Exporters Encouraged to Know if Foreign Customers Need Licenses

Information Captured from Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report

The Bureau of Industry and Security is encouraging U.S. exporters to know whether their foreign customers are obligated to obtain import and reexport licenses from their own governments, which may be the case regardless of whether an individually validated U.S. export license is required. BIS states that as a best practice U.S. exporters should, prior to shipment, provide foreign customers with the export control classification number of the items to be exported and request a copy of any required licenses. The failure of a foreign customer to honor such a request would be a “red flag” indicating that an export may be destined for an inappropriate end use, end user or destination.

BIS notes that officials in Hong Kong and Singapore recently requested that it remind U.S. exporters of their licensing requirements, information on which can be found at the following Web sites.

Hong Kong Trade and Industry Department

Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department

Singapore Customs