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Parent Category: English
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Category: Services
Exporter Decalogue
Anyone interested in doing international trade must have in mind a number of preliminary issues. The following ten suggestions are a basic tool that every exporter/importer has to take into account when deciding to internationalise his/her company.
1. Market analysis
The first thing a person interested in internationalising his/her company must think is “which market am I interested in?” The object is to analyse whether a given market offers or is interested in the product that your company demands or offers.
You must consider whether the market is large or small, its competitiveness, etc. You must be well aware of the market and remind that many people tend to export/import to or from the largest markets thinking they will get better prices and higher sales.
An example is the case of China. Many people think that China is the place everyone has to export to because it has 1,400 million people. But have you stopped to think that most of its population still lives in rural areas and have little resources to buy imported products? What if your product is unknown to them or is contrary to their customs or tastes?
Study the appropriate market for your product, however great the prospect of a large market is, it may not be suitable to your needs.
2. What products can Import / Export?
The second aspect to consider when exporting or importing is whether the product we offer or demand is legitimate or has any restriction on the import/export.
To find out if a product can be exported or imported you only have to access the TARIC (link), and check your products and the restrictions they may have. Example of restricted products are:
- Harmful Products for ozone
- Products from certain countries
- Quantitative limits on certain products
- National heritage goods of a country
- Dual-use material
- etc
3. Capacity Analysis Company itself
The next aspect to look at is your own abilities. Do you have the resources and the necessary production capacity to meet foreign demand? Can you meet continued demand and deadlines? If so, go ahead; you are ready to start exporting.
4. Incoterms and Form of Payments
Incoterms are terms that reflect the standards of voluntary acceptance by both parties -buyer and seller-, about the conditions of delivery of the goods and/or products. They are used to clarify the costs of international trade transactions, defining responsibilities between buyer and seller and reflect current practice in international freight.
You must decide the terms and responsibility you want to assume in the transport of your product. You can find out useful information in our website, or access through our link. Incoterms.
As for the means of international payment, the most common are:
- Check
- Transfer
- Remittance
- The Documentary Credit (in various forms)
- Standby Letter of Credit
- Letter of guarantee by a bank
Depending on your interest to ensure the form of payment and guarantee the exported/imported product collection, you can choose one of them. If you are unsure of how each method of payment works, the ICEX (Institute of Foreign Trade, entity belonging to the Government) has a detailed guide and they can give advice.
http://www.icex.es/icex/es/navegacion-principal/nuevos-exportadores/index.html
Below we provide a summary of the means of payment.
5. Financial Support
If you need financing in your process of internationalisation, in addition to traditional financing through banks, some public entities offer support to exporting companies in their mission of internationalisation.
Examples of such entities are ICEX or the ICO. You can access information related to this subject on the following links:
Icex - Link
ICO - Link
6. Documents and requirements for import / export
Typically, the basic documents for export or import that you need to present at the customs clearance are the following:
- Commercial Invoice
- Packing List
- Bill of Lading or Air waybill
- Certificate of Origin and EUR-1. It is important to pay attention to these documents as the presentation of them can lead to a reduction in the payment of customs duties.
Here you have the list of countries that in 2015 have been granted with one of the different GSP preferential treatments:
Other common documents that may be required are:
- Insurance
- Legalisation of Documents
- Documents relating to tax or customs formalities
At the time of import/export, depending on the product, certain documents or additional requirements might be requested, as they may be supporting defence products, dual-use technologies and goods, chemicals, etc.
If you have no idea of the documents required for your product, a good source of information is the freight forwarders or agents. Another useful tool for exporters and importers is the TARIC and the EU service on the procedures and documents required in international trade which is available for everyone (Link).
7. Forwarder and Customs Broker
A freight forwarder or agent is the intermediary who arranges and/or provides additional services for the transport of goods on behalf of the issuer or receiver.
The Customs agent, however, is the natural or legal person authorised to process the necessary documentation to be presented to Customs for the export and import of goods, make payments of duties, taxes, licensing, certifications and meet the customs authorities on behalf of the client, exporter or importer.
8. Packing
When preparing the packaging it is important to consider the type of selected transport and the requirements that may be requested on arrival, which may change from one country to another or even, over time, within the same destination . It is common to be asked, for example, to fulfil fumigation requirements when using wood pallets or some product labels to contain certain information or to be printed in a particular language.
If you are unsure of the packaging requirements that are requested in your client’s country, we suggest you talk to him so that he informs you about those requirements or contact a forwarder. It is not advisable to discard these requirements, as some unwary exporters do, because of three main reasons.
- You will lose your customer because you will be unable to meet export requirements
- Your company will lose competitiveness and it will endanger the company’s name.
- The costs may be higher if the goods subsequently are required to be packed for transport.
Nippon Express, as a company with experience in the sector, can advise you on these issues when preparing your cargo and facilitate and instruct you in the best conditions for the packaging and avoid all these problems.
9. Loading / Unloading of Goods
The process of loading, lashing and deconsolidating is a vital point to avoid damage to the goods. Although it may seem ridiculous to mention, make sure the goods are well settled and lashed inside the container during the loading process, in order to prevent damages caused by the movement of the container during the cargo transportation.
Think that while the goods are in a container, transport movement continues to affect the goods and any sudden movement can make the merchandise move and damage it. Therefore, when you load the goods in your premises or in a co-loader facilities, make sure that they are well lashed. It will save you from headaches and your customer will be more satisfied with your services.
10. Customs Process
Customs formalities can be a mere formality or a nightmare. Submit the documentation required in time and correctly filled in, can streamline these procedures. Periodically, in some cases, a Custom inspection on traded goods, either documentary or physical, is requested.
On this point, we suggest that you try to get the number of approved exporter company and work with OAS companies, as this will allow you to expedite these procedures and the inspections will usually be reduced.
At this point we must also mention the issue of duties and VAT tax payment. If you are performing an export, you don’t have to deal with VAT. In case of imports, in addition to tariffs, you will face the VAT payment. In this regard, the new European Union legislation has created the option of deferred payment provided you comply with the requirements that the tax office requests for it. You can check out these requirements in the following link.
In the case of customs tariffs, if you are the person receiving the goods, you shall assume the payment of tariffs. Their payment is compulsory at customs clearance. If you do not know the type of tariff applicable to your goods, you can check it in link.
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Parent Category: English
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Category: Services
Doing business in Japan
I. PATIENCE
Patience is a key factor when making business in Japan, as results are obtained in middle/long term. Japanese companies look for a trustful long term provider, not a spot business provider. Negotiations and deals take a long time, but so are the commercial relations once they come up with an agreement where trust has been settled as a key factor for mutual confidence. Decision making in Japan is a round process, not a lineal process as in western companies. In Japan, they have an unanimous decision process named “Ringi Process” which will be translated into long conversations on main issues and a round process until unanimous team decision is obtained prior negotiation goes ahead to the new stage.
II. TRUST
Personal treatment during negotiations is also important. Western companies should try to socialise with Japanese companies prior they start the negotiation process. Business and human relations are closely linked when making business in Japan. Japanese companies expect a win-win relation.
III. VISIT CARDS
Business cards are also very important when dealing with Japanese companies. Whenever a meeting takes place, it is mandatory to have business cards showing the name of the company, the name of the person and title. Business cards must be handed over with both hands verbally introducing ourselves and must be kept on hand during all the conversation or placed right in front over the desk/table in the same form and way as our interlocutors are seated in front of us.
IV. PUNCTUALITY
Punctuality is a main important thing in Japanese business behaviour. Not being punctual is strictly considered as a severe rude fault in Japan, not only in personal relations but in product delivery as well. There is a non written rule named “5 minutes rule” which states to be at the appointed place 5 minutes prior the appointment starts. Japanese people expect to start the meeting at the exact time that has been scheduled which means to be ready and seated at the table to start on time, not to arrive at that time.
V. INFORMATION
Japanese companies are always very well informed about the products they are interested in. Many questions about the product or service are something common and even repetitive.
VI. SOCIAL RESPONSABILITY
Japanese companies have social responsibility as a main pillar in their goals. They work to support their society. Corporate Social Responsibility is a must that should be strictly taken into account at the time a western company wants to start making business in Japan.
VII. REPUTATION
Japanese companies like to know the reputation and international profile of their intended providers. It is very helpful to be able to provide written support of the company’s economical strength and reliability.
VIII. GIFTS
Small gifts are welcomed in business meetings, normally promotional material or small typical gifts. It is important to avoid expensive gifts since this will probably embarrass our interlocutor.
IX. CULTURE
In Japanese culture there are no limited words for affirmations or negative sentences; YES does not have to mean yes and NO does not have to mean no, it can be understood as “yes, I understand” or “no, I do not understand”. Never expect an immediate answer in a meeting, this will happen once our proposal has been studied since decision making process in Japan is performed inside a group, not from an individual.
X. RESPECT FOR JAPANESE TRADITIONS
The fact of being able to introduce ourselves in a simple Japanese stile and Japanese language is welcomed in Japanese culture. Japanese people avoid physical contact during introductions. For example, shaking hands is only welcomed if our interlocutor offers so in advance.
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Parent Category: English
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商品ライ商品ラインナップン商品ラインナップ
「スペインの思い出がいっぱいの品は持って帰りたい」 ご出発前の
そんな一人ひとりの想いを大切にし新天地へ向けての生活をサポ-ト
致します。
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ご事情に合わせてダンボ-ル1個のお荷物の小包輸送からコンテナ－満載の海外引越までさまざまな輸送プランをご提供いたします。
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日本へご帰国後にすぐにご使用になる衣類、書類、お土産ものなどの輸送にご利用ください。
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けでなく贈答品もお送り頂けます。
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ご帰国の際の手荷物では重量オ－バ－で持ちきれない、季節外れで当分使用する
予定がない衣類などに是非ご利用ください。ダンボ－ル１個から最大４個までのお荷物
を日本全国（離島をのぞく）どこへでもお送りすることが可能です。
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スペイン産の美味しいワインを日本に住むご家族、ご友人への贈り物として輸送される
場合に最適です。輸送料金は日本での輸入税込みのドア－・ツ－ドア－の均一料金
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