With a close geographical position and similar cultural features, the people of Vietnam and China have a long tradition of exchanging goods. In the past, the exchange of goods mainly took place across the border, perhaps through upland markets or transported by people through the trails that were called “go hills”, “carry hills”. For residents on the border, the exchange of goods with each other is also known as “import through unofficial channels”.
Up to now, many traders still maintain “unofficial channels” to bring goods to Vietnam, because this method saves money and time, takes advantage of geographical distance for fast trading, thereby lowering the prices of products and reducing business costs. However, there have been many disguises appearing in unofficial channels. Originally a form of goods exchange exclusively for border residents, however, many traders took advantage of this form to evade legal obligations such as paying taxes, declaring goods, etc. when imported from China into Vietnam. The abuse of “unofficial channels” sometimes makes importers “taste bitter fruit” because of lack of legal protection if there are risks of goods, fraud, etc.
Gradually, along with the development of international trade in general, the exchange of goods between Vietnam and China has been increasingly expanding in both scale and quality. The “unofficial channels” face stricter scrutiny. Cross-border trade activities are legalized, emphasizing the responsibilities and legal obligations of both buyers and sellers. From here on, official channels began to “take the throne” and is the main route for both import and export goods.
In this article, we will learn the basics of import through official channels from China into Vietnam.
1. What is official trade? What is import through official channels?
Official trade, or trade through official channels, is a form of trade between domestic businesses with foreign partners, is remembered by foreign trade contracts and applies the provisions of the laws of the host country as well as the agreements signed by countries with each other or with international regions and organizations according to common practices of the world.
Imports through official channels are the way of international trade to bring goods into the country often geared towards large volumes of goods. When imported through official channels, goods will be strictly inspected for both quantity, quality and type of goods, etc. by authorities in accordance with the laws of countries.
2. Advantages of importing through official channels
Extended containers, massive official transport ships are considered the symbols of large and prestigious businesses. This is because official import has 6 following advantages that cannot be found in any other form:
- The legality: Imported goods ensure the legality, have clear origin and be consistent with the laws of Vietnam and China; The rights and obligations of the parties are clearly bound together through a commercial contract, with a mechanism to resolve disputes arising later.
- The safety: Guaranteed transportation, safe route, avoiding the case of confiscated or misplaced goods.
- The certainty: Goods are on time, on schedule and absolutely intact, without any distortion or damage.
- The transparency: VAT invoices and other legal documents; Prices of goods and services are clear and publicly listed.
- The professionalism: Improving the quantity and quality of goods, reinforcing the reputation of the business and the country on the import map.
- The integration: Importing through official channels is consistent with the progressive trend in international trade, especially when Vietnam joins trade organizations, free trade agreements …
3. LIMITATIONS OF OFFICIAL IMPORT
In addition to the above advantages, import through official channels also has a number of limitations, mainly due to the complexity of this form:
- Complicated procedures: The advantages of official import such as legality, transparency … must be exchanged for a lot of paperwork, complicated declaration and censorship processes at the border gate, which takes a lot of time. Without experience you will fall into a “matrix” of paper documents and not know how and where to solve them.
- Relatively high costs: The cost of transport through official channels is not high, even cheaper than other forms, but importing through official channels incurs many other costs. Typically, when imported into the country, some products are required to check quality, food hygiene and safety at a rather “painful” cost and take a lot of time.
- More difficulties in customs clearance: As mentioned, goods imported through official channels will be strictly censored during the customs clearance process to ensure that import activities are carried out in accordance with the law.
However, the aforementioned shortcomings of the official import are being overcome better and better. To deepen international economic integration, Vietnam has simplified a lot of administrative procedures in the field of import and export, thereby reduced costs and time for businesses. Therefore, official import is still considered the number one import form today.
4. Important information when importing through official channels
The main feature of official imports is the clear “naming” of goods and delivery methods, thereby determining the responsibilities of stakeholders as well as legal and business procedures, and what need to do to import successfully.
There are four most important information when importing through official channels that enterprises should pay attention to:
4.1. The information of goods
Basic information about goods to be imported into the country such as: name of goods, packing specifications, volume, number of packages, etc. Goods information must be specified in the contract, which is the basis for determining the seller’s responsibility for the supply as well as serve the customs inspection.
4.2. Delivery terms and conditions (for types of foreign trade transactions)
One of the most important issues when buying and selling goods internationally is determining the delivery terms and conditions. This is the basis for determining the buyer’s and the seller’s responsibility for for transacted goods..
Worldwide delivery terms are negotiated through the International Commercial Terms (Incoterms).
For example, the 3 most popular delivery terms are EXW, FOB, CIF:
+ EXW (ExWork) means Delivery at the factory. Accordingly, the delivery of goods to an available designation is at the seller’s place of business, normally in their factory, offices or warehouse, and the buyer of the product must cover the costs of transport to the address in Vietnam.
+ FOB (Free on Board) is the kind of contract which relieves the seller of responsibility once the goods are shipped. After the goods have been loaded—technically, they are considered to be delivered into the control of the buyer. When the voyage begins, the buyer then assumes all liability for the shipped goods.
+ CIF (Cost Insurance Freight) is the same terms of delivery as FOB, exept that the seller will be responsible for purchasing insurance for the shipment, transferring insurance policy, insurance contract together with the full set of documents to the buyer.
4.3. Customs procedures
Based on the item to be imported, the time of import, the delivery terms and conditions as well as the laws of each country and relevant international trade agreements and practices, the importer should fully determine the procedures to submit to the customs office.
Each documentary procedure will be provided by the buyer, the seller or the intermediary (in case of import consignment).
An import document will typically contain the following important documents:
|
No. |
Paperwork |
Person in charge |
|
01 |
Customs Declaration |
SMP GROUP |
|
02 |
International Sales Contracts |
SMP GROUP/Customer and Supplier |
|
03 |
Invoice |
Supplier |
|
04 |
Packing List |
Supplier |
|
05 |
State Budget Remittance Papers |
SMP GROUP / Customer |
|
06 |
Certificate of Origin (C/O) |
Supplier |
|
07 |
Import License |
SMP GROUP / Customer |
|
08 |
Shipping Invoice |
SMP GROUP/Supplier |
5. quy trình nhập khẩu chính ngạch
Mỗi doanh nghiệp sẽ có quy trình nhập khẩu khác nhau, nhưng quy trình cơ bản nhất gồm các bước như sau:
Bước 1: Nhận thông báo hàng đến và kiểm tra chứng từ
Đơn vị logistic thường sẽ có trách nhiệm thông báo thời gian hàng đến tới khách hàng. Trước khi hàng cập cảng, bên chịu trách nhiệm nhập khẩu hàng hóa vào Việt Nam sẽ phải khai tờ khai hải quan điện tử.
Ngoài ra, người nhập khẩu phải kiểm tra đầy đủ hồ sơ chứng từ, bao gồm cả các giấy tờ thuộc trách nhiệm cung cấp của bên bán để nộp cho hải quan khi có yêu cầu.
Bước 2: Khai báo tờ khai nhập khẩu điện tử cho hải quan
Nếu doanh nghiệp lần đầu khai hải quan thì bắt buộc phải mua token, đăng ký tài khoản gồm user code và password để khai báo. Sau khi đã có tài khoản, doanh nghiệp khai báo trên phần mềm hải quan, căn cứ trên các thông tin đã được hai bên thỏa thuận trong hợp đồng thương mại.
Khi khai báo xong doanh nghiệp cần đợi thông quan và có thể theo dõi tình hình truyền tờ khai theo 3 luồng sau đây:
- Luồng Xanh: Mã kiểm tra của tờ khai là số 1, hàng hóa sẽ được thông quan ngay.
- Luồng Vàng: Mã kiểm tra của tờ khai là số 2, người nhập khẩu phải xuất trình đầy đủ hồ sơ chứng từ để hải quan kiểm tra.
- Luồng Đỏ: Mã kiểm tra của tờ khai là số 3, người nhập khẩu vừa phải xuất trình đầy đủ bộ hồ sơ chứng từ, đồng thời hải quan sẽ tháo dỡ hàng hóa để kiểm tra bên trong.
Bước 3: Nộp thuế và chuẩn bị lệnh giao hàng
Khi khai hải quan, người nhập khẩu cần xác định các loại thuế cần nộp và tiến hành nộp thuế.
Sau đó, người nhập khẩu nhận lệnh giao hàng để lấy hàng tại kho, cảng với các loại giấy tờ sau:
- Giấy giới thiệu của công ty nhận hàng được ghi trên thông báo hàng đến.
- Vận đơn.
- Thông báo hàng đến.
Nếu hàng nhập có container thì cần có thêm các loại giấy tờ khác như: giấy mượn container, giấy hạ container rỗng, hạn lệnh giao hàng và phải có hóa đơn.
Bước 4: Thanh lý và lấy hàng
Sau khi tờ khai điện tử đã được thông quan, người nhập khẩu lên website của cục hải quan, vào mục danh sách mã vạch nhập và in mã vạch tờ khai cùng phiếu giao nhận container. 2 mã vạch này sẽ được sử dụng để thanh lý với hải quan giám sát và cảng cho phép giao container hàng cho khách.
Sau khi thanh lý xong thì chuyển phiếu giao nhận và giấy hạ rỗng, bố trí phương tiện vận tải đưa hàng về kho.
Lưu ý: Nếu hãng tàu đóng phí mượn container, khi hạ rỗng tại nơi hãng tàu chỉ định sẽ có thể lấy lại tiền mượn. Hãng tàu sẽ kiểm tra container, doanh nghiệp có thể được hoàn tiền mượn đầy đủ hoặc bị trừ phí nếu container hư hỏng.
Bước 5: Hoàn tất hồ sơ thông quan
Doanh nghiệp/Người nhập khẩu cần giữ lại toàn bộ hồ sơ thông quan để chứng thực cho tính hợp pháp của hàng hóa.
