• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.66
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• pp.219-240
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• 2015

Developing countries have faced serious difficulties in implementing customs procedures. For example, they have experienced heavy administrative constraints such as lack of qualified personnel and non-computerization. Some importers in developing countries have tried to undervalue or overvalue the imported goods and misclassify them with the target of lowering the incidence of customs duties. In order to address these problems many of developing countries often require the exporter to get a Clean Report of Findings(CRF) issued by a preshipment inspection entity. This study tries to reply to the following questions with which the exporters are faced in the process of issuance of CRF. First, what are the provisions and regulations that the exporters have to note in the event a CRF is issued by the inspection entity? Second, how do the exporters safeguard their own rights in case of price verification? Third, how to protect the confidential business information to be submitted by the exporters in order to get a CRF? Fourth, how can the exporters respond to the improper conducts that the inspection entities have done?

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.293-322
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• 1998

General Administrative Procedures of the Preshipment Inspection 1. Initial notification Preshipment Inspection is initiated by Agency when it receives notice either from the importing country, or the seller, that an export needs to be imspected 1.1 Notice from the importing country 1.2 Notice from the seller 2. Preliminary price verification After receipt of initial notification, Agency undertakes, Where possible, a preliminary price verification, based upon the Inspection Order and other contractual documents received. 3. Customs classification When required by the Government of the importing country. Agency forms an opinion of the Customs Classification Code based upon the Customs Tariff Book and Rules of Classification of the country of importation. The Customs Classification Code determines the tariff rate on the basis of which the importer will be required to pay import duties. 4. Import eligibility 5. Arrangements for physical inspection 5.1 Inspection request from seller 5.2 Place of inspection 5.3 Date of inspection 5.4 Physical inspection procedures 6. Physical inspection results When the physical inspection is completed, the inspector submits his report to the Agency office and the result of inspection will be communicated to the seller and, where applicable, the place of inspection. The result will state: satisfactory or conditional of unsatisfactory. The seller is welcome to present his views in writting to Agency in the event there is any query regarding the issuance of a conditional of unsatisfactory inspection result. 6.1 Satisfactory 6.2 Conditional 6.3 Unsatisfactory 7. Shipment of the goods The seller is advised to check with Agency prior to shipment if the physical inspection result has not been received or there are any doubts concerning whether a Clean Report of Findings will be issued. 8. Final price verification and classification Based on the results of physical inspection and appropriate final documents, Agency finalises the price verification and the Agency opinion of Customs classification code. When the preliminary price verification has not resulted in any unresolved questions and the inspection result and other documents received are consistent with the preliminary documentation, Agency will not normally require any additional information. The main exception would be if the terms of sale require reference to prices at the date of shipment. 9. The Report of Findings 9.1 Types of Reports of Findings - Clean Reports of Findings(CRF) The Agency will issue a Clean Reports of Findings(CRF), or equivalent document, normally within two working days after receipt of the necessary correct final documents and a satisfactory result in all aspects of the inspection. - Discrepancy Report.