Solutions
Customs excise and trade remedies Offering
Based in Brussels, our Customs, Excises and Trade team of lawyers advises companies with all matters related to the import and export of goods and services. Because of the increasing complexity of the rules and procedures governing trade, our team consists of customs and international trade professionals who cooperate within a multidisciplinary and international network to find tailored solutions for our clients. Our knowledge of customs law, excises law and international trade law allows us to offer a joint approach consistent with the unique particularities of both areas.
EU customs laws play an important role in a company’s trade flows, and a customs dispute can severely affect its financial position. Our customs experts guide companies through the Member States’ interpretation, application, and enforcement of the customs legislation. Moreover, in the event of disputes, we represent companies before the national customs administrations, the European Commission, and the national and EU Courts.
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Our excise practice has extensive experience in advising on EU and national excise duties and handling related disputes in that regard. Our clients trade in alcoholic and non-alcoholic dutiable beverages, and energy products and electricity. We support our clients through the same controversy approach as for trade, dealing with topics of EMCS compliance, classification / valuation / origin, blending and coloring obligations, sampling, and stock accounting.
When dealing with customs and excise controversies, we believe in a risk-mitigating and solution-driven approach.
How we can help prevent customs disputes:
- We provide advice and assistance in requesting decisions regarding the application of customs law.
- Our services include preparing for customs audits to allow compliance.
- We offer consultation with authorities to address customs-related matters.
- We guide clients through the process of voluntary disclosure to rectify any customs discrepancies.
- Our team conducts liability gap analyses and evaluates the contractual framework to mitigate risks.
- We advise clients in applying for repayment or remission of duties where applicable.
How we can help with dispute resolutions:
- We analyse the impact of non-compliance on the business and its contractors to understand potential repercussions.
- Our team provides support in administrative proceedings to navigate regulatory requirements effectively.
- We take mitigating actions towards contracting parties to address issues and lower adverse outcomes.
- We represent clients before national (civil and criminal) and international (European Court of Justice, European Court of Human Rights) courts to advocate for their interests.
- Consulting with the authorities, we work towards an orderly settlement of the dispute at any time during proceedings to achieve a favorable resolution.
As a Deloitte Legal network member firm, we are part of a global network of customs professionals. Leveraging on this national and international network, our ancillary services allow for a true end-to-end solution. In addition to our international and multidisciplinary approach, clients value our close authority contact. We have supported the Belgian authorities and the European Commission in their customs-related law-making process.
Trade remedies
Our international trade practice focusses in particular on trade remedies, advising companies before, during and after trade remedy investigations. We represent our clients before the EU administrative institutions, national investigating authorities, the EU Courts, and WTO Dispute Settlement System. Moreover, we also advise them on trade regulations and policy on a national, European, and international level.
Considering the complex interplay between legal, business, policy, and industry specific aspects, we collaborate with specialists at Deloitte tax consultants to reach a complete approach, of which every angle has been examined.
Our clients are international players confronted with issues involving various territories and jurisdictions. Since we believe that in-depth knowledge of a domestic market and industry is essential, and because we highly value a personal contact with our clients wherever they are located, our international trade team has trade professionals in every corner of the world ready to advise.
We can help you with:
- We provide advice in sample selection to allow accuracy and representativeness.
- Our team completes questionnaire responses meticulously to comply with regulatory requirements.
- We conduct on-the-spot verifications to review data and reach compliance with regulations.
- We perform dumping calculations to analyse potential trade violations.
- We prepare injury submissions to address any harm caused by unfair trade practices.
- Our professionals represent clients at hearings to present their case effectively.
- We offer disclosure comments to provide transparency and clarity in trade proceedings.
- We conduct interim and expiry reviews to analyse ongoing trade dynamics and potential changes in trade measures.
