Autonomous tariff suspensions and quotas

Features

Goods imported under the suspension arrangement are in free circulation and enjoy freedom of movement throughout the EU. Furthermore, once a suspension or a quota is granted, any operator in any EU country is eligible to benefit from it.  

The granting of a suspension or quota thus has consequences for all EU countries. Therefore, close and extensive cooperation between EU countries and the Commission is needed to ensure that all EU interests are taken into consideration. 

Industrial suspensions 

The tariff suspensions boost competitiveness and sustainability of EU businesses by ensuring the supply to the EU industry of certain raw materials, semi-finished goods or components not produced in the Union, without being required to pay the normal customs duties laid down in the common customs tariff (CCT).  

There are temporary or permanent suspensions. Suspensions are proposed after a thorough examination of the economic reasons on which the requests are based and only insofar as they seem likely to benefit the EU economy. Their purpose is to stimulate the economic activity of EU industries, thus improving their competitiveness, creating employment, and modernisation. 

They are normally granted to: 

• raw materials,
• semi-finished goods or
• Components 

that are not available within the EU. 

Note that no suspensions are granted for finished products. 

A list of the products currently under suspension can be found in Council Regulation (EU) No 2021/2278. The periodic, twice a year, reviews and adjustments aim to ensure that the measures in place apply only as long as they are necessary to strengthen the Union production capacity or to ensure the competitiveness of Union producers. The coherence of the measures with other Union policies is also assessed during these reviews. 

Consult the latest amendments to the list of suspensions. 

All applications for tariff suspensions and quotas are first submitted to a central office in each of the EU Member State or Turkey (member of the EU Customs Union). 

Apply for tariff suspension or quota

Quotas

Detailed information on existing quotas could be found on the dedicated page Tariff quotas. 

Authorised Release Certificate 

Certain goods may be imported with an Authorised Release Certificate (EASA Form one or equivalent).  a

Customs duties for import for parts, components and other goods of a kind to be incorporated in or used for aircraft and parts thereof in the course of their manufacture, repair, maintenance, rebuilding, modification or conversion are suspended (Council Regulation (EU) 2018/581).  

This measure reduces the administrative burden for companies and customs administrations by eliminating customs procedures like inward processing or end-use regimes for certain imported goods used in the manufacture, repair and maintenance of aircrafts. 

This Council Regulation is implemented through a Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1517, detailing the list of codes benefiting from the tariff suspension and the accepted certificates. 

Military suspensions 

Strengthening the industrial and market situation of European defence companies greatly improves the EU's ability to fulfil the Petersberg tasks in the accomplishment of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). It also benefits collective defence by strengthening the EU's contribution to NATO.  

It is in the interests of the EU as a whole that EU countries are able to procure the most technologically advanced, suitable weapons, and military equipment for their military forces. In view of the global and rapid technological developments in this industrial sector, it is normal practice for EU countries’ defence authorities to procure weapons and military materials from producers or other suppliers located in third countries. Thus, certain weapons and equipment may be imported into the EU free of import duties.  

As stated in Council Regulation (EC) No 150/2003, only the competent authorities of EU countries are entitled to benefit from this measure. 

Outermost regions 

Certain outermost regions of the EU enjoy autonomous suspensions of common customs tariff (CCT) duties on imports of certain products of special interest.