The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) of Peru, in coordination with the National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration (Sunat), established the provisions for direct transport contemplated in the trade agreements signed by the country, in order to provide greater clarity and predictability in the evaluation by the customs authority and in the accreditation of said requirement by foreign trade operators.
According to the document, direct transport is a requirement of the rules of origin, provided for in most agreements. Its purpose is to ensure that a good requesting preferential tariff treatment has not been diverted or marketed in a third country during its transport from the exporting country to the importing country.
The provisions include temporary storage during the journey of goods through third countries not party to a trade agreement, providing facilities for the accreditation of direct shipment by foreign trade operators.
Thus, importers will be able to prove that the goods were not subject to temporary storage in a non-party country, by means of a letter issued by the international transport company or by the international freight forwarder.
Likewise, in those cases where transport documents covering the entire route from the exporting country to the importing country are not available, a letter may be submitted issued by the international transport company or by the international freight forwarder, detailing the transshipment ports and vessels, confirming that the goods were not subject to operations other than those authorized in the corresponding trade agreement.
In the case of trade agreements that require justifying transit through third countries, due to geographical reasons or specific transport requirements, a letter may be submitted issued by the international transport company or by the international freight forwarder supporting said circumstances.
Mincetur assured that with these actions it reaffirms its commitment to provide greater clarity and legal certainty to foreign trade operators, promoting trade facilitation and ensuring greater utilization of the current trade agreements.
