EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: returned goods relief vs preferential origin

Enrika Naujokė
Enrika Naujokė
Co-founder and Director, CustomsClear, Lithuania
Published 13 Feb 2021
EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: returned goods relief  vs  preferential origin
Adobe Stock
European Commission released Guidance on preferential treatment, origin and customs procedures to assist EU businesses importing from and exporting to the UK. One of the questions clarified: “Goods originating in the EU are exported to the UK and released for free circulation there. They are not transformed. Can they come back to the EU without paying duties?”. The only suggestion is to customs clear them as returned goods. Does the same principle apply to all EU FTAs? What are the requirements for returned goods to claim “zero duty”? What about “zero VAT”? Other requirements like Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary?

Related content

Rules of origin under free trade agreements: compliance vs usability

Rules of origin under free trade agreements: compliance vs usability

21 Jun 2026

According to the European Commission’s report, trade agreements have strengthened the EU’s global competitiveness, improved EU companies’ access to third-country markets, and supported exports in key sectors. However, their full…

Origin
Perspective
EU-UK trade agreement: no customs duties on originating goods

EU-UK trade agreement: no customs duties on originating goods

Enrika Naujokė
Enrika Naujokė
27 Dec 2020

On 24 December 2020 European Commission announced that an agreement with the United Kingdom on the terms of future cooperation was reached. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement shall be…

Duties & taxes
Origin
Topic spotlight
Originate from. Consigned from. Exported from. What do they mean?

Originate from. Consigned from. Exported from. What do they mean?

Timothy Lyons
Timothy Lyons
02 Apr 2025

Timothy Lyons, barrister and King's Counsel and author of "EU Customs Law", unpacks why "origin", "consigned from" and "exported from" are distinct customs concepts that compliance professionals must not conflate,…

Duties & taxes
Origin
UCC change for US imports: proof of origin now includes direct transport

UCC change for US imports: proof of origin now includes direct transport

Editorial Board
Editorial Board
26 Jul 2026

Since 1 July 2026, most industrial goods originating in the United States enter the EU duty-free, and a range of US agricultural and seafood products benefit from tariff quotas. Importers…

Origin
News in focus
Non-preferential origin of solar modules imported in EU (Is duty 0% or 67,9%?)

Non-preferential origin of solar modules imported in EU (Is duty 0% or 67,9%?)

29 Jul 2021

"...the recent use of origin in imposing punitive tariffs and taking action against countries has elevated non-preferential origin to new heights" Rules of Origin: Highlights of the second WCO Conference, WCO…

Duties & taxes
Origin
FTAs vs GSP: understanding key differences and practical implications for companies

FTAs vs GSP: understanding key differences and practical implications for companies

Annette Reiser
Annette Reiser
23 Apr 2026

This article explores the practical differences between free trade agreements (FTAs) and the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) scheme. As they operate in fundamentally different ways, they also influence internal…

Origin
Topic spotlight