News

On 27 November 2023, the EU Commission has extended the current EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (the so-called ‘GSP’ scheme) regulation until the end of 2027. This GSP scheme of customs duty preferences removes EU import duties for products released for free circulation in the EU, originating in vulnerable developing countries, and has been a […]

The European Commission has published the latest version of the Combined Nomenclature (CN) applicable as from 1 January 2024. The CN is the basis for the declaration of your goods upon importation and exportation, or when subject to intra-EU trade statistics (Intrastat reporting). The commodity codes linked to your goods determine the customs duty rates, as well as […]

Starting September 30, 2023, the 11th package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine entered into force, including, amongst many other measures, import restrictions for iron and steel products imported into the EU from third countries. As of that date, it is forbidden to import, directly or indirectly, iron and steel products into […]

On October 1, 2023, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered into application in its transitional phase. The CBAM is the EU’s tool to fight carbon leakage and is part of the Fit for 55 Agenda of the EU. The purpose is to make the price of carbon between domestic products and imports equivalent. As of […]

As of January 1st, 2024 customs duties on industrial goods will disappear in Switzerland. The abolition of these customs duties concerns goods that are classified in Chapters 25 to 97 of the Nomenclature, with the exception of some products classified in Chapters 35 and 38, which are classified as agricultural products. As a consequence, the […]

On 15 July 2022, the Commission put forward a draft EU proposal for Ukraine to be invited to join the Common Transit Conventions (CTC) – an international framework for the customs transit of goods that ensures simplified  procedures between the EU and partner countries. The Conventions mean that goods can move much more easily between […]

On 30 June 2022, the EU and New Zealand concluded negotiations for a Trade Agreement, which is set to open significant economic opportunities for companies and consumers on both sides. Bilateral trade is expected to grow by up to 30%, with EU annual exports potentially growing by up to €4.5 billion. EU investment into New […]

The UK customs authority HMRC is closing its Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system on March 31, 2023. From 1 October 2022, all declarations for import movements will have to be made through the new Customs Declaration Service (CDS). All businesses managing UK customs declarations will need to declare goods using the […]

On 22 November 2021, the Belgian tax authorities published an addendum to their previous circular of 27 October 2021. This postpones the restriction of the VAT exemption for transport services directly linked to an export of goods to 1 April 2022. Background According to Article 146(1)(e) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28.11.2006 on the common […]

As of 18 November 2021, the online version of the 2022 edition of the Harmonized System Nomenclature is available through the website of the World Customs Organization (WCO). The HS 2022 edition, as the world’s global standard for classifying goods in international trade, enters into force on 1 January 2022. The 2022 edition of the […]

On 17 November 2021, the U.S. and Japan announced a new partnership on trade that will facilitate regular engagement on trade-related matters of importance to both countries. This partnership builds on agreements the two sides concluded two years ago on trade in agricultural, industrial, and digital goods. The initial areas of focus under the new […]

On 27 October 2021, the European Commission released its first consolidated report on the implementation and enforcement of EU trade agreements. The report, which offers a snapshot of the evolution of the EU’s preferential trade in 2020, covers four priority areas: (1) making full use of the opportunities provided by EU trade agreements; (2) supporting […]

Al meer dan een eeuw is de firma Demeyere uit Herentals actief in de productie en verkoop van kookgerei, messen, scharen, tafelgerei en keukentoestellen. Het familiebedrijf kende de voorbije decennia een stevige groei, zeker na de overname door de Zwilling Group in 2008. Die groei zorgt ook voor toenemende internationale activiteiten (aan- en verkoop), en […]

Voor ondernemingen die internationaal zakendoen is het van levensbelang om prangende douane- en logistieke vraagstukken snel en correct af te handelen. Ook het bedrijf Dukale Services uit Borsbeek heeft de douanezaken graag op een rijtje. Zaakvoerder Walter Vanbeveren rekent hiervoor op de expertise en ervaring van Customs Square. Hij legt uit hoe deze samenwerking verloopt. […]

Als klein maar ambitieus bedrijf in de nichesector van speciaalchemie is Eurikas op zoek naar kwaliteitsvol douane- en btw-advies tegen een eerlijke prijs. Oprichter Peter Roggeman en zijn team doet al enkele jaren beroep op de expertise van Customs Square en Vatsquare. En daar is hij zeer tevreden over. Kunt u kort de historiek en […]

Internationaal actieve bedrijven en hun logistieke dienstverleners worden vandaag geconfronteerd met heel wat uitdagingen. De impact van de Brexit en de huidige coronapandemie zijn slechts enkele factoren die voor de nodige stress zorgen: complexe in- en uitvoerprocedures, een verstoorde wereldwijde containertrafiek, schaarse (en dus duurdere) grondstoffen, productieprocessen die vertragen of stilvallen,… Om maar te zwijgen […]

While every shipment requires care and attention, the stakes are much higher when the cargo in question is of high value. These types of cargo require special procedures and extra security to eliminate the risks of theft, damage, etc. False driver credential scams are the latest scourge hampering movement of high-value goods such as fine […]

As of January 2021, the EU has banned the export of unsorted plastic waste to countries outside the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The official announcement from the European Union (EU) explains that under the new rules, there will also be stricter conditions for exporting clean, non-hazardous waste to non-OECD nations. Exports from […]

On 5 March 2021 the European Union and the United States agreed to suspend all retaliatory tariffs on EU and U.S. exports imposed in the Airbus and Boeing disputes for a four-month period. The suspension allows both sides to focus on resolving this long-running dispute. It provides an important boost to EU exporters, since the […]

On 16 December 2020 the United States and the United Kingdom concluded a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) to further enhance bilateral efforts to secure and facilitate lawful trade. CMAAs are bilateral agreements between countries that are enforced by their respective customs administrations. The agreements provide the legal framework for the exchange of information and […]

On 21 January 2021 the United States and the United Kingdom have concluded an arrangement to formally recognize one another’s authorized economic operator programs. Mutual recognition of the U.S. and UK authorized economic operator programs will mitigate risks, improve information sharing, and eliminate red tape for our partners in the trade community. Authorized economic operator […]

On 7 December 2020, a package of 21 decisions was adopted by the Council of the EU to increase trade between the European Union and neighbouring countries in the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean region. As a result of these decisions the EU and 20 trading partners in the region will update their free trade agreement by modernising the […]

18 December 2020 Customs Square welcomes new colleague Kurt Osaer Customs Square is delighted to welcome customs expert Kurt Osaer as a new team member. With more than 20 years of work experience in a customs environment (including the Federal Public Service Customs and Excise), Kurt mainly focuses on consulting clients about AEO-procedures and assisting […]

| December 2020 | Customs Square is delighted to welcome customs expert Kurt Osaer as a new team member. With more than 20 years of work experience in a customs environment (including the Federal Public Service Customs and Excise), Kurt mainly focuses on consulting clients about AEO-procedures and assisting them in the execution of customs […]

| December 2020 | Customs Square is delighted to welcome customs expert Wim Van Meir as a new team member. With more than 10 years of work experience in an international environment and customs agencies, Wim mainly focuses on consulting clients about customs regulations and legislative changes. His broad working experience allowed him to stay […]

6 November 2020 COVID-19: European Commission puts forward taxation and customs measures to support access to more affordable equipment, vaccines and testing kits: https://lnkd.in/dFe5D9p 4 November 2020 The European Commission has published the latest version of the Combined Nomenclature (CN), applicable as from 1 January 2021. The Combined Nomenclature forms the basis for the declaration […]

On 12 October 2020 the World Customs Organisation (WCO) organised a virtual commemorative opening to mark the 50th Session of the Technical Committee on Customs Valuation (TCCV). The year 2020 marked also the 25 years of existence of the commonly known WTO Customs Valuation Agreement, an appropriate milestone to review the history and achievements of […]

European Commission proposes new ‘Single Window’ to modernise and streamline customs controls, facilitate trade and improve cooperation Each year, the Custom Union facilitates the trade of more than 3,5 trillion EUR worth of goods. Efficient customs clearance and controls are essential to allow trade to flow smoothly while also protecting EU citizens, businesses and the […]

WCO Cargo Targeting System gets upgraded October 2020 The WCO has released an upgraded version of its Cargo Targeting System (WCO CTS). This enhancement has been made possible thanks to financial support provided by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, and assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This software […]

In the coming weeks Evi Boonen, Klaas De Schepper, Linda Fierens, Tom Verbrugge and Kirby Van den Bosch of Customs Square are looking forward to welcome new customs experts to their team. By taking aboard these new experts, Customs Square will be able to offer an impeccable and tailor-made service to its clients, provided by […]

In June 2020 the WCO published an update of the Comparative Study on certification of origin (previous version published in 2014) to highlight new trends both on non-preferential and preferential origin. With regard to non-preferential rules of origin, the increasing use or acceptance of electronic certificates of origin (e-CO) is an important trend to take […]

5 October 2020 The UK transition: new rules from 2021 As the UK is leaving the EU single market and Customs Union and the end of the transition period will affect citizens and businesses, the UK government has gathered all useful tips and rules from January 2021 on its website: https://lnkd.in/dcunK6U 2 October 2020 Table […]

On 8 September 2020 the European Commission published a proposal for a Council and European Parliament regulation to scrap duties on certain imports to the EU. In return, the United States will reduce its duties on certain EU exports to the U.S. market. This puts into effect the agreement announced by the EU and the […]

| September 2020 | Customs Square is happy to welcome Customs Expert Evi Boonen as a new team member. Evi has a background education in logistics management and customs legislation with extensive experience in customs processes. She has more than 10 years of work experience in an international environment: in the industry, consultancy and as […]

The trade of goods across the borders of the European Union customs territory cannot be properly managed only through unilateral action by the Union. The customs authorities in the Union can accomplish their missions, as defined in Article 3 UCC, only if their action in the Union is supported by cooperation with the customs authorities […]

The INF System for Special Procedures (INF = Information Sheet System) is a trans-European system that ensures the administrative and standardized exchange of information between economic operators and customs authorities, and between customs authorities themselves involved during the customs procedures of inward and outward processing. Its main objective is to make all INF data available […]

The objectif of tariff quotas, as approved on the basis of Article 31 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), is to permit, during the period of validity of the measure and for a limited quantity, the total (total suspension) or partial waiver (partial suspension) of the normal duties applicable to […]

Temporary relief prolonged until 31 October 2020 On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. On 11 March 2020 the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. As the number of infection cases increased alarmingly, numerous Member States declared a national state of […]

In 2018 EU customs intercepted nearly 740 million EUR worth of fake goods being imported into the EU. This increase is due to a large amount of small parcels in express and postal traffic. Detention figures for seized consignments jumped from 57.433 in 2017 to 69.354 in 2018, though the total amount of articles detained […]

Security is and has always been a top priority for the European customs. Over the years the quantity of goods moving in and out of the EU has become so important that it has become impossible to control every shipment. It is therefore extremely important to carry out targeted controls based on risk management. The […]

The European Union Customs Union (EUCU) is a customs union which consists of all the member states of the EU, Monaco, the United Kingdom, and some dependencies of the United Kingdom which were not part of the EU.

The EU customs pre-arrival security and safety programme, underpinned by a large-scale information system (ICS2), is one of the main contributors towards establishing an integrated EU approach to reinforce customs risk management under the common risk management framework (CRMF).

HS 2022, which is the seventh edition of the Harmonized System (HS) nomenclature used for the uniform classification of goods traded internationally all over the world, has been accepted by the all Contracting Parties to the Harmonized System Convention. It shall come into force on 1 January 2022.

On May 5, 2020 the UK and US governments kicked off a first round of negotiations on a UK-US Free Trade Agreement.

Dual use goods are products and technologies normally used for civilian purposes but which may have military applications.

In the light of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of countries designated priority lanes and introduced facilitative measures with regard to the cross-border movement of essential goods.

On 28 April 2020 the European Union and Mexico finalized their negotiations on a new trade agreement. Under this agreement, practically all trade in goods between the EU and Mexico will be duty free.

Following Brexit, the UK is free to strike new trade deals for selling goods and services around the world. The government is also continuing negotiations for a new trade agreement with the European Union (EU). What trade agreements with non-EU countries has the UK signed so far?