13.4. Industry inquiries

13. Identifying the goods

Sometimes, especially for machinery, you may be able to inspect similar goods that may have been imported previously and that are already installed in factories. This is often called a trade inquiry. It is an excellent way to obtain information.

An advantage of conducting trade inquiries is that it is often possible to talk to people who are experts in that particular field.

How to use expert input

✔ Use experts to...	✘ Do not
• Gather information about how the goods work in their operating environment. • Understand the function, materials, and use of similar goods already installed. • Treat what experts say as an aid to your own assessment.	• Rely on experts without recognizing they may have their own biases. • Expect experts to describe goods in Nomenclature terms; in some cases, even trade experts lack sufficient knowledge of the Nomenclature. • Ask experts whether goods fall within a particular classification.

✔ Use experts to...

✘ Do not

• Gather information about how the goods work in their operating environment.

• Understand the function, materials, and use of similar goods already installed.

• Treat what experts say as an aid to your own assessment.

• Rely on experts without recognizing they may have their own biases.

• Expect experts to describe goods in Nomenclature terms; in some cases, even trade experts lack sufficient knowledge of the Nomenclature.

• Ask experts whether goods fall within a particular classification.

The aim is an objective inspection and appraisal of the goods in the condition in which they are imported.