U-FREIGHT OBTAINS EDI CUSTOMS CLEARANCE APPROVAL IN SHANGHAI

U-FREIGHT OBTAINS EDI CUSTOMS CLEARANCE APPROVAL IN SHANGHAI

   U-Freight, the international freight and logistics services group, said it will be the first in Shanghai to respond to the local Customs' authorities by using electronic data interchange to submit house air waybill details and manifest details for pre-clearing import air freight shipments.

   Shanghai customs authorities notified agents on Sept. 1 that manifest details related to air freight shipments must be provided from an overseas office or sent in by the carrier at the latest 24 hours after the flight arrival to ensure cargo clearance. The regulation is linked to the introduction by Shanghai Customs' new EDI clearance system.

   U-Freight has worked with Shanghai Customs in implementing its system, which will allow shipments to be pre-cleared at least one day faster than other forwarders.

   “This development came about because we heard that Shanghai Customs wished to move to EDI clearance and after several meetings with them included our software division (ICIL), we came to an agreement,” said Anthony Fong, managing director of U-Freight.