China to EU Electronics Trade & Import Rules
1 resources tagged with "China Eu Trade"
Importing electronics from China to the EU hinges on three things: CE marking (radio products fall under RED 2014/53/EU, plus EMC and LVD directives), customs duty, and import VAT. Most consumer electronics carry a low or zero MFN duty rate, but you still pay VAT at the destination country's rate (19% in Germany, 21% in the Netherlands) on the customs value plus duty plus freight. As the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) phases in, buyers of products with significant steel or aluminum content should start tracking embedded-emissions reporting.
In practice, EU import compliance means you — the importer of record — own the CE conformity, the Declaration of Conformity, and the technical file, not the Chinese factory. The common pitfall is relying on the supplier's CE logo with no DoC behind it; customs and market surveillance can hold or seize goods with missing documentation.
Guides (1)
FAQ
Do I pay customs duty and VAT on electronics from China to the EU?
Duty depends on the HS code — many electronics are 0–4% MFN — but you always pay import VAT at the destination rate (e.g. 21% NL, 19% DE) on customs value plus duty plus freight. VAT is recoverable if you're VAT-registered.
Who is responsible for CE marking, me or the factory?
As the EU importer you are legally responsible for ensuring the product is compliant and that a valid Declaration of Conformity and technical file exist. The factory affixes the mark, but you must verify the testing behind it.
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