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Customs

All articles in the Customs category: TRADE-COST guides, analyses and tutorials.

Customs8 min read

China zero-tariff for 53 African countries — what changes on 1 May 2026

On 14 February 2026 Xi Jinping confirmed that, from 1 May 2026, China removes all customs duties across the entire tariff schedule on imports from the 53 African countries holding diplomatic relations with Beijing. Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Morocco gain duty-free access for the first time. Here is the scope, the carve-outs, the winning sectors and the export checklist.

Hicham El Mansouri
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Customs6 min read

EUR.1 Certificate: Get Preferential EU Tariff Rates

The EUR.1 movement certificate unlocks 0% EU import duty under bilateral trade agreements with Mediterranean and Balkan countries. Step-by-step guide: which agreements accept it, how to request it from your supplier, origin rules, and three dollar-value worked examples.

Marie Fontaine
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Customs6 min read

EU Customs Procedure 42: Import Without VAT Upfront

EU Procedure 42 lets you clear goods in one member state without paying import VAT, provided the goods move immediately to a VAT-registered buyer in another member state. 2026 guide: legal basis, four eligibility conditions, step-by-step process, and fraud controls tightened since 2011.

Marie Fontaine
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Customs6 min read

DDP vs DAP 2026: Who Really Pays Customs Duties?

DDP or DAP: who pays import duties, VAT and clearance fees? Full comparison table, the EU VAT trap under DDP, and three worked examples (China, India, Morocco) to choose the right Incoterm for your trade route in 2026.

Marie Fontaine
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Customs12 min read

Free Trade Zones: FTZ, SEZ & EPZ Guide 2026

Everything about free trade zones (FTZ, SEZ, EPZ): definition, types, customs and tax advantages, comparison of the 15 most strategic zones worldwide (Jebel Ali, Shenzhen, Shannon, Tanger Med), costs and legal framework.

Marie Fontaine
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Customs12 min read

GAFTA Agreement: Greater Arab Free Trade Area Guide

Everything you need to know about the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA): 22 member countries, tariff elimination, 40% rules of origin, certificate requirements, product coverage, exceptions, and practical Morocco-Egypt-Saudi Arabia trade examples.

Nadia Haddad
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