Legal Definitions - import

The term "import" has several distinct meanings, particularly in legal and economic contexts:

• 1. A product brought into a country from a foreign country where it originated.

  This refers to the actual goods or products themselves that are purchased from abroad and brought into a domestic market.

  • Example 1: A shipment of high-quality olive oil from Italy arriving at a grocery distributor in the United States.
  • Explanation: The olive oil is a product that originated in Italy and is being brought into the U.S. market, making it an import.
  • Example 2: Japanese-manufactured electronics, such as televisions and cameras, sold in retail stores across Australia.
  • Explanation: These electronics are products made in Japan and then sold in Australia, thus qualifying as imports for Australia.
  • Example 3: Fresh cut flowers grown in Ecuador and flown daily to florists in Canada.
  • Explanation: The flowers are products originating in Ecuador and entering Canada, making them imports.

• 2. The process of bringing foreign goods into a country.

  This refers to the act or activity of transporting goods from one country into another, often involving customs procedures, tariffs, and international trade regulations.

  • Example 1: A clothing company managing the complex logistics, customs clearance, and payment of duties for textiles manufactured in Vietnam to be sold in European markets.
  • Explanation: The company is engaged in the *process* of importing the textiles, handling all the necessary steps to bring them into Europe.
  • Example 2: A government agency establishing new regulations to streamline the *import* of medical supplies during a public health crisis.
  • Explanation: The agency is focused on facilitating the *process* by which these crucial foreign goods enter the country.
  • Example 3: A small business owner arranging for the shipment and distribution of handcrafted pottery from Mexico to their boutique store in Texas.
  • Explanation: The owner is undertaking the *process* of bringing the pottery into the U.S. for sale.

• 3. The meaning; especially, the implied meaning.

  This refers to the underlying significance or implication of something, particularly what is suggested or understood without being explicitly stated.

  • Example 1: During a contract dispute, the judge carefully considered the full *import* of a seemingly minor clause that had significant unstated consequences for one party.
  • Explanation: The judge was trying to understand the deeper, implied meaning and ramifications of the clause, not just its literal wording.
  • Example 2: A jury deliberated on the *import* of a witness's hesitant testimony, trying to discern if it suggested uncertainty or an attempt to conceal information.
  • Explanation: The jury was analyzing the implied meaning behind the witness's manner of speaking, rather than just the words themselves.
  • Example 3: Legal scholars debated the long-term *import* of a recent Supreme Court decision, analyzing its potential impact on future cases and legal interpretations.
  • Explanation: The scholars were discussing the underlying significance and future implications of the decision, beyond its immediate ruling.

• 4. Importance; significance.

  This refers to the degree of consequence or weight that something carries.

  • Example 1: The discovery of new evidence had great *import* for the defense's strategy in the criminal trial, potentially changing the outcome.
  • Explanation: The new evidence was highly significant and important to the case.
  • Example 2: A new international treaty on climate change was recognized for its immense *import* in global environmental policy.
  • Explanation: The treaty held substantial importance and consequence for worldwide environmental efforts.
  • Example 3: The legal precedent set by the appellate court's ruling was of considerable *import* for all future cases involving digital privacy.
  • Explanation: The ruling established a significant and impactful standard for how digital privacy cases would be handled going forward.