I am new to importing goods from overseas. We are an Australia based company currently in negotiations with a company in Taiwan and China. We will be choosing from ones of these companies shortly to supply us with products imported to Australia.
This is the first time we have imported goods and I am after some help as where to start. Once we have chosen our company to purchase the products off, I need to know what is involved from then in regards to importing laws, customs, import tax, what our company needs to do etc
I have no idea where to start.
Any help would be appreciated.
Regards
1. Make sure the product is not restricted for import;
2. Check whether importing such product need license or not;
3. ask a forwarder help arrange the shipmeng from China to Australia;
4. for any problem during the import, your forwarder can help you.
I am looking at importing EVA sheets and blocks from a Chinese or Taiwan based company.
Do these products require a special license.
What is a forwarder? And would I require one?
Regards
Dear Loopydean!
I am also Australian. I got cheated badly, so I advise you to look up Australian Customs Dept first to establish if your intended product is prohibited or not? Than take a crush course in import-export to avoid being misslead. ( Links are available from the custom depertment web site, and the cost is little, compered to loosing big bucks over not knowing what to do. It is not very time consuming either) Choose your product carefully, as many things are already in oversupply. When you are done with your home-work, take a look at Alibaba.com. You will find many good suppliers on these pages, however there are many cheaters and fraud companies here, regardless of Gold member or not. Ones you chose your company to deal with, dont be stingy! Pay the airfare of $1500 or so and go and visit the company you want to deal with. Good companies have English speaking staff, so it is no trouble dealing with tham. Chances are you will be invited to see the potential suppliers. if not, go there anyway!!! Get a letter of credit from your bank and take it with you. Make the deal there and than, as you can actually see the product as well, othervise you are leaving your self on the open if you just trust somebody like I did. Take your time and read as much info as you can, specially in community section of Alibaba.com. You will also find a Black-list. Take notice of it all and good luck to you in your edevour.