Trade Knowledge Hub

Egypt is China's fourth-largest African trading partner. With the zero tariff entering force on 1 May 2026, seven sectors switch from a 5 to 25 % MFN duty straight to zero. Cotton, apparel, citrus, fertilizer, marble, canned goods, paper: a sector-by-sector commercial deep dive with ports, target Chinese buyers and expected volume gains.

An average independent forwarder loses 60 to 90 hours per month producing quotes in Excel. At a 75 EUR/hour fully-loaded rate, that's 4,500 to 6,750 EUR of monthly operational cost for a function that should be instant. Here's the full projection: typical profile, hidden costs, 12-month ROI and break-even point of the 149 EUR/month plan.

China's full duty-free regime takes effect on 1 May 2026 for 53 African countries. Here is the full country list by region (North Africa, West, Central, East, Southern), the single excluded state (eSwatini), and the three concrete conditions an African exporter must meet to qualify.

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.

FCL and LCL rates on the Shanghai–Dakar corridor in 2026, surcharges to budget, ECOWAS CET customs duties, mandatory PSI inspection and three alternatives to direct freight. Full worked example with 1,000 pairs of shoes.

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.

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.

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.

De minimis thresholds for 15 major countries in 2026: US $800, EU EUR 150, UK GBP 135, Switzerland CHF 300, Japan JPY 10,000. Practical table, common pitfalls and worked examples so you know whether your parcel is duty-free.

Learn how to precisely calculate import duties for France: formulas, rates by product category, worked example, and FAQ.

Everything about landed cost: precise definition, detailed formula component by component, EXW/FOB/CIF/DDP comparison, and step-by-step example.

Master all 11 Incoterms 2020: comparison table, cost and risk allocation, which Incoterm to choose, and impact on customs value.