Importation is the bringing of goods or services into a country from abroad for sales " manufactures fought to restrict the importation of cheap foreign goods" An import in the receiving country is an export from the sending country. Importation and exportation are the defining financial transactions of international trade. In international trade, the importation and exportation of goods are limited by import quotas and mandates from the custom authority. It is very important we learn about some of the import documentations that are require by customs such as bill of entry, bill of lading/airway bill, import license, insurance certificate and purchase order/ letter of credit.

Any time you walk into a supermarket and pick up any item like a knife or a toy and chances are that the item are manufactured in china or assembled in Mexico. Pick up coffee pods and you would see that they have being imported from Africa. When you shop for clothes it is quite likely you will see made in China label. We all know that international trade has being in vogue for centuries and all civilizations carried on trade with other parts of the world. The need for trading exist due to variations in availability of resources and competitive advantage. In the present context where technology and innovation in all fields have thrown open borders to globalization, no country can afford to remain isolated and be self-sufficient.

With the creation of World Trade Organization, there has being constant efforts made to unite countries to create more market, to standardize tariffs and trade laws as well as remove trade barriers in trying to create free markets.