Glossary

Electronic customs (‘e-customs’) is a major development for the EU's Customs Union. The project aims to replace paper-format customs procedures with EU-wide electronic procedures to create a … more efficient and modern customs environment. Each year the European Commission releases a report on progress in developing electronic systems. The latest report was published in February 2023.

EU Regulation provides a new legal framework to improve information sharing and digital cooperation between customs administrations and other government authorities in charge of enforcing non-customs … formalities at the EU border. What are these non-customs formalities?

Anti-dumping measures may be applied against imports of a product at an export price below its ‘normal value’ (usually the price of the product in the domestic market of the exporting country) … if such dumped imports cause injury to a domestic industry.

The ‘single window’ is a trade facilitation measure, allowing parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardised information and documents with a single-entry point to fulfil all import, … export, and transit-related regulatory requirements, thus reducing duplication, time, and costs.

The European Maritime Single Window environment (EMSWe) aims to improve administrative procedures in maritime transport by introducing a single window for reporting formalities for ships to harmonise … processes and data exchange with economic operators. Legal acts establish that the latest date for the system to be operational is no later than 15.08.2025.

It's about trade liberalisation of climate-friendly goods: What is defined as a ‘climate-friendly good’? How are these goods included in the Harmonised System (HS)?

Part of the EU’s trade rules enforcement arsenal, the Trade Barriers Regulation is a legal instrument that gives EU companies, industries, associations and Member States the right to lodge a … complaint with the Commission about trade barriers in third countries.

Exporter of dual-use items is any person who has the power to determine the sending of the items out of the customs territory of the Union.

‘Dual-use items’ means items, including software and technology, which can be used for both civil and military purposes.

Licensing is a restrictive measure that consists of the need to obtain permission from the competent authority to import or export goods.

Intrinsic value for commercial goods is the price of the goods themselves when sold for export to the customs territory of the Union, excluding transport and insurance costs, unless they are … included in the price and not separately indicated on the invoice.

Restrictive measures or 'sanctions' are an essential tool of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. They seek to bring a change in the policy or conduct of those targeted, such as governments, … entities, groups, individuals.

International sanctions are non-military measures aimed at ensuring international peace and security, and respect for human rights. The possibility of international sanctions, a legitimate instrument … of international policy, is enshrined in the United Nations (UN) Charter.

The rules of non-preferential origin are specific provisions, developed from principles established by national legislation or international agreements ('origin criteria'), applied by a country … to determine the origin of goods.

Customs procedure 42 is a mechanism that an EU importer uses to obtain a VAT exemption. It is applied when goods imported from outside the EU into a Member State will be transported to another … EU Member State. In such cases, the VAT is due in the latter - the Member State of destination.

Customs compliance means compliance with legal rules and procedures applicable to goods brought into or taken out of the customs territory.