The EU–Turkey Customs Union Mechanics
Since 1996, the Customs Union between Turkey and the European Union has eliminated customs duties and quantitative restrictions on industrial manufactured goods in free circulation, certified via an A.TR circulation certificate.
Understanding European Import VAT
While customs duties are zero for eligible industrial goods under an A.TR certificate, Value Added Tax (VAT) is strictly collected by destination EU tax authorities at local rates (e.g., 19% in Germany, 20% in France, 21% in the Netherlands), payable by the registered EU importer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the A.TR certificate cover agricultural and food products?
No. Basic agricultural and unprocessed food products are excluded from the Customs Union and are instead governed by preferential trade agreements requiring EUR.1 certificates.
Where can I verify EU import tariff rates for specific goods?
Exporters can query the official European Commission TARIC database using the 10-digit Combined Nomenclature (CN) tariff code.
This guide is for informational purposes only. International customs tariffs and transport regulations are subject to revision; verify requirements with our operations desk prior to shipment.
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