A Comprehensive Guide to Shipping from America to Germany

As with most international shipping, both documents are essential for the cargo clearance process when shipping goods from the USA to Germany. Misplacement of these documents can cause delays in the documentation process, which can impact the speed of your overall supply chain, resulting in dissatisfied customers.

To overcome this, you could consider using electronic documentation to ensure that all required paperwork is up to date and easily accessible when required.

Your packing list should outline the contents, measurements, and weight of your shipment precisely. Incorrect details or even missing information can again result in delays in customs which slows down your delivery process.

Verify that your packing list matches all other shipping documents to avoid customs delays.

Another item that is vital for shipping goods from the USA to Germany is your commercial invoice. To help with the customs clearance process of your cargo, it’s important that all details are checked against your BL and that all HS codes are verified ahead of time.

Your certificate of Origin and Conformity (CE standard) states the origin of your cargo and verifies that your products conform to the European CE standard. Without them, your cargo may not be allowed through customs.

Ahead of shipping your cargo from America to Germany you should always obtain the Certificate of Conformity and confirm your products comply with EU regulations. Likewise, it is vital that you verify that the certificate of Origin is accurate and complete.

Standing for Economic Operator Registration Identification, your EORI number helps the track imports and exports within the EU. Registration for this can take time, so applying early is vital to allow your business to export cargo to Germany and avoid customs delays.

VAT and import duties can vary depending on the product category. As you would with any other international shipment, it is important to research duty rates and verify import regulations for your shipment ahead of transportation.

Some cargo such as certain chemicals, or specific agricultural products may also be restricted or prohibited in Germany, so again learning more about these types of restrictions can help to make the whole process easier for your organization.