Text B The Problems Facing the Customs Administrations of Today

We live in a rapidly changing world. Things which we regard as commonplace today, world-wide telecommunications via satellite, space travel, the micro-processor, were scarcely conceivable just a few decades ago. In recent times the world has also changed from the Customs' perspective. The traditional Customs responsibilities of collecting duties and taxes and preventing smuggling still remain with us but Customs cannot afford to ignore the changing world conditions which have a major impact on their work. Some Customs authorities are responsible for such diverse tasks as immigration control and the enforcement of commercial policy through the implementation of preferential trade agreements, the operation of quotas and the application of restrictions, the application of public health and safety legislation, quarantine controls, currency controls, counterfeiting and piracy legislation and the collection of external trade statistics. These are just a few of the non-traditional areas in which Customs are now becoming increasingly involved. Trade demands for additional services such as deferred payment of duty have also had their effect on Customs.

The application of all these added responsibilities has led inevitably to an increase in the complexity of Customs regulations. Tariff books and procedure manuals are becoming significantly more detailed. Officials, who in the past applied a fairly simplified tariff schedule specifying Customs duties on a limited range of goods, are now faced with the increased complexities of tariffs based on the Harmonized System. It is becoming increasingly difficult in some countries for Customs officers to be aware of all existing regulations affecting importations. This has led to a lack of uniformity in the application of the law. It provides increased opportunities for the circumvention of Customs law and produces an ideal environment for the spread of practices such as irregular payments. Customs can expect an increased workload from increasing international trade and traffic. The problems of smuggling, therefore that the manner in which Customs Services conduct their business has a substantial impact on trade efficiency. Governments throughout the world recognize the value of Customs Services in their national economies and realize that the service being provided by Customs is one they cannot easily dispense with.However, they are also beginning to see the dangers of inefficient Customs Services. As a result, Customs Services around the world are re-examining the way they operate and deal with their customers. The challenge is to facilitate the international trade process at a minimum cost to economy, and without compromising the collection of revenue or the protection of the community from illegal cross-border movements of goods. (3000 symbols)

12.3.2 Look through the text again and write out all word combinations with the word "Customs" used attributively and translate them into Russian: 1 Customs administrations 6 _____________ 2 _____________ 7 _____________ 3 _____________ 8 _____________ 4 _____________ 9 _____________ 5 _____________ 10 ____________

Match the words from the text with their corresponding definitions on the right (a - h).

VERBS 1 enforce a) keep from happening, hinder 2 facilitate b) to put off to a future time, postpone 3 prevent c) give force to, make effective 4 afford d) grow, become greater in size, amount, etc. 5 defer e) do without 6 increase f) help, assist; make easy 7 dispense with g) make an imitation, copy in order to deceive 8 counterfeit h) give, supply NOUNS 1 manual a) getting round a law, rule 2 fraud b) giving force to 3 revenue c) a handy book for use as a guide, reference, etc. 4 regulations d) amount of work 5 circumvention e) criminal deception, cheating 6 enforcement f) strong influence 7 workload g) rule, order, law 8 impact h) income

Speaking. Present your views on the following

1 What government practices can act as barriers to trade?

2 In what way may tariffs affect the economy of the country? What is the situation in Russia?

3 ”Protection and patriotism are reciprocal”. (J. Calhoun)

4 ”Dispatch is the sole of business.” (P. D. Stanhope)

English-Russian Glossary

Антиквариат/Antiques

ancient - cтаринный object of art -предмет искусства century - век picture - картина manuscript - манускрипт painting -живопись papyrus -папирус drawing - рисунок memoirs -мемуары icon -икона vase -ваза sculpture - скульптура medal -медаль statuette -статуэтка receipt/bill -чек exit permit issued by… -разрешение на вывоз, выданное… a copy of the receipt -копия чека

Luggage/Багаж

accompanied -сопровождаемый to put(check) the luggage through the X-ray -поверить багаж на рентген- аппарате unaccompanied -несопровождаемый personal -личный checked -зарегистрированный suitcase -чемодан attache-case - “дипломат” unchecked -незарегистрированный traveling bag -дорожная сумка beauty bag -косметичка piece of luggage -место багажа purse -кошелек luggage receipt -багажная квитанция hand-luggage/ personal luggage |small luggage - ручная кладь luggage claim hall -зал получения багажа case -ящик luggage counter - багажная стойка sack -мешок luggage label -багажная наклейка barrel -бочка excess luggage -излишек багажа can - консервная банка left luggage office -бюро находок bottle -бутылка

balc - тюк to weigh the luggage -взвешивать багаж parsel -сверток brief-case - портфель to pay for one’s luggage - оплатить багаж gift - подарок package - пакет to carry one’s luggage - нести багаж documents folder - пакет документов envelop -конверт to receive one’s luggage - получить багаж parsel post -бандероль to pack the luggage - упаковать багаж to pay for excess luggage -оплатить лишний вес багажа to unpack the luggage - распаковать багаж to show(present) the luggage - предъявить багаж

Currency / Валюта

currency -валюта to cash a check получать деньги по чеку hard currency -свободно конвертируемая валюта to pay a check -оплачивать чек to keep money with a bank - хранить деньги в банке soft currency неконвертируемая валюта letter of credit - аккредитив domestic currency -местная валюта share -акция foreign currency - иностранная bank note -ассигнация валюта soft money/bills - бумажные деньги currency exchange -обмен валюты credit card -кредитная карточка rate of exchange -обменный курс валюты coin -монета bank record about the exchange of the currency -отметка банка об обмене валюты cash -наличные деньги bond -облигация amount - сумма bank certificate for taking currency abroad -справка банка на вывоз валюты traveller’s cheque - дорожный чек personal cheque -личный чек to seize currency - задержать валюту confiscation of currency by Customs authority - конфискация валюты таможенными властями to register currency -регистрировать валюту to leave currency with the Customs - сдать валюту на хранение в таможню exchange permit -разрешение на провоз валюты

to transfer foreign currency - перевезти валюту

Сargo/Груз

cargo - груз Certificate of Origin -сертификат происхождения deck cargo - палубный груз commercial goods -коммерческий груз Quality Certificate - сертификат качества noncommercial goods -некоммерческий груз quality inspector - инспектор по качеству shipper/consignor -грузоотправитель warehouse - склад consignee - грузополучатель waybill - накладная packing -упаковка seal - пломба stevedore -стивидор, портовый грузчик to break seals - нарушить пломбу to place seals -наложить пломбу cargo list -список грузов perishable goods -скоропортящийся товар delivery - доставка груза shipping documents - отгрузочные документы package - тара packing list(sheet) - упаковочный лист

Declaration/Декларация

declaration -декларация entry declaration -въездная декларация exit declaration -выездная декларация crosses and dashes - исправления и прочеркиcargo declaration- декларация на груз in figures -цифрами in block letters -печатными буквамиfull name - полное имя surname -фамилия christian/first name - имя initial инициалыto declare - декларировать to show a declaration- предъявить декларацию to fill in a declaration- заполнить декларацию country of residence -страна проживания to sign a declaration -подписать декларацию country of destination - страна прибытия to keep a declaration - сохранить декларацию purpose of a visit -цель прибытия business trip -деловая поездка in full words - словами on invitation -по приглашению