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International Tools FAQ

What is UPS TradeAbility?

UPS TradeAbilityTM is an online suite of information-based services that enables shippers to effectively manage the movement of cross-border or international goods in a compliant, timely and efficient manner. TradeAbility services are available free of charge on UPS.com and through our Web Services technology:

  • Denied Party Screener: Search for restricted trading partners as defined by the United States government, as well as countries embargoed by the U.S.
  • Harmoniser: Quickly and accurately identify and apply a product´s harmonised tariff code.
  • Landed Cost: Estimate the cost to move a shipment across borders, including duties, taxes and transportation charges.
  • Import Compliance: Ensure that your shipment is in compliance with country-specific regulations, procedures, tariffs and laws.
  • Export License Detector: Proactively identify U.S. government export licensing requirements and exceptions.
  • International Forms: Browse a library of online and downloadable documentation for both export and import shipments.

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Which countries and territories does TradeAbility provide trade information for?

TradeAbility currently provides trade data for the following countries and territories, including: Alderney, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada,Chile, China (People's Republic of), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Guernsey, Channel Islands, Herm, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland (Republic of), Italy, Japan, Jersey, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Sark, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

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What information sources does TradeAbility use to determine results?


There is no single centralised source of TradeAbility information. TradeAbility results are based on a repository of global government sources which are constantly and closely monitored.


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How timely are TradeAbility service results?

TradeAbility databases provide up-to-the minute trade information, so the results you see at the time of the transaction are the most current available. Due to the databases constantly being updated and upgraded, trade results may change from one transaction to the next.

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Can anyone use TradeAbility?

TradeAbility is available to registered, logged in, My UPS users only. Non-My UPS users are encouraged to register with My UPS for free by selecting Register in the area at the top of the page. You will also be asked to accept UPS.com TradeAbility Terms and Conditions before using TradeAbility services.

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Is there a fee to use TradeAbility services?

No, TradeAbility services are free of charge.

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Can I integrate TradeAbility services into my own systems?

Yes, Landed Cost, Denied Party Screener, Import Compliance and Export License Detector are available via Web Service technology for you to integrate with your Web site or other systems. Web Services are enhanced Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that allow you to access and integrate functionality which resides on UPS servers.

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Are TradeAbility services available in local languages?

TradeAbility tools and services under the Shipping tab, as well as associated help content, are available in U.S. English only.

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Can I upload products to or download products from my Product List?

You can upload a list of products to your Product List in either .csv (comma separated value) or .xml (extensible markup language) format. Templates for each format are provided on the upload screen. Logged in My UPS users can select Use International Tools in the area at the left under the Shipping tab. Select Manage Product List, then select the Upload Product List link on that screen.

You can also download products from your Product List and save them in a .csv or .xml file format. There are two options for downloading products. You can download selected products within your list by selecting Download Selected Products from the choices in the drop-down list. Or, you can download all products in your Product List by selecting Download Entire Product List.

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How many products can I store in my Product List?

You can store up to 1,000 products in your Product List.

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What is included in a Landed Cost estimate?

A Landed Cost estimate includes any applicable duties, fees, taxes and transportation costs that may apply based on origin, destination and products in a shipment.

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How can I calculate my shipping charges for use in the Landed Cost estimate?

If you do not already know your shipping charges, Landed Cost provides a link to UPS Calculate Time and Cost to help you calculate shipping and ancillary charges using UPS as your service provider.

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Why don't the actual charges for my shipment match the Landed Cost estimate?

Your Landed Cost estimate and actual shipment charges may vary for several reasons. The results returned are estimates based on the amount and quality of information you provided at the time of the Landed Cost service request. Also, some information, including local level assessments, exceptions, brokerage fees and any incentives or special programs, may not have been available to UPS and would not have been included in your results. Landed Cost results should be used as a good guideline to help you estimate shipment costs but are not meant to represent the final or actual costs you may incur.

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What is a tariff code?

A tariff code is a product-specific code as documented in the Harmonised System (HS) maintained by the World Customs Organisation (WCO). Tariff codes exist for almost every product involved in global commerce. Required on official shipping documents for tax assessment purposes, a tariff code ensures uniformity of product classification world wide.

A complete tariff code is no less than six digits and can be up to ten. The more digits in a tariff code string, the more specific the product it identifies. A string of less than six digits is considered a partial tariff code and represents a broad product category or chapter of products in the HS.

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What is a Detail ID?

A Detail ID is used by Landed Cost and Import Compliance to help refine and improve the accuracy of the TradeAbility service results. The Detail ID provides expanded information to TradeAbility beyond the tariff codes identified in the Harmonised System. A Detail ID should not be reported on official shipping documents as part of the tariff code.

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Does the Harmonizer support all chapters from published tariff guides?

Yes, the Harmonizer supports all tariff code chapters in the Harmonized Tariff System (HTS). The HTS has 22 major subdivisions, each containing one or more chapters. In all, there are 99 chapters and thousands of tariff descriptions and corresponding tariff codes. Once you have identified the harmonised code for your product, it is also recommended that you review the published tariff guides for each country to ensure there are no additional notes to include in your shipping documentation.

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If my single product has many components, do I need to provide a harmonised code for each component separately?


No, the only single product that requires you to identify a harmonised code for each component is a watch. For a watch, you must harmonise the crystal, the movement and the band individually. When including multiple products in a shipment, each product will require a harmonised code.


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What are denied parties?

Denied parties are individuals and companies that are considered unfavourable trading partners. These parties are maintained on several lists by the U.S.
government in the U.S. Federal Registry. Doing business with these denied parties is not recommended.

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Which denied party lists does the Denied Party Screener reference?

The TradeAbility Denied Party Screener references the following lists:

  • Debarred Parties List, published by U.S. Department of State, Office of Defense Trade Controls
  • Denied Party List, published by U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security
  • Entity List, published by U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security
  • Specially Designated Nationals Lists, published by U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets
  • Unverified List, published by U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security
  • Canada Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Warning Notices List
  • Canada Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Listed Entities
  • Royal Canadian Mounted Police Wanted List
  • OSFI Consolidated List - Entities (Canada) Office of Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) Terrorism Financing Sanctions List (Entities other than individual)
  • OSFI Consolidated List - Individuals (Canada) Office of Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) Terrorism Financing Sanctions List (by Individuals)
  • Bank of England - HM Treasury Departments Consolidated List of Financial Sanction Targets 
  • EU Restricted - European Union Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Sanctions List
  • Japanese Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry Foreign User List
  • Interpol Recently Wanted List
  • Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Tax Haven List
  • United Nations Consolidated List
  • U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) List of Unauthorized Banks
  • World Bank List of Ineligible Firms

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What should I do if my customer or supplier appears on a Denied Party List?


If the party you screened appears on a Denied Party List, verify the results details against the specifics already known about the company or contact. If the results match or are similar to the known information about the screened party, you should investigate further or consider avoiding a shipping transaction with the party.


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What information does Import Compliance provide?


Import Compliance helps proactively identify specific import license needs, Favourable Trade Agreements and quotas that may apply based on the origin, destination and products within a shipment.


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How do I use my Import Compliance results?

If import compliance regulations were identified for products in your shipment, you should review the results carefully before you ship. Verify the results details against the specifics already known about the product(s) in the shipment. If the results match or come close to the known information about the product(s), you should consider learning more about the import compliance regulations by using links provided to additional information sources.

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Which countries are supported by the Export License Detector?

The Export License Detector determines license requirements and exceptions for exports from the United States and Puerto Rico.

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What is an Export Control Classification Number (ECCN)?

An Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) is an alpha-numeric, five character classification number used to identify items for United States export control purposes. An ECCN is different from a Schedule B number, which is used by the Bureau of Census to collect trade statistics. It is also different from the Harmonised Tariff System nomenclature, which is used to determine import duties.

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What is a CTP rate?

The Composite Theoretical Performance (CTP) rate is a measure of computational capability. For example, CTP is one of the factors that determine whether computers require an export license or qualify for a license exception.

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What is the TradeAbility Forms Library?


The Forms Library contains a comprehensive list of documentation to assist with your import or export shipments. Each form will include a link to a PDF (Portable Document Format) which you can download or print and complete later. Please note that certain forms must be officially completed by a broker.


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Can any forms be completed online?


In addition to PDF format, the following four forms are also available for all countries to complete online: shipping invoice, U.S. Shipper's Export Declaration, U.S. Certificate of Origin and NAFTA Certificate of Origin.


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How do I view my recent TradeAbility transactions?


You can use your Transaction History to view Landed Cost, Denied Party Screener, Import Compliance and Export License Detector service transactions made over the past 90 days. Transactions can be sorted by type and time period for easy browsing.


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Can I repeat a TradeAbility transaction without entering all the information twice?

To repeat a TradeAbility service transaction without entering all the information again, logged in My UPS users can select Use International Tools in the area at the left under the Shipping tab. Select View Transaction History then select the transaction you want to repeat. Finally, select Repeat This Transaction from the Next Steps drop-down menu within the results.

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Can I download information from my Transaction History?


Yes, you can download all or a refined selection of the service transactions within your Transaction History by using the links provided within that feature. Transaction information is discarded after 90 days, so it is recommended that you periodically download transactions to store them permanently.


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Can I request multiple TradeAbility services at one time?

With the Request Multiple Services option, you can select multiple TradeAbility services and process them at the same time. Provide information once and it will be reused by each service, as applicable, to achieve your results. To request multiple services, logged in My UPS users can select Use International Tools in the area at the left under the Shipping tab, then select Request Multiple Services at the bottom left of the screen.

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Should I set my browser to allow pop-up windows when using TradeAbility services?

Yes. It is important to allow pop-ups when using TradeAbility services as some services do require pop-ups to gather information.

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My question about TradeAbility is not answered here. Where can I find additional support?

If you have a question about a specific service transaction, select the Contact Trade Support link within the transaction results pages stored in your Transaction History. You should receive a response within three business days.

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