ATA Carnet

ICC announces ATA digitalisation project nominated countries

17 December 2018

The World Chambers Federation of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC WCF) has today announced the seven countries selected or targeted to participate in a pilot project to digitalise the ATA Carnet, a customs document allowing duty- and tax-free movement of goods for up to one year.

Of the countries that expressed interest in participating in the Mercury II Pilot project – either via Customs or National Guaranteeing Associations – Belgium, China, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States have been selected or targeted to take part.

ICC WCF is currently working closely with the pilot participants to advance the project which is planned to start running in the first quarter of 2019.

Established in 1960 under the joint efforts of World Customs Organization (WCO) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the paper based ATA Carnet is currently in force in 78 countries and economies throughout the world. For the last 10 years digitalising the paper document has been a key strategic priority among all stakeholders including ICC, the World Customs Organization (WCO), National Customs authorities, national guaranteeing and issuing associations and ATA Carnet holders.

Through WCF, ICC is taking the initiative to develop the very first global ATA Carnet real-time lifecycle management system. The new digital ATA Carnet system is currently approaching the end of development and will be tested internally before the beginning of the running pilot phase.

Yuan Chai