Legal Definitions - importation

Importation refers to the act of bringing goods, products, or any tangible items across a national border into one's own country from a foreign country.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• A technology company based in the United States orders a large shipment of microchips from a factory in Taiwan. These microchips are then transported across the Pacific Ocean and enter the U.S. at a port of entry.

  This is an example of importation because the microchips (goods) are being brought from Taiwan (a foreign country) into the United States (the importing country) for commercial use.

• A bakery in France sources a specific type of high-quality cocoa beans directly from a farm in Ghana. The cocoa beans are shipped from Ghana and arrive at a French port, where they clear customs before being delivered to the bakery.

  This demonstrates importation as the cocoa beans (goods) are being transported from Ghana (a foreign country) into France (the importing country) to be used in production.

• An individual returning to the United Kingdom after a holiday in Spain purchases a bottle of local olive oil and a traditional ceramic dish to bring back home.

  This also illustrates importation because the olive oil and ceramic dish (goods) are being carried from Spain (a foreign country) into the United Kingdom (the individual's home country).