Customs
Preferential origin
In short
Where the EU has a trade agreement with the country of origin, goods that meet the rules of origin can enter at a reduced or zero duty rate. Origin is not where the goods were shipped from; it is where they were produced or last substantially transformed.
Updated 20 August 2026 · Last reviewed 20 August 2026 · M. Homola, Founder, customs agent
Key takeaways
- China has no preferential agreement with the EU; most Chinese-origin goods pay the standard rate.
- Shipping from a country is not the same as originating there.
- The proof of origin must be valid at import, not produced later.
Buyers sometimes expect a preference because the goods transited a third country. Transit does not change origin. If a supplier offers you a certificate for goods that were made elsewhere, that is a customs fraud risk and we will not file it.
This is general information, not advice for a specific shipment. Rules change; check the official source or ask us about your consignment.