Trade with Serbia
How you import from and export to Serbia.
UK-Serbia Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement
The UK has signed a trade agreement with Serbia, which has been in effect since 20 May 2021.
This guidance provides information on aspects of trade covered by that agreement. It is for UK businesses trading with Serbia.
What the agreement includes
This agreement includes provisions on:
- trade in goods, including provisions on preferential tariffs, tariff rate quotas, rules of origin
- trade in services
- intellectual property, including geographical indications
- government procurement
Tariff rates on goods
Tariff rates for bilateral trade in goods between the UK and Serbia will apply, as set out in the agreement, as soon as it takes effect. However, in some cases, the non-preferential applied rates may in fact be lower because of changes in the UK’s Most Favoured Nation tariff schedule.
You can use online tools UK Integrated Online Tariff and Check How to Export Goods to check product-specific and country-specific information on tariffs and regulations that currently apply to UK trade in goods. These tools are regularly updated to reflect any changes.
Tariff rate quotas
Tariff rate quotas in the agreement have been tailored specifically to the UK.
To find out the tariff rate quotas, see tables 4 and 5 of the parliamentary report.
Rules of origin
Finding the correct rule of origin for export
Depending on the type of good you are seeking to export, in order to claim preferential treatment it will need to be either wholly obtained or sufficiently processed.
To be considered sufficiently processed your good will need to meet the relevant product specific rule (PSR). The PSRs for this agreement use the 2007 version of the Harmonised System (HS) nomenclature. You should apply the PSR for your good using the code in which it was classified under this nomenclature.
In a limited number of cases the code for your good may have changed during HS revisions. We are currently updating our online services to reflect these changes. In the interim correlation tables tracing these changes have been made available by the World Customs Organization and the United Nations.
Claiming preferential rates for your exports from the UK
Unless you are permitted to provide an origin declaration, you will need to fill in a certificate of origin to claim preferential treatment.
The UK continues to use the EUR1 and EUR-MED format for movement certificates with trade partners that have mutual FTAs with the EU, including Serbia. These movement certificates are identical to those previously in use, but the place of origin on the certificate is now marked as the United Kingdom instead of the European Community. As soon as this agreement takes effect, EUR1 and EUR-MED certificates of origin that have been updated to show the UK will be available from your usual provider, such as the chambers of commerce.
If you previously used an EUR1 form with a mutual EU trading partner, you will be able to use the new EUR1 form that shows the UK as the place of origin. If you previously used an EUR-MED form with a mutual EU trading partner, you will be able to use the new EUR-MED form that shows the UK as the place of origin.
Using EU materials and processing in your exports to Serbia
Under the agreement, you can use EU materials or processing in your exports to Serbia. The UK and Serbia must have fulfilled the necessary requirements set out in the Rules of Origin Protocol. You must also ensure the working or processing you do in the UK goes beyond the minimal operations listed in the agreement and the other relevant conditions are met.
For example, you will not be able to simply package or label a product from the EU and export it to Serbia as a good originating in the UK.
See the list of minimal operations in Article 7 of the Rules of Origin Protocol in the UK-Serbia agreement.
The ability to consider materials from, or processing carried out in, another country as originating when incorporated into your product is called cumulation.
Using materials and/or processing from other countries in your exports to Serbia
If both the UK and Serbia have an agreement with one of the other countries provided for in the Rules of Origin Protocol, under the agreement, you can continue using materials, and in some cases processing, from that country in your exports to Serbia. You must ensure that the working or processing you do in the UK goes beyond the minimal operations listed in the agreement and the other relevant conditions are fulfilled.
Sending your goods to Serbia through the EU and other countries
Goods transited through the EU – and any other country with whom cumulation is applicable – will not be subject to the same restrictions as those in transit through other third countries.
For example, you will be able to split a consignment in the EU when exporting goods to Serbia, provided the goods comprising the consignment have not been entered into free circulation in the EU.
Transit through any other third country is possible provided your goods remain under customs surveillance and do not undergo operations other than unloading, reloading or any operation designed to preserve them in good condition.
Goods in transit and retrospective certificates of origin
If you expect goods to be in transit prior to the entry into effect of the agreement, you can obtain a retrospective certificate of origin. This will show that the goods originated in the UK and are eligible for preferential terms if your goods arrive on, or within 12 months after, the date the UK-Serbia agreement starts to apply.
You can get retrospective certificates of origin from your usual provider as soon as the agreement takes effect.
Geographical indications
Geographical indications (GIs) protect the geographical names of food, drink and agricultural products.
All of the UK GIs protected under the EU-Serbia agreement continue to be protected under this agreement. GIs produced in Serbia that are protected under the EU-Serbia agreement continue to be protected under this agreement.
The following ‘transborder GIs’ that relate to the territory of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, are protected in this agreement:
- Irish Whisky/Irish Whiskey/Uisce Beatha Eireannach;
- Irish Cream.
Further information
Find further guidance on exporting.
Find out about moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland.
Freight forwarding may save you time and money if you’re exporting large volumes of goods or high value items by sea or air freight. Find out more about moving goods and using freight forwarders.
This guidance is for information only. You should consult your legal advisers if you wish to ensure you understand the legal implications of trading for your business.
Contact
If you have queries about trade, contact the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Should you wish to speak to someone directly, we have local trade offices based around the UK. Within each office you can contact an international trade adviser. Find your local trade office.
Last updated 1 January 2022 + show all updates
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Added guidance on finding the correct rule of origin for export.
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Updated to acknowledge the UK's trade agreement with Serbia is in effect
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First published.