Trade Measures, Quotas, Licences and Sanctions

Trade measures can change the legal and financial result of an import even when classification, origin and customs value are correct.

Source check date: 2026-06-11.

Legal Basis for Trade Remedies

Anti-dumping is governed by Regulation (EU) 2016/1036, CELEX 32016R1036. Official link: Anti-dumping basic regulation.

Anti-subsidy and countervailing duties are governed by Regulation (EU) 2016/1037, CELEX 32016R1037. Official link: Anti-subsidy basic regulation.

Safeguards are based on Regulation (EU) 2015/478, CELEX 32015R0478, Regulation (EU) 2015/755, CELEX 32015R0755, and agreement-specific safeguard acts such as Regulation (EU) 2019/287, CELEX 32019R0287.

Product-Specific Trade Defence Measures

Product-specific anti-dumping and countervailing duties are imposed by implementing regulations. They may use CN codes, TARIC codes, TARIC additional codes, producer-specific rates and origin or export country conditions.

Examples from the research base include:

• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2754, CELEX 32024R2754, on definitive countervailing duties for battery electric vehicles from China.
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2012, CELEX 32021R2012, on stainless steel cold-rolled flat products from India and Indonesia.
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/433, CELEX 32022R0433, on countervailing duties for the same product sector.
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159, CELEX 32019R0159, on steel safeguard measures.

Always check the current TARIC measure and the latest amendment or review status.

Tariff Quotas

Tariff quotas allow a reduced duty rate for a defined quantity. Once the quota is exhausted, the normal duty applies unless another measure applies.

Key sources:

• UCC Implementing Act Articles 49 to 54.
• TARIC quota consultation.
• Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2283, CELEX 32021R2283, for autonomous tariff quotas.

Import Licences and Surveillance

Import licences may arise from agricultural, product-specific, sanctions, dual-use, F-gas, ODS, cultural goods, CITES or other sector rules.

Agricultural import and export licences are covered by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1237, CELEX 32016R1237.

Sanctions and Restricted Goods

Sanctions are legal prohibitions or restrictions imposed through EU regulations. They can prohibit import, export, sale, transfer, insurance, finance or technical assistance.

Use the EU Sanctions Map as a discovery tool, then retrieve the actual regulation from EUR-Lex. Do not treat the map alone as the legal text.

Dual-use exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfers are governed by Regulation (EU) 2021/821, CELEX 32021R0821. Official link: Dual-use Regulation.

Key Compliance Points

• Check TARIC by code, origin, date and measure type.
• Check whether an additional code applies.
• Check whether the producer or exporter affects the duty rate.
• Check quota order numbers and balances.
• Check whether certificates, licences or document codes are required.
• Do not mix customs duty, anti-dumping duty, import VAT, excise, sanctions and product approval requirements.

Dynamic Data Warning

Trade remedies, quotas, sanctions and licences are dynamic. Store query date, TARIC code, origin country, export country, destination Member State where relevant, measure type, legal basis, validity dates, additional code, condition code, document code, footnote code and quota order number.