User Login

Brazil Leaves the ATA Carnet System of Countries

Monday, February 7, 2022

Brazil was the 85th country/territory to join the ATA Carnet systemMonika Jadeszko, Vice President of Global Operations for boomerang carnets® remembers it well.  “It was a long-awaited and exciting moment for Brazil to finally join the ATA Carnet system back in 2016, making it the 3rd Latin American member country in the carnet system after Chile and Mexico.”  It was timely and synced perfectly for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.  Athletic teams, vendors, and news media covering the event benefited by using ATA Carnets for the temporary exports of their goods, merchandise, broadcasting equipment, expensive cameras, and athletic gear/equipment saving time and money in and out of Rio for the event. It was a great moment!

The ATA Carnet is an internationally accepted customs document for temporarily exported merchandise, goods, or professional equipment and allows cross border movement of goods import-duty and -tax free into any of the 87+ carnet countries and territories for up to a year.  Also known as the Merchandise Passport, ATA Carnets are used by many industries in many applications.  The ATA Carnets’ benefits include avoidance of import-duty and -tax and easier Customs clearance of goods. 

 Monika Jadeszko

ATA Carnets helped Brazil, and the rest of the world, by expanding businesses and growing trade.  As Boomerang’s Monika Jadeszko observed, “Brazil’s considerable size uniquely expanded access to South America for many exporters in the international trade community.  For the last five years, boomerang carnets facilitated thousands of carnets to Brazil for U.S. and U.K. clients that covered $70 million in value for transported goods destined for the Rio Olympics, as well as trade exhibitions, news coverage, film productions, car racing events, medical testing equipment, and many other purposes.” 

Recently, Brazil struggled with maintaining its national guaranteeing association (NGA) which is a requirement for being an ATA Carnet country.  The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), the guaranteeing association for the U.S., announced that “as of January 1, 2022, Brazilian Customs terminated their ATA Carnet operations.  Brazil will no longer issue or accept ATA Carnets.”

At Boomerang, we remain optimistic, and Monika Jadeszko sums it up well. “We are sorry to see Brazil go, but we hope that its departure is only temporary, and that Brazil will rejoin again in better times.  When they do rejoin the large system of carnet countries and territories, our Carnet Specialists will be ready to assist customers with their vast knowledge of carnet usage. The ATA Carnet is a unique international trade tool that facilitates goods moving across borders and expands economies around the world.  In the interim, if you have temporary exports of goods or equipment bound for Brazil, please contact us.  We will advise alternative methods for those temporary exports.” 

Boomerang’s Carnet Specialists offer expert customer service.  We are here to assist you 24/7, just call the Carnet HelpLine® 1-800-ATA-2900 |1-800-282-2900 or email us.  Also, if you want to ship by cargo, Boomerang has freight forwarder partners who can deliver your carnet to you, as well as handle your freight.  For ATA Carnet news and updates subscribe to our eNewsletter: Exportise