Importing to the UK from the EU

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provisionally entered into force on 1st May 2021. It offers very liberal trading between the two partners. Zero tariffs and zero quotas on all trade of EU and UK goods that comply with the appropriate rules of origin.

However, exporting goods from the EU to the UK now requires certain formalities to be completed, following Great Britain's exit from the customs union. The UK is treated like any other trading partner that has a deal with the EU, therefore the relevant customs forms need to be completed before export.

Things to remember 

As the UK has left the single market, new regulations are in place for trade between the European bloc and the UK. The following is a quick breakdown of the important steps you will have to follow to export to the UK from Europe: 

Ensure you obtain an EORI Number 

To export goods to the UK, you will need to receive an Economic Operator Registration and Identification Number (EORI). If your company does not have an EORI number, you will likely face delays and higher costs when exporting to the UK. 

Customs and duties

Ensure that when you export your goods to the UK, you understand the relevant customs processing needs to take place. As part of this, it's important to declare all of the relevant information when exporting to the UK. One of the most important and newest declarations concerning UK/EU trade is the rules of origin. If you don’t declare the origin of your goods, you’re likely to face higher costs. 

Relevant licences  

Naturally, you will have to ensure that your business holds all the required licences to import your goods and cargo into the UK.

While it is possible to export to the UK in-house, a freight forwarding company such as WTA UK can help streamline the process and handle all the necessary documentation. This not only ensures optimum routes, but also reduces the risk of delays and fees from documentation errors.