Globally, work on digitalizing the ATA Carnet [ATA is a combination of French and English terms “Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission”], also known as the “passport for goods”, has been ongoing since 2018. The first international eATA was accepted on 01NOV19, for a shipment from Switzerland to Canada. Now, the U.S. has also finally processed its first digital version of the international Customs document used for the temporary, duty-free, and tax-free import of commercial goods.
And Rock-It Cargo was the one to issue it. The company was chosen as a pilot by the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), because it is one of the country’s largest ATA Carnet users. Rock-it Cargo issued and processed the first U.S. eATA Carnet for a time-critical, hand-carry shipment from John F Kennedy International Airport in New York, U.S. to London Heathrow Airport in the UK on 22FEB24. It was used for a shipment of microphones destined for the TPi Awards Ceremony in London, UK, on 26FEB24. Incidentally, another GCL subsidiary, Dynamic International, already processed the UK’s first eATA Carnet at London’s Heathrow Airport back in 2022. “ATA Carnets are essential to the success of live event tours, as they provide the ability to clear Customs in over 100 territories expeditiously and efficiently, to make sure production equipment and gear arrives on time and ready for the show,” the press release explains.
Declan Daly, Chief Operating Officer (CEO), United States Council for International Business (USCIB), said: “We’re thrilled to launch the official test-phase for e-ATA Carnet processing in the United States. With the help of our partners, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the International Chamber of Commerce World Chamber Federation (ICC WCF), our service providers, and Rock-it Cargo, we’ve taken a crucial and exciting first step to finally bring the ATA Carnet into the 21st century.”
Amanda Barlow, Vice President of Risk Management and Business Affairs, Rock-it Cargo, explained: “Like other legacy paper processes, if the ATA Carnet does not modernize and become a digital solution, then touring artists and other traditional ATA Carnet users will no longer experience the positive benefits from using ATA Carnets. We are grateful for the forward-thinking efforts of the ICC WCF, USCIB, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and other ATA Carnet guarantee associations who have created the digital ATA Carnet solution, and for their tireless efforts to achieve the implementation of the eATA Carnet across all accepting Customs administrations.”