In this article you will learn everything you need to know about transporting works of art to and from the USA.

To ship goods or works of art to the USA, the US tax number is required. There are different distinctions depending on whether the recipient is a company or a private individual:

• EIN (Employer Identification Number): if the recipient is a company
• SSN (Social Security Number): For US citizens and persons with a work permit in the USA.

Transportation from the USA to the EU

If you live in an EU country but wish to receive art or goods from the USA with a value exceeding USD 2,500, an export document, the so-called AES, is required.
The AES (Automated Export System) is the American equivalent of the ECS in the EU (Export Control System, the electronic control system of the European Union, which regulates customs clearance). The AES is operated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in cooperation with the U.S. Census Bureau. This system is used to electronically record and monitor the export of goods from the USA. It controls exports and ensures that all necessary information is recorded.

Important features of the AES:

 

Part of the AES is the so-called Electronic Export Information (EEI):

• For many exports, companies must submit an EEI via the AES. The EEI contains information on the exported goods, such as
• Value
• Weight
• Goods code (HS code)
• Country of destination

The EEI is used to fulfill reporting obligations and is used for trade statistics and export controls.

Companies that export goods with a value of more than USD 2,500 or export goods requiring a license must submit an EEI in the AES.

If you book a shipment from the USA to the EU via Moviiu, we will take care of the EEI application and reporting in the AES system for you.

 

Taxes and customs duties

The movement of goods within the EU is free. Import duties are payable for shipments from the EU to countries outside the EU or shipments from outside the EU to the EU, as well as for shipments to and from Switzerland. Taxation depends on various factors and is subject to political changes. At Moviiu, we do not manage any import taxes directly, but rather the respective transport company, which is familiar with the current legal regulations of the destination country.

Our transport partners UPS, DHL Express and Fedex contact the recipient directly with a payment link for the applicable customs duties and taxes. The shipment is only finally delivered once these taxes and duties have been paid.

 

Special requirements for cultural assets: what to consider for international shipments

Some works of art require additional documentation such as CITES certificates or official permits.

CITES covers works of art that contain materials originating from endangered animal or plant species. These include, for example

• Ivory: sculptures, inlays or antique works of art made of ivory.
• Tropical woods: Frames, furniture or sculptures made from protected woods such as mahogany or rosewood.
• Animal skins, feathers or bones: Works of art that contain components of protected animal species (e.g. birds of prey or reptiles).

In addition to CITES, national and international cultural property protection laws may also apply. These regulate the trade in works of art that are classified as culturally significant. Such regulations apply independently of CITES and require separate documents from local authorities.

Which documents are required depends on the respective national laws and regulations. This applies, for example, to goods that fall under cultural property laws. If you are unsure whether your artwork is covered, it is best to contact the relevant local customs authorities.

Once these certificates are provided, Moviiu will take over the transmission of the documents to facilitate customs clearance. However, Moviiu cannot accept responsibility if documents are missing. Should any issues arise, Moviiu will act as a liaison between customs and the customer to ensure that the shipment is successfully completed.

 

Practical tips for transporting art

• Packaging: Works of art should be carefully packaged to prevent damage during transportation. Our specially developed packaging for artworks is individually tailored to your object or artwork and protects it from all types of damage during transportation.
• Insurance: Transportation insurance provides additional security to protect your artwork from loss or damage. When shipping artworks with Moviiu, you can optionally book transport insurance (for 1% of the value of the goods or at least EUR 25). Our Ad Valorem insurance covers artworks up to a value of EUR 100,000.
• The right transport company: Moviiu takes care of the tedious search for the best transportation company for you. We work with a reliable network of courier services and art transportation companies. Our smart online tool determines the most favorable offer for your needs in just a few minutes
• Customs regulations: We offer a solution for the final export from one country to another. For some common specifics, such as the ABD in Germany or the pro forma invoice for other international shipments, we have implemented solutions to facilitate the process together with our partners. Nevertheless, we cannot be held responsible for changing customs regulations. If there are specifics that we cannot organize, we will forward the request to one of our sister companies. It is the customer’s responsibility to inform us of the specifications of the shipment at the time of booking so that we can ensure that we can handle it properly.

 

Conclusion: The right preparation is the key to every successful art shipment

Exporting works of art abroad requires thorough preparation and compliance with numerous regulations. At Moviiu, we have customs experts based in Germany, France and Switzerland, as well as customs experts in many other countries through our sister companies, who can help you with all questions relating to customs declarations and your international transport.

With Moviiu, you have a competent partner who will take care of the complex steps for you so that you can concentrate fully on your core business. Do you have any questions or need support? Our experts will be happy to help you!