The first checks
The official Access2Markets guide recommends starting with the product itself: its tariff code, applicable duties and VAT, then any restrictions and compliance requirements — before placing any order.
- Identify the product and tariff code
- Check duties, VAT and extra costs
- Review restrictions or licences
- Confirm product compliance
- Prepare customs and origin documents
Why origin matters so much
Proof of origin often determines access to the preferential tariff: a documentary matter to handle upfront, never at the last minute.
The real cost of an import
The purchase price is only part of the final cost: transport, insurance, customs duties, VAT, compliance fees... It’s the full total, not the listed price, that determines real profitability.
The right reflex
For a first operation, it’s better to be accompanied by a customs broker or an import adviser, rather than learning the rules by breaking them.