的项目，或者有意不把货物种类填写全。但是，各国海关对于这种情况的惩罚相当严厉（stiff penalties）。各国政府都非常重视对海关欺诈行为的监控和惩处（monitoring and prosecuting customs fraud）。因此，很有必要了解你货物出口目的国的海关规定。

⊙Does your shipment include any samples or gifts?你的货物中包含样品和礼物吗？

⊙Importing non-commercial items can be hit with hefty fines.进口非贸易物品将被处以高额罚款。

关系

如果平时就能够和供货商、货运代理商、清关公司、海关人员建立良好的关系，那不仅能让你平时的出口业务保持通畅（flow smoothly），而且在出现问题时，各方会多一些热心和责任心。

A：Is there a way we can arrange a factory tour before the shipment leaves China?

B：Of course, we'd love you to come for a factory tour. Please let us know what kind of arrangements we can make for you.

A：在货物离开中国之前，能否为我们组织一个工厂参观考察？

B：当然，我们很愿意你们来工厂考察。请告诉我们都要为你们安排哪些内容。

总结

对买方来说，并不是卖方收款发货就意味着可以高枕无忧。从货物装船到进入自己仓库仍有需要关注的一段时间。买家应及时向厂家询问货物所处状态，避免让卖家掉以轻心；了解进口程序和法规，避免不必要的损失；保持和各方的友好关系，保证在出现问题时能沟通顺畅。

Words　单词表

agency代理，经销商

already已经

disaster灾害，灾祸

duty责任，义务

helpful有用的，有帮助的

manufacturer制造商

order订单，订购

purchase采购，购买

receive收到，接受

shipment装船，货运，装运

status状态

still仍然

tariff关税，费率表

yet仍，还

Phrases　短语表

basically基本上，根本上

clear customs清关

due to由于

find out查明，发现

have a word（with sb）（和某人）说句话

keep track of跟踪

hold up坚持，阻碍，耽误

make sure确保，肯定

on its way途中

pick up提取，拾起

sourcing agent采购代理

step up（and do sth）走上前（并做某事）

be supposed to被期望，本应该

take responsibility承担责任

track sth down搜寻到，跟踪到

tracking system跟踪系统

实景对话1

A：Why haven't we received our order yet?We've as good as purchased the shipment, so we'd better keep track of where it is. Contact our sourcing agent to make sure the product is on its way.

B：I already did that……They said they weren't sure, but told me I needed to call the shipping company to track down what happened to the order.

A：Isn't that their job?What are we paying them for, anyway?

B：Well, that's what I told them. But they weren't so helpful.So then I just called the shipping company myself.

A：And?What did you find out?

B：The shipping company said that the products haven't been picked up from the factories yet.

A：Are you kidding?We were supposed to receive the shipment three weeks ago！And you're telling me it hasn't left the factory yet?！Contact the manufacturer and see what's holding our order up.

B：Well, I did that, too. And……

A：And?

B：They said that they already shipped our order three weeks ago.

A：What?！

B：So basically, that means the order is lost.

A：Lost?！Well, somebody better step up and take responsibility here. Get the shipping agent on the phone for me right now. I want to have a word with them about what they're going to do to take care of this disaster.

A：为什么我们还没有收到货？我们已经付过钱了，所以最好落实一下它在哪里。联系我们的采购代理确保我们的货已经在路上了。

B：我联系过了……他们说他们不肯定，要我打电话给船运公司查询订单。

A：那不是他们的工作吗？我们付钱给他们是要他们干吗的？

B：我也这么说他们。但他们帮不了什么忙。所以我自己打电话给船运公司。

A：然后呢？你找到了什么？

B：船运公司说我们的货物还没从工厂提取出来。

A：你在开玩笑吧？我们在3周前就应当收到货物了。现在你又告诉我说它还没离开工厂？！请联系制造商看货物到底搁在哪儿了。

B：我也联系了。但是……

A：但是什么？

B：他们说3周前他们就已经发货了。

A：什么？！

B：因此，基本上我们的货物丢了。

A：丢了？！那这儿最好有人主动出来承担责任。现在给我把电话接到船运代理。我要和他们谈谈看他们如何处理这个麻烦。

实景对话2

A：Hello, Ningbo Manufacturing, this is Lin Na, how can I help you?

B：Hi Lin Na, this is George calling from Juno Toys. I wanted to find out what's happening to our shipment. Can you help me?

A：Sure, let me look up your information on our computer tracking system.

Yes, here it is. You have an order of 6000 matchbox cars?

B：Yes, that's the order we want to know about. Where are the goods now?

Where exactly are we in the transportation process?

A：Let's see……The shipment is about to clear customs this week.

B：So it's already left the factory and made its way over here?That was fast！

What kind of tariffs will we have to deal with?How much is customs duty for our order?

A：I'm sorry, sir, I can't answer those questions for you, I can only tell you the status of where your order is. Perhaps you can try contacting your customs broker for more details about the duty you have.

B：Well, can you tell me when can we expect to receive our shipment?

A：Usually, unless there are some problems in clearing customs, it should only take a few days. You should receive your shipment by the end of the week.

B：Okay. Thanks for the information.I appreciate your help.

A：你好，这里是宁波制造，我是林娜。有什么可以为你效劳的？

B：你好，林娜，我是Juno玩具的George。我想知道我们的货怎样了。你能帮我吗？

A：当然。让我查一下我们的电脑跟踪系统。这里，找到了。你是订购了6000件火柴盒汽车吗？

B：是的，那正是我们想了解的订单。货这会儿在哪儿？在运输的哪个环节？

A：让我看看……货物应该是本周内清关。

B：这么说货物已经离开了工厂而且在来这里的路上？那么快！我们要付哪种关税？我们要付多少关税？

A：对不起，先生，我不能回答那些问题。我只能告诉你订单所在的状况。也许你可以联系你的清关代理人来了解更多的关于关税的细节。

B：那你能告诉我预计什么时候会收到货物吗？

A：通常，如果清关没有什么问题，应该几天时间吧。你应该在本周末收到货。

B：好的。谢谢你的信息。我很感谢你的帮助。