On December 1st, 2008, Montenegro will become the 66th country to join the ATA Carnet System, an international customs document that permits duty-free and tax-free temporary import of goods for up to one year [1].

ATA Carnets cover commercial samples, professional equipment, and goods for presentation or use at trade fairs, shows, exhibitions and the like. That means almost anything: computers, repair tools, photographic and film equipment, musical instruments, industrial machinery, vehicles, jewellery, clothing, medical appliances and aircraft, race horses, old masters, prehistoric relics, ballet costumes and rock group sound systems are just some of the items that can cross borders duty-free and tax-free, thanks to ATA Carnets. It however excludes perishable or consumable items or goods for processing or repair.

The ATA Carnet service is available to business and sales executives, exhibitors at trade fairs and travelling professionals, such as film crews, architects, artists, engineers, entertainers, photographers, sports teams and many more. Large companies, small companies, individuals on the move — all can benefit. Sales representatives with valuable samples and people with professional equipment are the largest users of the ATA Carnet service.

Promotion of the ATA Carnet System is ensured by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) based in Paris, France [2], and founded in 1919 under the impetus of its first President, M. Étienne Clémentel (º1864, †1936), former French Minister of Commerce from October 29, 1915 to November 27, 1919. ICC manages the system in cooperation with the World Customs Organization (WCO). Its operation is monitored by the ICC World Chambers Federation World ATA Carnet Council. One of the Council’s missions is to make sure that the number of Member Countries will continue to grow all over the world.

Background
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In a communication received on June 23, 2008, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Montenegro informed the Secretary-General of the World Customs Organization (WCO) that Montenegro had acceded to the Convention on Temporary Admission — the Istanbul Convention dated June 26, 1990 — and accepted all its Annexes.

Then, on September 15, 2008, an agreement was signed between the Customs Administration of Montenegro and the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro (PKCG) by which PKCG has been designated as the national organisation issuing and guaranteeing ATA Carnets in Montenegro. Following this appointment, PKCG has completed all the formalities to enable being part of the ATA international guarantee chain, managed by the ICC World Chambers Federation World ATA Carnet Council.