Ms. Saowakon Sritongpanich is a customs specialist, advising clients on customs and trade issues. She assists clients in negotiating with the Customs Department on customs issues, such as valuation, tariff code classification and duty refunds, as well as represent clients in settling cases with the Customs Department and in obtaining trade and investment privileges. Ms. Sritongpanich has assisted clients in reviewing their reporting system to the Thai Customs, as well as performed Customs Inventory audits. She has also provided advice to clients on locating their operations in Export Processing Zone, particularly on taking advantage of the privileges available to reduce the customs duty and excise tax payable, as well as proposing an appropriate cost structure subject to excise tax. In addition, she has successfully represented clients in settling liabilities when exiting a Board of Investment (“BOI”) project, and minimizing Customs penalties.

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• Assisted the electronic manufacturing company in Thailand in applying for the tariff preferential under Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (“TAFTA”), determining the company’s eligibility for the use of TAFTA privileges; as well as negotiating with the officers of the Department of Foreign Trade in order to issue the TAFTA certificate of origin for the past export shipments to Australia.

• Advised several Japanese clients on the use of Customs and BOI privileges and recommends measures to minimize penalties for misuse of Customs and BOI privileges.

• Creating manuals on the procedures of removing goods into and out of the Export Processing Zone for a chemical manufacturing company in Thailand.

• Audited the cost structure of a Japanese automobile manufacturer to determine its eligibility for AFTA-CEPT privileges.

• Assisted a German automobile manufacturing company in establishing the customs free zone as well as advised on regulations of operating within the customs free zone.

• Participated in review and assessment on the controlling systems of the entire Public Customs Bonded Warehouse in Thailand.

• Bachelors of Business Administration, Majoring in Finance - Bangkok University.

• English, Thai.