Importing

Importing is the process of bringing goods or services from a foreign country into a domestic market for resale, consumption, or use. It is a counterpart to exporting and plays a key role in global trade, influencing consumer prices, availability of products, and the competitiveness of domestic industries. Imports are generally regulated by customs authorities and may be subject to tariffs, value-added tax or sales tax, licensing requirements, and various non-tariff measures. For traded goods, the process typically involves procurement, shipping under incoterms, customs clearance, and payment. Common documents include a commercial invoice, bill of lading or air waybill, packing list, origin certificate, and any required import licenses. International rules and regional trade agreements can affect access to markets, while non-tariff barriers such as standards or quotas may also apply. The economics of importing relate to indicators such as gross domestic product, the balance of trade, exchange rates, and the overall efficiency of a country’s supply chains.

In computing, importing refers to incorporating code from external libraries or modules into a program. Importing supports code reuse, modularity, and access to external APIs or functionality. It is typically expressed through import statements or by using package managers and dependency systems, such as npm for JavaScript, pip for Python, or Maven for Java. Managing dependencies involves tracking versions, licensing, and compatibility; improper imports can lead to conflicts, security risks, or license compliance issues.