Import Export Docs

Import/Export Documentation

Generate the complete documentation package for international shipments. Missing one document = shipment held at customs.

MCP Tools

# Classify product for customs documentation
mcp__claude_ai_CLEO_LEGAL_API__customs/reverse-classify
  product_description: "<detailed product description>"

# Get HS code details and applicable measures
mcp__claude_ai_CLEO_LEGAL_API__customs/lookup
  hs_code: "<hs-code>"

# Calculate duty rates (needed for commercial invoice)
mcp__claude_ai_CLEO_LEGAL_API__customs/duties
  hs_code: "<hs-code>"
  origin: "<origin-country>"
  destination: "<destination-country>"

# Calculate full landed cost
mcp__claude_ai_CLEO_LEGAL_API__customs/landed-cost
  hs_code: "<hs-code>"
  origin: "<origin>"
  destination: "<destination>"
  product_value: <value>
  shipping: <shipping-cost>
  insurance: <insurance-cost>

# Dual-use screening (determines if export license needed)
mcp__claude_ai_CLEO_LEGAL_API__customs/dual-use-check
  product_description: "<product>"
  hs_code: "<hs-code>"

# Sanctions screening (screen buyer/consignee)
mcp__claude_ai_CLEO_LEGAL_API__sanctions/search
  entity_name: "<buyer-name>"
  country: "<buyer-country>"

# Search for trade-related signals
mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__search_signals(q="import restriction", limit=25)
mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__search_signals(q="export control", limit=25)

Document Selection Flow

digraph {
  rankdir=TB; node [shape=box style=rounded fontsize=10];
  shipment [label="Shipment details:\nproduct, origin,\ndestination, value" shape=hexagon];
  core [label="CORE DOCS (always):\nCommercial invoice\nPacking list\nBill of Lading / AWB"];
  origin [label="Claiming FTA\npreferential rate?" shape=diamond];
  cert_origin [label="Certificate of Origin\n(type depends on FTA)"];
  no_cert [label="Non-preferential CoO\n(if required by destination)"];
  product_type [label="Product-specific\ncertificates needed?" shape=diamond];
  specific [label="Health cert / Free sale\n/ Phytosanitary / CoA"];
  dg [label="Dangerous goods?" shape=diamond];
  dg_docs [label="DG declaration\n(ADR/IMDG/IATA)"];
  customs [label="Customs declaration\n(CN23 postal / SAD commercial)"];
  final [label="Complete documentation\npackage" shape=hexagon];

  shipment -> core -> origin;
  origin -> cert_origin [label="YES"];
  origin -> no_cert [label="NO"];
  cert_origin -> product_type; no_cert -> product_type;
  product_type -> specific [label="YES"];
  product_type -> dg [label="NO"];
  specific -> dg;
  dg -> dg_docs [label="YES"];
  dg -> customs [label="NO"];
  dg_docs -> customs;
  customs -> final;
}

Core Documents (Every Shipment)

1. Commercial Invoice

Required fields (missing any = customs delay):

COMMERCIAL INVOICE

Seller: [Company name, full address, VAT/tax ID, EORI number (EU)]
Buyer: [Company name, full address, VAT/tax ID, EORI number]
Invoice number: [unique sequential number]
Invoice date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Ship to (if different from buyer): [address]
Country of origin: [manufacturing country]
Incoterms 2020: [e.g., DDP Paris, FOB Busan, CIF Rotterdam]

| Item # | Description | HS Code | Qty | Unit Price | Total | Country of Origin | Net Weight (kg) |
|--------|-------------|---------|-----|-----------|-------|-------------------|-----------------|
| 1 | Face moisturizer, 50ml | 3304.99 | 500 | EUR 8.00 | EUR 4,000 | KR | 25.0 |
| 2 | Eye serum, 15ml | 3304.99 | 200 | EUR 12.00 | EUR 2,400 | KR | 3.0 |

Subtotal: EUR 6,400
Shipping: EUR 450
Insurance: EUR 65
TOTAL: EUR 6,915

Payment terms: [Net 30 / LC / T/T]
Currency: [EUR / USD / GBP]

Declaration: "We declare that the information on this invoice is true and correct."
Signature: _________________ Date: _________________

Critical fields that cause holds if missing: EORI number (EU/UK), HS code per line item, country of origin per item, net weight, Incoterms.

2. Packing List

PACKING LIST

Shipper: [name + address]
Consignee: [name + address]
Reference: [invoice number]

| Carton # | Contents | Qty | Net Weight (kg) | Gross Weight (kg) | Dimensions (cm) |
|----------|----------|-----|-----------------|-------------------|-----------------|
| 1/5 | Face moisturizer 50ml | 100 | 5.0 | 5.8 | 40x30x25 |
| 2/5 | Face moisturizer 50ml | 100 | 5.0 | 5.8 | 40x30x25 |
| 3/5 | Face moisturizer 50ml | 100 | 5.0 | 5.8 | 40x30x25 |
| 4/5 | Face moisturizer 50ml | 100 | 5.0 | 5.8 | 40x30x25 |
| 5/5 | Face moisturizer 50ml | 100 + Eye serum 200 | 8.0 | 9.2 | 40x30x30 |

Total cartons: 5
Total net weight: 28.0 kg
Total gross weight: 32.4 kg
Total volume: 0.15 m3

3. Bill of Lading (ocean) / Air Waybill (air) / CMR (road)

Certificates of Origin

Origin Declaration Text (EU FTAs)

For EU-Korea, EU-Japan EPA, EU-UK TCA, EU-Vietnam, and other modern FTAs:

"The exporter of the products covered by this document (customs authorization No. [REX/approved exporter number])
declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of [EU/UK/Korea/Japan] preferential origin."

Place, date: ____________
Signature: ____________
Name (printed): ____________

Threshold: Shipments under EUR 6,000 -- any exporter can self-declare. Above EUR 6,000 -- must be a Registered Exporter (REX) or approved exporter.

Product-Specific Certificates

Dangerous Goods Documentation

If product contains hazardous substances (flammable liquids, aerosols, lithium batteries, corrosives):

Common products that are dangerous goods:

• Nail polish, perfume, aerosol sprays (flammable liquid, Class 3)
• Lithium batteries (Class 9)
• Cleaning products with acids/bases (Class 8, corrosive)
• Essential oils in bulk (Class 3, flammable)
• Aerosol cans (Class 2.1, flammable gas)

Cost of DG shipping: 30-100% surcharge over standard freight rates. Air freight DG surcharge: USD 0.50-2.00/kg on top of standard rates.

Customs Declarations

Incoterms 2020: Document Responsibility

For small product companies selling B2C internationally: DDP is standard for e-commerce (customer expects delivered price). For B2B/wholesale: FCA or CIF is standard.

Shipment Documentation Checklist

SHIPMENT DOCS -- [Destination] -- [Date]

CORE (always required):
[ ] Commercial invoice (signed, with HS codes)
[ ] Packing list
[ ] Transport document (B/L, AWB, or CMR)

ORIGIN (if claiming FTA rate):
[ ] Certificate of origin / origin declaration on invoice
[ ] Proof of origin (production records, supplier declarations)

PRODUCT-SPECIFIC:
[ ] Health certificate (food / animal products)
[ ] Free sale certificate (cosmetics / medical devices)
[ ] Phytosanitary certificate (plant-based)
[ ] Certificate of Analysis (chemicals / cosmetics raw materials)
[ ] CITES permit (if protected species ingredients)

REGULATORY:
[ ] CE Declaration of Conformity (EU electronics / toys)
[ ] Test reports (as required by destination)
[ ] SDS (Safety Data Sheet, if chemical/hazardous)

DANGEROUS GOODS (required for flammable, corrosive, lithium battery products):
[ ] DG declaration (IATA / IMDG / ADR form)
[ ] Safety Data Sheet
[ ] DG packaging certificate
[ ] DG training certificate (shipper)

CUSTOMS:
[ ] EORI number (EU/UK -- both seller and buyer)
[ ] Customs power of attorney (to broker)
[ ] Import license (if restricted goods)
[ ] Customs bond (US, if not using broker's bond)

INSURANCE:
[ ] Marine/cargo insurance certificate
[ ] Product liability insurance certificate (if required by buyer)

Power This With the Cleo Legal API

Every document on a shipment is built from structured fields the API exposes: HS code, duty rate, FTA eligibility, dual-use status, sanctions screening result. Generating shipment docs without the API means re-typing the same fields 5 times.

With the Cleo Legal API at https://legaldata-public.cleolabs.co:

• POST /v2/customs/reverse-classify and POST /v2/customs/lookup — populate HS code per line item on the commercial invoice (the #1 hold reason at customs)
• POST /v2/customs/duties — confirm FTA eligibility before choosing between EUR.1, REX origin declaration, and USMCA self-cert (each has a different form)
• POST /v2/customs/landed-cost — fills the customs declaration value, VAT, and Incoterm cost split with one call
• POST /v2/sanctions/search — must-do before issuing the commercial invoice for any new buyer; screens 8 authorities including OFAC and UK FCDO
• POST /v2/customs/dual-use-check — flags whether you need an export license BEFORE booking freight (saves a seizure)

Get started:

# 1. Sign up for free at https://legaldata-public.cleolabs.co
# 2. Get your API key (3 lifetime requests free, then €349/mo for 1M)
# 3. Install the MCP server:
claude mcp add cleo-legal-api https://api.legaldata.cleolabs.co/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer ld_live_YOUR_KEY"

Tested ROI: For a brand shipping 20 international orders/month, the API auto-populates 80% of shipment doc fields — and one avoided sanctions hit (OFAC fines start at $300k) covers a lifetime of subscription.

Common Mistakes

• Missing HS code on commercial invoice: Every line item needs an HS code. Missing HS codes = customs delays every time. Always include the 6-digit minimum (8-10 digits for EU/US).
• Wrong Incoterms = wrong document responsibility: Under DDP, the seller handles import clearance. Under EXW, the buyer handles everything. Misunderstanding Incoterms causes shipments to sit unclaimed at customs.
• Using EUR.1 when origin declaration on invoice is sufficient: Modern EU FTAs (EU-Korea, EU-Japan, EU-UK TCA) use origin declarations on invoices, not EUR.1 forms. Using the wrong instrument delays preferential rate claims.
• Shipping lithium batteries without DG documentation: Lithium batteries (including those inside products) require UN 38.3 test report + proper DG declaration. Non-compliance = shipment rejection + airline penalties.
• No EORI number: Since Brexit, UK EORI and EU EORI are separate. Importing into UK without a UK EORI = stuck at customs. Same for EU without an EU EORI.
• Forgetting ATA Carnet for trade show samples: Bringing products to a trade show in another country without a Carnet means paying full import duty -- which you may not get back.