Rotterdam

City of International Trade

With the port of Rotterdam being Europe’s largest seaport, and the largest seaport outside of East Asia – it is logical that Poldertrade can assist clients operating in this city. Besides the port, Rotterdam is known for its well-connected infrastructure where transport and logistics, industry and trade services are part of the daily operations.

Rotterdam

It is the city where a large amount of goods from all over the world enters the Netherlands and so in the EU. Here businesses have to deal with Customs, taxes, and comply with the rules and regulations. In this complex environment, our Poldertrade team with its local expertise and knowledge can help you navigate this region and move your business forward.

Our core business

Smooth trade flows in cooperation with Customs

Dutch Customs is committed to efficiently process goods in the supply chain of international trade. Customs’ working methods have changed drastically over the years, as has the increased working area. Customs still carries out necessary checks at the national border and checks performed domestically are mostly automated.

As Poldertrade has a good working relationship with Customs, we use this knowledge when advising our clients with their cross border movement of goods. For instance, we can help identifying potential duty savings, import and licensing requirements, specific excise matters, or assisting in Customs dispute resolutions.

Due to the control approach of Customs, it is increasingly important for companies to be sufficiently self-critical. This is a requirement to be able to use a large number of simplified arrangements that limit the customs impact on the movement of goods.

We are happy to assist you dealing with the various aspects that are key to meet your organisational objectives for daily operations, such as customs compliance, self-assessments, standard operating procedures, and monitoring. It often turns out that Customs’ interpretation contrasts considerably from the way in which companies implement this.

How export controls can impact your business

Export controls and sanctions legislation do not only affect companies that produce, import or export strategic goods. Any organisation that is part of the supply chain can be confronted with it. For example, there are a large number of European organisations and individuals to which no products or services may be offered.

Poldertrade can help you map out your rights and obligations related to export controls on your activities, which can prevent unforeseen consequences and concurrently gain commercial advantage.

Our services

What we offer

Our customs and international trade services include advice on:

Import

Customs valuation is the determination of the customs value of imported goods. The customs value provides the basis for assessment of the customs duty payable which is usually a percentage of the customs value based on the transaction value.

Poldertrade can help determine the correct customs value based on the applicable valuation method and the rules covered in the Customs Valuation Agreement.

Services include customs valuation planning, determining the customs value, as well as ruling application.

The Harmonised System (HS) code is globally used to categorise products. Proper classification is essential to ensure compliance, the right amount of import duties businesses have to pay for faster clearance of goods, and the avoidance of penalties.

Poldertrade can support to enhance compliance with tariff classification requirements, support in declaring classifications, and planning for duty advantage.

Services include determining the accuracy and supportability of declared HS codes, advance rulings by connecting with customs authorities, as well as eligibility for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) benefits or duty exemptions.

Customs authorities are proactive in challenging, auditing, and investigating foreign or multinational operators deriving from increased revenue targets.

Poldertrade can assist businesses in managing their customs audits, disputes and investigations.

Services include performing self-assessments, creating processes and procedures for customs and trade compliance, assist in dealing with Customs and developing a strategy during an audit or dispute.

It is essential for businesses to comply with all import requirements and regulations.

Poldertrade can help businesses managing their trade compliance on past and current transactions.

Services include conducting customs compliance reviews (“health checks”), implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), training and securing advance rulings.

Customs authorities are proactive in challenging, auditing, and investigating foreign or multinational operators deriving from increased revenue targets.

Poldertrade can assist businesses in managing customs audits, disputes and investigations.

Services include performing self-assessments, creating processes and procedures for customs and trade compliance, assist in dealing with Customs and developing a strategy during an audit or dispute.

A bonded facility or warehouse is operated by a company in a foreign country under the regulatory supervision of the local customs authority. It is mainly used to defer the payment of customs duties.

Poldertrade can help businesses to benefit from bonded facilities, such as Free Trade Zones (FTZs), bonded manufacturing, and bonded storage.

Services include identifying available options for businesses and its requirements, application support by facilitating the application process with the relevant authority and its supporting documents, as well as compliance reviews for the usage of bonded facilities.

Trade facilitation programmes aim to increase the competitiveness of the private sector and promote foreign trade as well as preferential trade treatment to accredited importers, exporters and their agents.

Poldertrade can help businesses identifying available programmes. The Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme is the most common one.

Services include analysing potential costs and benefits from participation, process improvement measures implementation for accreditation, as well as assisting with the application process.

A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is an agreement between member states to form a free trade area. Preferential treatment can be achieved by businesses if they meet certain criteria for their imported products which is mainly based on the tariff classification. This can result in lower or zero customs duty rates but also other preferences, such as the removal of quotas.

Poldertrade can assist companies determine their products’ origin for preference purposes or what processes need to be met for a product to be deemed as originating. In addition, FTAs have compliance rules that specify operational requirements, such as direct shipment or a Certificate of Origin (CO) submission.

Services include identifying available FTAs to your supply chain, analysis of product coverage and its potential duty rates, cost-benefit analysis, rules of origin, qualifying criteria, feasibility study, and compliance requirements.

Duty exemptions are offered by governments through certain specialised programmes, such as FTAs, Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), etc. where specific criteria need to be met.

Poldertrade can help companies to reduce customs duties, related supply chain costs, and improve operating performance through customs duty exemption schemes.

Services include identifying relevant duty exemption schemes, analysing potential costs and benefits from participation and implementation of the compliance processes to apply for such schemes. In addition, we can help with a continuous review of compliance involving various requirements, such as registrations, licenses, permits, inspections and documentation required.

Export

A Certificate of Origin (CO) is a widely used document in international trade which attests that the product stated therein has met certain criteria to be considered as originating in a particular country. It is usually prepared by the exporter or manufacturer and submitted to a customs authority of the importing country to justify the product´s eligibility for entry or entitlement to preferential treatment.

Poldertrade can assist companies determine their products’ origin for preference purposes or what processes need to be met for a product to be deemed as originating.

Services include a cost-benefit analysis, understanding of the rules of origin, qualifying criteria, feasibility study, and compliance requirements.

Export control is legislation that regulates the export of goods, software and technology. Some items could potentially be useful for purposes that are contrary to the interest of the exporting country. ‘Dual use’ items (goods and services that are potentially used in both civil and military applications) are also controlled which affects businesses that are involved producing technical advanced products and services.

Poldertrade can help businesses to understand their export control risks, determine which products are controlled and developing the controls and procedures necessary to manage their export operations in a compliant but practical manner.

Services include analysis of the business’ exposure and products that are controlled under what conditions. Performing a gap analysis of controls and procedures against better practice as well as voluntary disclosure of historical export controls violations to the relevant authority.

A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is an agreement between member states to form a free trade area. Preferential treatment can be achieved by businesses if they meet certain criteria for their imported products which is mainly based on the tariff classification. This can result in lower or zero customs duty rates but also other preferences, such as the removal of quotas.

Poldertrade can assist companies determine their products’ origin for preference purposes or what processes need to be met for a product to be deemed as originating. In addition, FTAs have compliance rules that specify operational requirements, such as direct shipment or a Certificate of Origin (CO) submission.

Services include identifying available FTAs to your supply chain, analysis of product coverage and its potential duty rates, cost-benefit analysis, rules of origin, qualifying criteria, feasibility study, and compliance requirements.

Supply chain

There are many factors that are relevant when a company considers selling their products into a new market. These include legal and regulatory requirements, economic opportunity, operational considerations and many more. What is easily overlooked or underestimated is one of the first challenges impacting the entry into a new market: clearing customs.

Poldertrade can help businesses to prepare for new market entry with the available facilities making the physical market entry process efficient and effective.

Services include identifying and analysing the impact of relevant regulations and its practical implementation as well as discussions (no-name basis) with the relevant authorities for insights and expectation purposes. Additionally, we can provide opportunity assessments of trade facilitation or duty reduction options, including Free Trade Zone (FTZ) opportunities and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) feasibility analysis as well as support with registration and licensing.

Increasingly multinational companies are looking at options to restructure their business operations to better respond to global market needs.

Poldertrade can help businesses strategise their customs and trade activities prior to implementation of a new business model to avoid extra costs and challenges by Customs.

Services include change management assessment, determining potential operational hiccups and calculating import duties cost variations. Approval, license and authorisation applications as well as advance discussions with the relevant authorities and assistance with queries, challenges and disputes.

Poldertrade is a global customs and trade advisory services provider. Our focus is on advising companies with their import/export activities and provide customised solutions that are compliant with the rules and regulations both from local expertise and global perspectives.