How to process multi-country shipments

The complexity of multi-country shipments

When a single importation involves goods from multiple countries of origin, or when a shipment is consolidated from several suppliers before arriving at the port of entry, the documentation requirements multiply. Each country of origin may require separate commercial invoices, different certificates of origin, distinct marking requirements, and potentially different duty rates. Camtom Docs helps you manage this complexity by organizing documents by shipment, supplier, and country of origin.

Step 1: Create a multi-origin shipment project

In Docs, create a new shipment project and mark it as 'Multi-Origin'. This tells the system to expect documents from multiple suppliers and countries, and it will organize the folder structure accordingly.

1. Open Docs and select 'New Shipment Project'
2. Enter the master bill of lading or airway bill number
3. Toggle 'Multi-Origin' to activate the multi-country structure
4. Add each country of origin that will be part of this shipment
5. Docs will create sub-folders for each origin country automatically

Step 2: Upload and organize supplier documents

Upload the commercial invoices, packing lists, and certificates for each supplier into the corresponding country sub-folder. Docs will extract key data from each document using OCR and AI, including supplier name, product descriptions, quantities, and values.

Step 3: Reconcile quantities and values

For consolidated shipments, the total quantities and values across all supplier invoices must match the master packing list and the bill of lading. Docs provides a reconciliation view that compares these totals side by side and highlights discrepancies.

1. Open the 'Reconciliation' tab in the shipment project
2. Review the comparison table: invoice totals vs. packing list vs. bill of lading
3. Click on any discrepancy to see the source documents side by side
4. Resolve discrepancies by updating the relevant document or adding a note
5. Mark the reconciliation as complete when all totals match

Step 4: Handle country-specific requirements

Different countries of origin trigger different regulatory requirements. For example, goods from a USMCA partner country may qualify for preferential duty treatment with a valid certificate of origin, while goods from a country subject to antidumping duties require additional documentation. Docs flags these requirements based on the country of origin and HTS classification.

• Review the requirements checklist generated for each country of origin
• Upload certificates of origin for goods qualifying under free trade agreements
• Add antidumping or countervailing duty certificates where required
• Upload any country-specific phytosanitary or safety certificates
• Verify that marking requirements are met for each country of origin

Step 5: Generate consolidated customs documentation

When all documents are uploaded and reconciled, Docs can generate a consolidated document package ready for customs filing. This package organizes all documents in the order required by CBP and includes a summary sheet that maps each line item to its source documents.

Step 6: Archive and maintain traceability

After the shipment clears customs, archive the complete document set in Docs. The system maintains full traceability: you can trace any line item on the customs entry back to the specific supplier invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin. This traceability is essential for post-entry audits and duty refund claims.

Common challenges with multi-country shipments

• Currency conversion: different suppliers may invoice in different currencies, requiring conversion to the entry currency
• Incoterms variations: one supplier may sell FOB while another sells CIF, affecting how you calculate the entered value
• Transshipment documentation: goods that transit through a third country need documentation proving they were not substantially transformed en route
• Split shipments: when part of an order ships separately, maintain document linkage between the partial shipments

Best practices for document management

• Name files consistently using the format: SupplierName_DocumentType_Date
• Upload documents as they arrive rather than waiting for the complete set
• Use Docs' annotation feature to flag documents that need follow-up
• Set up automatic notifications when critical documents are missing