INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATION

TO IMPORT
When you want to import to Colombia, you should consider the following:

Location of the tariff subheading: The National Tax and Customs Office (DIAN) is
the only authority authorized to determine the tariff classification. You can locate it
through the Customs Tariff and / or with the informal help provided by the Information
Center.

Registration as importer: Import must belong to the Common Regime, be registered in

the Chamber of Commerce and have a Single Registry of Taxes-RUT. This is the only
mechanism to identify, locate and classify the subjects of the obligations administered
and controlled by the DIAN.
Market study: It is necessary to know the economic viability of the import,
analyzing among other aspects the price of the product in the international
market, the international transportation costs, the nationalization costs and other
expenses that may occur.

Product identification: Check the tariff subtitle to know the customs taxes and see
if, in addition, the good is subject to good visas and previous inscriptions before
entities like Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Agriculture,
among others. If import registration is required, it is done electronically only at
www.vuce.gov.co. The importer using the Customs Agency or Special
Representative must give a signed power and send it to this company or person to
register it in VUCE and the system allows it.
Exchange Procedure: There is an obligation to channel payment through
intermediaries authorized by law (commercial banks, financial companies, etc.).
The importer must deliver abroad the foreign currency corresponding to the
payment of the import, after sending the form Declaration of Change No. 1.
Nationalization Process: Once the merchandise is found in Colombia, it is
recommended to request authorization to carry out a pre-inspection prior to the
presentation of the Import declaration and other documents, especially when
doubts arise about the description, serial numbers or Identification or quantity.

Withdrawal of merchandise: Once customs duties are canceled, you must go to

the warehouse where you are and present the following documents: commercial
invoice, packing list, registration or import license, certificate of origin, import
declaration, transport document, declaration Andean customs value, other
certificates or good visas that are required according to product.
 TO EXPORT

The following steps must be taken into account when exporting:

Registration as an exporter: Registration in the National Registry of Exporters of Goods and

Services, as well as the renewal or modification of this, can be done through the website of
the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. It has a validity of one year.

Certificate of origin: Colombia has tariff preferences that allow it to export to be more
competitive, access the certificate obtained on the page of the Ministry of Commerce,
Industry and Tourism. You can also get information from Procolombia. Must have the Criterion
or Determination of Origin, document that certifies compliance with the requisites of origin
required that must be presented as documentary evidence and has a validity of 1 or 2 years.

Foreign exchange refunds: The exporters must carry out the sale of foreign exchange through
authorized financial intermediaries. To do this, you must first fill out the corresponding
exchange statement and make the sale of the currencies to your exchange broker.
Benefits for exporters: There are several, such as exemption from value added tax
for services provided in Colombia and used exclusively abroad by companies
without business or activities in Colombia; Non-application of withholding tax on
export earnings; Access to services provided by Foreign Trade entities; And the
possibility of granting Bancoldex credits, among others.

Customs Procedures: The Customs Brokerage Company (CIS) is the only one that
can complete the customs procedures when the export exceeds US $ 2,000. If
the figure is lower, the exporter can carry out the procedures directly or use
express transport services (eg Fedex, DHL). To obtain the Export Declaration, a
commercial invoice, packing list, sanitary registers or quality visas, transport
documents and other documents required for the product to be exported must be
attached. If the goods are exported, for example by sea, in this guide you can see
a step by step quotation and the assembly of a shipment. In this tutorial there are
more details and types of containers available.