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Importing Panama Hats from Ecuador manufacturers is now commonplace. Companies generally import for the following reasons:
1)They can obtain panama hats for less than they can domestically from retailers or wholesalers;
2)They may get hats of a higher quality for the same price or less
3)Panama hats are not available domestically and importing them will turn into a very successfull and profitable business.
The procedures for importing panama hats from Ecuador depend largely upon the country to which imports are directed. Since the U.S. is one of the primary markets for Panama Hat exports - we will use importing to the U.S. as our example.
While U.S. import procedures and requirements should provide a good model for judging situations in other countries; fortunately, panama hats are not under any import restrictions in any country, their import procedures are quite simple.
Purchase of Goods:
The purchase of goods is the first step to importing them. The purchase itself is straightforward, although finding an appropriate supplier may be slightly more difficult. Nevertheless, we consider ourselves one of the most appropiate options, we will be glad to assist you and answer your questions before placing an order, in a rapid and efficient manner.
If you wish to buy up to 2 samples please click the blue arrow bellow
For more than 2 samples, contact us to get a wholesale discount price
Paying for your purchases:
We may accept a number of payment options depending on your requirements:
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Wiretranfers from YOUR BANK ACCOUNT to OUR BANK ACCOUNT in the U. S or Ecuador. Please check out for outwire fees at your finanancial institution, wiring funds whithin and to banks in the U.S and Canada is seldom the most economic payment method
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Western Union or Money Gram, please check out for fees!. Depending on the amount of your payment Western Union and Money Gram sometimes turn out to be a suitable payment option. Please visit the following sites for more information: www.westernunion.com or www.moneygram.com
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If you are paying a large amount, you may select L/C, please find more information at your bank or financial institution.
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Credit Card payments online . You can pay for your purchases via our website. Please, contact us before doing it, so that we may give you the exact link you require to pay for your orders via credit card. Please remember there will be an approximate 5.5 % surcharge if you select this option!
Monitoring the movement of Goods:
Once the importer has purchased the goods, he or she must monitor the incoming shipment, from the point of embarkation, until delivery.
  
You may track your merchandise at any time via our website, just click the "TRACKING" link on the left!
We will keep our clients updated regarding the status of their merchandise. Often, if your purchase does not exceed 500 - 1000 usd value, it will get to you without a hitch even if you are an inexperienced importer.
However, we recommend importers should be actively involved in the importing process, from start to finish.
Freight companies, customs brokers, and customs officials participate in bringing shipments from foreign countries to you in the U.S. or your homecountry. This process and the role of the various players are outlined below.
As mentioned above, if your merchandise does not exceed the 1000 usd, you do not have to worry about the following process, as we will take care of them for you, you will however be responsible for paying the corresponding taxes due to customs clearance.
A USPS agent will contact you regarding this issue upon arrival of merchandise at your locality prior to delivering it at your shipping address.
If you live in U.K, Royal Mail or Parcel Force will contact you!
If you live in France, you will be contacted by La Poste!
If you live in Canada, Canada Post!
If you live in Australia, Australia Post!
For other countries contact us for more information!
For large quantity imports read bellow!
Ocean Freight!
International freight Forwarder (Agencia de Carga): Notifies the importer two days before the shipment arrives at the port of entry; and releases freight to the terminal operator.
Customs broker: Obtains customs releases and other clearances at the port of entry; and verifies that the shipment is complete.
U.S. customs official: Collects duty; and verifies that the shipment complies with customs regulations.
Terminal operator: Contacts domestic carrier; verifies that the delivery order is accurate; and releases the goods to the domestic carrier.
Domestic freight carrier: Receives the shipment; and delivers shipment to the importer.
Because so many people are involved in the movement of goods, it is not uncommon for coordination problems to exits. Therefore, the day a shipment arrives, it is advisable to send a company representative or personally go to the port of entry to oversee the processing of the imported goods.
Customs:
Customs agents assume control of a shipment, when it arrives at a U.S. port of entry. Any shipment worth more than $1000 must go through the formal entry process. This process includes the following four steps:
1) Completion and filing of entry documents (see below).
2) The classification and inspection of the merchandise.
3) A declaration of value.
4) A determination of duty and payment.
Usually this process requires approximately five days. Once the amount of duty has been assessed, a customs official will notify the importer. The importer should then pay the duty, so as to obtain the release of goods. If the shipment is not retrieved within five days, customs transfers it to a warehouse, where the importer is charged for storage. (If the merchandise remains in storage for one year, customs may auction the goods to pay for storage costs.)
Entry Documents:
U.S. Customs uses 22 entries to classify shipments to its ports of entry. The most common are:
Consumption entry: This is the most common. It is used for goods brought directly into the importer's stock and which are intended for domestic resale.
Immediate transportation entry: Allows goods to be forwarded immediately from the port of entry to another destination for customs clearance.
Warehouse entry: Is used for goods that will be stored at bonded Customs warehouses.
Warehouse withdrawal for consumption entry: This is used when goods are taken out of the bonded Customs warehouses.
Immediate exportation entry: Used when goods are to be transshipped to a third country.
Baggage declaration and entry form: Filed by U.S. citizens returning from abroad.
Customs requires certain documents, before it will release a shipment from its custody. Specifically, they demand the following:
1) An entry form; typically one of the six listed above, completed by the importer or its customs broker.
2) A commercial invoice from the exporter (we provide).
3) A bill of lading from the exporter or the freight forwarder (we provide).
All of these documents must provide a description of the shipment, the value of the merchandise, and the amount of duty to be paid. The importer or its broker must pay the duty or post bond guaranteeing payment, before customs will release the shipment.
Duties:
U.S. Customs charges three types of import duties:
1) Specific duties assessed on a unit of merchandise or goods, such as $10 per pound.
2) Ad valorum duties assessed as a flat percentage of the transaction, such as 10 percent of the total value of the shipment.
3) Compound duties that combine specific and ad valorum duties, such as $5 per pound plus 10 percent of the total value of the shipment.
The Tariff Schedules of the United States, an enormous document, contains the duties assessed by U.S. Customs on nearly every imaginable type of merchandise including panama hats.
For more information visit http://www.usitc.gov/tata/index.htm
Duty-free goods and merchandise are those that are not taxed, when they enter the U.S. Duty-free status is typically assigned to items that are not to be sold in the U.S., such as materials imported specifically to be modified or further processed in the U.S. (and to be exported later), samples used to sell a product, items intended for review or experimentation, etc. The personal belongings of individuals are also considered duty-free.
Drawbacks:
"Drawback" is a term used to describe refunds of duties previously paid on imported goods. Drawbacks apply to importers, who export their products, or exporters of articles that are manufactured with previously imported goods. Companies are eligible to receive drawbacks if:
1) The imported goods are used in the production of final products in the U.S., and these products are then exported.
2) The importer rejects the goods because they are not what it ordered.
3) The importer returns the goods to the exporter within three years in the same condition as when they arrived.
4) The imported goods are banned. These goods will either be returned to the exporter or destroyed by Customs.
5) The goods are exported from a Customs warehouse or if the goods are temporarily removed from a Customs warehouse for repair, re-supply, or maintenance.
Obtaining drawbacks from Customs is complicated, and, therefore, companies eligible for drawbacks usually hire a drawback specialist.
U.S. Import Restrictions and Barriers:
The U.S. Customs Service bars the entry of or severely restricts goods that are considered detrimental to U.S. citizens. This list is long - some prominent examples are alcoholic beverages, arms and explosives, currency, narcotics, endangered species, and toxic substances. Customs may confiscate such goods or they may simply require that the goods be further processed (e.g., labeled, modified, etc.), before they are released.
PANAMA HATS ARE NOT UNDER THESE RESTRICTIONS AND BARRIERS!
If you require addtional information do not hesitate in contacting us!
Email: export@andean-art.com
Telephone Ecuador: (593) 7 286 -1168
Telephone U.S: (1) 914 302 – 1280
We are internationally verified and accredited as exporters, to check out our authentication click the image bellow!
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