Exercise 16 Read the text about kinds of duties

There exists export duty, import duty (including protective and preferential) and excise duty. Protective duty is imposed to prevent home producers from losing business because of cheaper foreign imports. Preferential duty is a lower rate of duty imposed on countries with whom there is a trade agreement. Excise duty is aimed at raising money for the government and is imposed on certain home-produced products such as luxury goods, cigarettes, oil and alcohol.

Import-export rates are supposed to fulfil four functions:

- to protect home producers from foreign competition in order to increase their own competitiveness in the domestic market;

- to limit exporting products in which there is a shortage in this country;

- to supply local consumers with products which are not produced in this country or produced insufficiently;

- to provide the state budget with additional financial resources.

The following documents should be presented to the Customs or be enclosed with the accounts when goods are declared:

- Customs declaration

- Bill of lading, freight document, notice or arrival or similar documents issued in connection with buying or selling the goods

- documents of origin when customs clearance of goods from certain countries under terms for preferential trade is claimed

- licences, permits, etc. for goods which are subject to import restrictions

- other documents requested by the Customs in order to determine the correct customs tariffs (duty rates), weight, quantity or value of the goods.