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CBAM update questions & answers 19 July 2024
EU Commission on 19 July 2024 published the update version of the FAQ on CBAM. We list below the new questions and answers. Answers updated 16, 18, 19, 26, 27, 35, 38, 48, 56, 60, 74, 87, 96, 99, 104, 106, 110, 114, 121, 123; Questions added 24, 30, 34, 65, 72, 103, 109, 116, 125. For the readers’convenience there is below the list of the HS code of goods which fall under CBAM regulation. Cement (25070080 – Kaolin and other kaolinic clays, calcined; 25231000 – Cement clinkers; 252321 00 – White Portland cement, whether or not artificially coloured; 25232900 – Other Portland cement; 25233000 – Aluminous cement; 25239000…
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CBAM, updated frequently questions and answer for a compliance check
On 28 February 2024 the European Commission published the new CBAM frequently questions & answers (FAQ) which modify the points n. 10, 12, 27, 28, 30, 44, 50, 56, 68, 91, 92, 99 of their last version. In particular, the new point n.10: QUESTION N.10: “Does the CBAM apply to ‘returned goods’? ANSWER N.10: “Returned goods are goods defined in Article 203 of the Union Customs Code (Regulation (EU) No 952/2013). They are goods that are released for free circulation and benefit from duty exemption because they were Union goods before, either because they have originally been exported as Union goods or because they were previously released for free circulation,…
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WCO, customs classification, green and circular economy: will the customs classification able to support the environment protection?
The WCO published its interim report “Explanatory study on a possible strategic review of the harmonized system (HS)” . This is the result of a survey performed among the economic operator. The explanatory study will be checked, in the following analysis, from a environmental point of view. This is the reason for which, i t will be added a point of the fuels from marine plastic littering. The WCO experts try to understand the questions to be answered and outline the main concepts About the answers, it is possible to list the following ones: How to classify the goods which are environmentally sensistive? How to classify goods considering also the…
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Default values, CBAM, AEO and compliance
The European Commission published the guidelines on “Default values for the transitional period of the CBAM between 1 October 2023 and 31 December 2025.” By which: Recalls the legal nature of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) which “…is an environmental policy instrument designed to support the EU climate ambitions of achieving a net reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of at least 55% by 2030 and of reaching climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest…”; Underlines that the default values are an average of the intensity of the emissions for each categories of commodities covered by the CBAM. Indeed, the guidance provides that “…Default values do play a specific…
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EAC, Kenya and EU: Economic Partnership Agreement with a specific focus on sustainable development
On 8 December 2023, Eu Commission published the draft of the “Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Republic of Kenya, Member of the East African Community, of the other part” by means of the interinstitutional Files 2023/0337 (NLE) and 2023/0338 (NLE). This agreement will cover the following topics: (a) general provisions; (b) trade in goods; (c) fisheries; (d) agriculture; (e) economic and development cooperation; (f) institutional provisions; (g) dispute avoidance and settlement; (h) general exceptions; (i) general and final provisions; and (j) Annexes, Protocols and Joint Statements. Before going deeper with the short check of the available documents, it is useful to recall…
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AI, customs, origin, value and classification: how to implement the compliance
The artificial intelligence is a way to improve the compliance of the economic operators with the regulations on preferential origin, non-preferential origin, value and classification; shortly, it is a way to: make more robust the pillars of customs obligation on which it is based the audit for the AEO authorization; Well assess and mitigate the risks of non-compliance and, therefore, reduce or avoid: audit costs, operational disruptions, legal expenses; Implement the internal customs knowledge and expertise and the internal skills to develop internal controls (monitoring). ##preferentialorigin. The preferential origin is the status of the goods are eligible for the free trade agreement rules. The free trade agreement is is an…
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Customs classification, AEO and audit for compliance
Customs classification is one of the fundamental pillar for the determination of the customs debt and represents a process of a technical nature and judges aimed at identifying a good in a customs heading of the combined nomenclature system (CN). Section X of the Court of Justice of the European Union with judgment of 15 June 2023 C-292/22 stated that: “…The explanatory notes of the HS (harmonised system) and of the CN, although they do not have binding effect, they constitute important tools to ensure uniform application of the Common Customs Tariff and, as such, provide useful elements for the interpretation of the same…” ; “… even when a method…
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Customs classification, circular economy and environmental goods
The customs classification is one of the three pillars of the customs obligation. But it could play an interesting role in the enforcement of the European- and hopefully global- “green customs” Indeed, according to WCO (World Customs Organization – The fifth symposium in the WCO Symposia Series on “Visualising a greener HS to support environmentally sustainable trade”, supported by the European Union, was held on 23 January 2023) statements: sustainable goods to support a circular economy transition are increasing; the technology sector is a rapidly changing area, meaning that today’s environmentally preferable technology can quickly become obsolete and overtaken by newer and better technology; It is not possible to separately…
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Due diligence, import deforestation free goods and blockchain
The EU Regulation 2023/1115 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010” has the following goals: minimising the Union’s contribution to deforestation and forest degradation worldwide, and thereby contributing to a reduction in global deforestation; reducing the Union’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and global biodiversity loss The due diligence statement requires companies to collect information, identify risks and mitigate them, organise and keep the information and evidence relating to each relevant product for a period of five years from the date of placing, making available or…
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Customs classification, relevant goods and trade compliance
The EU Regulation 2023/1115 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010” has the following goals: minimising the Union’s contribution to deforestation and forest degradation worldwide, and thereby contributing to a reduction in global deforestation; reducing the Union’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and global biodiversity loss Relevant commodities and relevant products will not be placed or made available on the market or exported, unless all the following conditions are fulfilled: (a) they are deforestation-free; (b) they have been produced in accordance with the relevant legislation of…