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The Incoterms® 2020 rules: who pays and who bears the risk
The eleven rules of the International Chamber of Commerce set where the seller delivers, who pays for carriage and at which point risk passes to the buyer.
Read →Origin of goods: preferential and non-preferential
The origin of goods decides the rate of duty and whether trade measures apply. EU customs law distinguishes two kinds of origin, and each is proved differently.
Read →Commodity codes: HS, CN, TARIC and binding information
The commodity code decides the duty, any prohibitions and the documents a consignment needs. How the code is built and what binding tariff information is.
Read →Customs value: what duty is calculated on
Duty is mostly a percentage of the customs value. That is not simply the invoice price — the Union Customs Code sets what is added to the price and what is left out.
Read →The EORI number: who needs it and where to get it
Without an EORI number customs will not accept a declaration. It is assigned once, is valid across the EU and is also needed by a non-EU company clearing goods in the EU.
Read →Payment in international trade: four methods
Advance payment, documentary credit, documentary collection and open account differ in who carries the risk at each moment. Credits and collections have their own ICC rules.
Read →The CMR Convention: what a road carrier is liable for
In international road haulage the carrier's liability is governed by the CMR Convention. It caps the compensation and sets the time limits for reporting damage.
Read →Dual-use items: when an authorisation is needed
Some ordinary industrial products, software and technology can also be put to military use. Their export from the EU is governed by Regulation (EU) 2021/821.
Read →The ATA Carnet: samples and exhibition goods duty-free
Goods that leave the country only temporarily — for a trade fair, a demonstration or as professional equipment — can travel on an ATA Carnet. It replaces customs declarations and the security.
Read →Apostille and legalisation: documents for use abroad
A company register extract, a power of attorney or a diploma is accepted abroad only once authenticated. Whether an apostille is enough or full legalisation is needed depends on the country of use.
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