5.4. Import Readiness Check (VELA)

VELA checks — before you ship — whether your shipment can clear customs at the destination without surprises. The result is saved as an Import Readiness Report (IRR), and you run it by simply asking Lyra inside a project.

💬 Try asking Lyra

• "Run an import readiness check on this project"
• "Can these documents clear customs in Dubai?"
• "Are we ready for customs?"

1. Why you need it

Customs clearance is never just one tariff number. Dozens of requirements — certifications, labeling, quarantine — must be satisfied at the same time, and missing a single one can mean held cargo, fines, or a return shipment.

Since 2025, trusting the base tariff schedule alone has become risky. Emergency measures (like US special tariffs or the EU's carbon border charge) stack on top of base rates and change week to week, while events like the Hormuz and Red Sea disruptions move freight costs, lead times, and insurance. Korean cars, for instance, carry a 2.5% base rate into the US — but the real burden with overlay measures is far higher.

VELA surfaces all of this before the vessel leaves. Fixing a problem at the loading port is far cheaper than fixing it in front of a customs officer.

2. What it checks

Every report discloses the age of its evidence — "2023 tariff base", "emergency tariffs verified first week of September" — and items whose verification has gone stale are honestly flagged "re-verification needed". Not pretending to know is a VELA design principle.

3. How to use it

1. Run — open the project and ask Lyra to "run an import readiness check". A few registered documents are enough.
2. Answer questions (only when needed) — if key facts can't be read from the documents (intended use, trade zone), the report shows a few questions. Most runs go straight to results.
3. Read the verdict — an overall verdict plus issue cards:

4. Work the issues — each issue shows whose job it is (exporter/importer). Mark items Resolved or Accepted (known risk), and attach evidence links or documents.
5. Re-review — after resolving issues or adding documents, ask "re-review" and the verdict updates. Repeat as often as needed.

4. What chat alone can answer — no report needed

For single questions, just ask Lyra in chat. Chat uses the same data as VELA reports, so the answers share the same evidence.

💬 Ask in chat

• "What's the HS code for tomato ketchup?" — classification suggestions
• "What's the tariff if I export this to the UAE?" — country rates
• "Does the Korea-UAE CEPA apply?" — FTA eligibility
• "Is there US antidumping on steel?" — origin-specific duties
• "What do I need to export food to Saudi Arabia?" — import requirements
• "Is the Red Sea situation affecting our shipment?" — logistics & events
• "What does FOB mean?" — trade terminology

When something isn't in internal data, Lyra supplements with a web search — and tells you it's a web result with sources and no legal force.

Chat vs. report: chat answers individual questions; the report is a full verdict plus a to-do list for one specific shipment. Explore with chat before a contract; run the report when preparing to ship.

5. FAQ

• Q: Can I use the results directly for customs declarations?
  • VELA is a verification aid. It catches what you missed and cites its sources, but final declarations should go through your customs broker or the customs office. The report's source links make that confirmation fast.
• Q: Is the data up to date?
  • It differs by layer, and the report always shows the as-of dates. Base tariffs and requirements follow official statistics (annual); emergency tariffs and events are refreshed weekly. Items with stale verification are flagged "re-verification needed" by the report itself.