The following article is taken from the April newsletter of one of our professional members, International Trade Financial Solutions, who specialize in ‘Minimising Commercial Risks When Trading Abroad’.
Http://www.inttradefinsolns.co.uk
For more information you can also call Ray Stannard on
01708 370838
International Trade Single Window.
Known as ‘ITSW’ for short, it’s a recent development by various parties, including
Business Link, HMRC, UKTI and others. It’s been set up to try to simplify and standardise much of what has been written about international trade. However, what is relatively new is that it looks not only at UK exports, but also imports, so it’s one of the
few Governmental websites that acknowledges the importance importers play in the
overall wheels of commerce. There are various links to it, but a simple Google of
‘ITSW’ will throw up several links on the 1st page. Don’t be put off by the top
link ITSW2009 – International Test Synthesis Workshop – this is something entirely
unrelated!. The Business Link page is probably the most relevant -
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/internationaltrade
ITSW is essentially a web based information service that allows anyone, regardless
of previous international trade experience, to access basic information to get them
started and also to drill down to specific industries, trade associations, etc.,
as well as looking at tariff duties What’s more, it’s free to interrogate. It doesn’t quite do away with me [phew!] but it can answer many questions that importers
and exporters have and/or allow them to ask more specific questions relevant to their
particular industry/shipment. Currently, it is still being completed – 2011 is the
expected completion date, but don’t let that put you off: there is already a significant
amount of information and links to related pages available.