What is a Document in the context of the Inter Customs Ledger?

[arpentnoir]

discuss these two conceptual approaches:

a thing added to the chain by an authorised body which has state and allows some party to take some action dependant on that state?
a digital asset granted to a party that allows that party to trade the asset for some service?

[monkeypants]

An ICL exists as a working arrangement between Nations. Parties are identities that only exist within a national jurisdiction.

I suspect from an ICL perspective:

• assertions by Parties are regulated in the jurisdiction where the party exists.
• extra-jurisdictional assertions about parties should probably be considered non-authoritative

For this reason, I think the digital assets must be controlled by nations, either directly (by the regulator) or indirectly (by the regulated community, under the control of the regulator). Unregulated digital assets belong some place else.

[monkeypants]

could we provide lists of examples (is-a doc) and counterexamples (is-not-a doc)?

Think we should establish categories. If a doc:

• is created in the export jurisdiction
• is exported exactly zero or one time (from the country of origin, not including transshipments etc)
• is imported exactly zero or one time (to the country of destination, not including transshipments)

Then it is a clear candidate, because it fits the generic payload protocol (chain does not need to capture any semantics of the asset itself).

We should frame that in the semantic model, and explore:

• are there examples that are similar except the document originates in the country of destination?
• are there other generic patterns that might be useful without modelling the specific document lifecycle in the asset?

[monkeypants]

Note: my comment above presupposes assumption about generic lifecycles rather than document-specific digital assets (per comments in #3). I should call them out more with explanation so that idea is exposed to debate.

[arpentnoir]

• are there examples that are similar except the document originates in the country of destination?

CITES export permit for an Appendix I specimen requires prior grant of an Import permit from the destination country

[arpentnoir]

could we provide lists of examples (is-a doc) and counterexamples (is-not-a doc)?

Think we should establish categories. If a doc:

• is created in the export jurisdiction
• is exported exactly zero or one time (from the country of origin, not including transshipments etc)
• is imported exactly zero or one time (to the country of destination, not including transshipments)

I think an ATA Carnet probably qualifies as a counter example. It is issued in one jurisdiction and is valid for multiple imports and re-exports e.g. travelling exhibition or trade show, etc...

[arpentnoir]

Introduction from the Sea (CITES) is a slightly more obscure counterexample. i.e. a certificate issued by the importing country and only for the import (from international waters).

[monkeypants]

Right - ATA Carnet is a kind of bearer token, not some G2G business between a two customs authorities.