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Which of the following is NOT a reason customs inspects shipments?
To confirm correct markings on items
To discourage dumping of goods
To ensure timely delivery
To find any forbidden items
The correct answer is: To ensure timely delivery
Customs inspections serve several key purposes, primarily focused on ensuring compliance with laws and regulations governing trade. Confirming the correct markings on items is essential for identifying the correct tariff classification and ensuring proper duties are applied. Discouraging dumping, which refers to selling goods at unfairly low prices in a foreign market, is important for protecting local industries. Additionally, customs must ensure that no forbidden items, such as illegal drugs or dangerous goods, are entering the country. Timely delivery is not a primary concern for customs inspections; rather, their focus is on compliance with legal standards and safety regulations. The inspection process can sometimes lead to delays, but these are typically a byproduct of the necessary checks rather than an intention to ensure timely delivery. Thus, the duty of customs is not to expedite delivery but to uphold regulations, making the idea of ensuring timely delivery an outlier among valid reasons for conducting inspections.