EU – Japan Economic Partnership Agrement: Importer´s knowledge

‘Importer’s knowledge’ allows the importer to claim preferential tariff treatment merely based on its own knowledge about the originating status of imported products. This information provides valid evidence that the product qualifies as originating.

The importer using ‘importer’s knowledge’ does not need to be registered in the REX database.

The customs authorities of the importing Party may deny preferential tariff treatment following a verification of the claim where: - after 3 months following the initial request for information on a specific number of data elements; and - after 3 months following the request for additional information; no reply is provided by the importer or where the reply provided is inadequate to proof the originating status of the product for which preferential tariff treatment is claimed.

Below you will find more info:

https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/sites/taxation/files/eu_japan_epa_guidance_importers_knowledge_en.pdf

Application in Japan of Article 3.16(3) of the EU-Japan EPA; Request for an explanation from the importer in Japan.

The text of the EPA is available in the Official Journal of the European Union L 330 of 27.12.2019