Japan as a Strategic Market Amid Global Tariff Risks: Export to Japan Using ACP and EPA
Rebuilding Supply Chains in an Era of Increasing Tariff Uncertainty Since the inauguration of the Trump administration in the United States, global trade has faced increasing uncertainty due to rising protectionist policies and retaliatory tariffs. Tariffs represent a direct cost to businesses, and exporting to countries such as the U.S. or China—where additional tariffs have […]
Hand-Carry Imports to Japan by Foreign Businesses (Non-Residents)
If a foreign business without a physical presence in Japan (non-resident) wishes to bring goods into Japan by hand-carrying them, there are two main customs clearance procedures available. 1. Simplified (Traveler’s) Customs Clearance If the goods are in small quantities and of low value—generally up to three units per item and a total taxable value […]
New Year Message – 2025
We extend our heartfelt wishes for a prosperous and fulfilling New Year. Looking back on 2024, we are deeply grateful for the trust and support of our clients, which allowed us to achieve further growth. As a professional Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP) in Japan, we have strengthened our partnerships with various professionals, including tax […]
Amazon FBA Japan: Import Deductive Valuation Method
Calculation and Preparation of Import Declaration Values for Amazon FBA Shipments to Japan Basis for Calculating Import Declaration Values under Japan's Customs Tariff Act Concept of customs valuation (determination method for import declaration value): In general, for imports (under the Customs Act, referred to as an "Import Transaction") involving a sales transaction between an overseas […]
Japan Security Export Control - Compliance Establishment
Exporters shipping goods from Japan are required to verify whether the exported goods or transactions are subject to security export control regulations. Exporters must prepare the necessary classification documents (Certificates of Non-Applicability/Applicability) for export customs clearance and, where necessary, obtain permission from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Compliance with list control and catch-all […]
Mandatory Use of ACP in Many Cases - Don't Easily Designate a Third Party as the IOR - Act Now!
As previously mentioned in another article ("Announcement from Japan Customs | Mandatory to Use ACP in Many Cases – Attorney for Customs Procedures"), from October 2023, overseas sellers, especially those on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Rakuten, and Shopify, are now required to utilize ACP and become the Importer of Record (IOR) themselves. Therefore, schemes involving […]
October 2023: Introduction of Two New Systems in Japan - (1) Tightened Importer Definitions (2) QIS: Japan Consumption Tax's Qualified Invoice System
For Foreign Corporations Without a Base in Japan: We are informing you about the two new systems that commenced in October 2023. These systems are distinct and must be approached separately. However, there are aspects where they intersect and must be understood collectively. Here's a detailed breakdown: Japan Customs has clarified the definitions of Importers, […]
Importing Tech Goods to Japanese Data Centers by Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP)
The increasing demand for importing and delivering goods to data centers in Japan is largely driven by the tech and AI boom. Often, clients who are non-resident companies seek to deliver goods—either their own or their end-clients'—to these data centers without making a sale. To facilitate this, the clients need to handle the import process […]
Announcement from Japan Customs - Mandatory to Use ACP in Many Cases - Attorney for Customs Procedures
We would like to inform you about a significant revision by Japan Customs, which clarifies the definition of an Importer. This change took effect on October 1, 2023. With the revision, there has been an increase in cases where foreign corporations must use an Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP) to become an Importer of Record […]
Streamlining Import Operations in Japan: Pre and Post-Company Establishment
At our company, we provide Attorney for Customs Procedure (ACP) services to numerous foreign corporations (without a presence in Japan) to enable our clients to become importers in Japan. As sales operations in Japan gain momentum, there has been an increase in client companies considering establishing a company in Japan. In this article, we would […]