1. How to export to the European Union?
European Commission, Directorate General for Trade

2. What?
A tool to facilitate exports from developing countries into the EU
An internet service
An interactive database on trade in goods
Free of charge and free access
In 6 languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Russian
What is the Export Helpdesk?
An internet service
It is free of charge and free access: anyone can access the Helpdesk via the Internet. No member fee is collected, no password is required. This is an important feature as this instrument was conceived for the benefit of developing countries and therefore the objective was to ensure its use by the widest possible circle of users in developing countries.
User-friendly (searches are fast and straightforward). A FAQ has been posted on the website in 6 languages to facilitate the use of this tool. There is also a User Guide.
It is provided in 6 languages : English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic and Russian so as to reach the largest number of people in particular in developing countries. Only the Specific Requirements under the “Requirement and Taxes” section is in English only, given the complexity to have the data complete and updated at the same time.
It is a database covering goods (only, not services) and that is based on the systematic research of the product through the product code. 2

3. Why? Trade and Development Agenda
Contribution to Doha Development Round
Special and Differential Treatment for developing countries
Practical tool for trade facilitation
What is the context of the Export Helpdesk ?
Since 1997 the European Commission has been providing European exporters with information on how to export their products to third countries, via the Market Access Database set up by the Directorate Generate for External Trade (Market Access unit).
In the meantime, in 2001 the Doha Development Round was launched, which as its name indicates, gave a particular focus on « Development ». There was indeed recognition that previous rounds had not brought to the developing countries the benefits that have been expected and this time developing countries DCs should be able to get more tangible benefits.
A series of initiatives were therefore taken by the EC. As one concrete contribution to the Trade and Development agenda, the EC launched in 2004 a trade facilitation tool, the “Export Helpdesk”, which is a free database on the Internet to help developing countries enhance their economic growth and welfare through trade by facilitating access of exporters to European markets. By doing this, the EC gave a tangible development dimension to its trade policy. 3

4. Export Helpdesk use in your region
Where?
Export Helpdesk use in your region
Use of the Export Helpdesk in the world and in your region/country 4

5.
Here is a view of how the webpage of the Export Helpdesk looks like with the various sections and the buttons with the 6 linguistic versions
Here is a view of how the webpage of the Export Helpdesk looks like with the various sections and the buttons with the 4 linguistic versions. 5

6. What is the Export Helpdesk?
Brief explanation on what you can find in this website and how
Examples
Glossary
Help tools
This section provides a good introduction to the Export Helpdesk outlining briefly its content and the services provided.
This is one of the new features of the big overhaul of the Export Helpdesk that took place early July 2009, with the objective to provide to our users more detailed and didactic information about our tool and the services it provides.
Among the help tools provided are a glossary in 6 languages, a sample search, a desktop presentation and the explanation of the EU law.

7. What do I need to know before?
Overview of import procedures
General requirements to import to the EU
Specific requirements applicable to each product
National taxes (VAT)
The Requirements and Taxes Section provides detailed information on :
Overview of EU import procedures
General requirements applicable to all products (i.e. all documents required for all products for customs clearance)
EU and Member State specific requirements for each particular product (including animal and plant health requirements (SPS), labelling, marketing, etc.),
Member State internal taxes that apply (VAT and excise duties).
In other words, it turns the Export Helpdesk into a « first-stop- shop » for information on exporting to the EU.

8. What do I need to pay at customs?
Duty applicable to a product for all countries outside the EU
Preferential duty applicable to a particular country
This Import Tariffs section allows the exporter to know how much the exportation to Europe will cost.
This section gives for a single product all applicable tariffs :
the third country duty (called erga omnes, i.e. duty applicable to countries that don’t enjoy any EU preferences)
the various preferential duties, when applicable (or example, both Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) tariffs)
When applicable, the results’ page also provides information on :
Tariff quotas
Antidumping measures (duties and reference of legislation)

9. How do I proof the origin of my product?
Outline of various preferential arrangements between the EU and your country
Certificate of origin
Specific conditions as regards the origin of the product
Remember: without the certificate of
origin, your product will not
benefit from preferential tariff rate
The Section on Preferential arrangements, gives an overview of the various arrangements between the EU and developing countries.
The user can find information as to the relevant proof of origin that need to be produced under each agreement to qualify for preferential duty treatment under the different preferential schemes. Also the user can check the Rules of Origin that apply and that need to be met to qualify for preferential tariff treatment. More specifically the "origin" refers to the "economic" nationality of the exported goods. For trade purposes, "originating" in a country X essentially means that goods must have been either:
manufactured from raw materials or components which have been grown or produced in country X ("wholly obtained") or
made from materials from outside country X but worked or processed to a certain extent in country X.

10. Where can I get the facts & figures?
To obtain detailed statistics about trade flows
To find potential markets in the European Union
This Trade Statistics section assists the user of the EH to investigate the potential export markets for a specific product. This section provides the current or past trade flows between a partner country and the whole of the EU, as well as with the Member States individually.
It also gives data about intra-Community trade.
Statistical data are available back to 2002 up to last year.

11. How can I find potential customers?
The Links section provides lists of chambers of commerce, business organisations in Europe who could assist you on a more detailed way regarding a product/market.
Quarterly newsletter in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Sent by . To subscribe just fill in the form on our website. It will take you 2 minutes and you’ll keep updated 4 times per year on the latest news relating to trade and developing countries and the any new feature in the Export Helpdesk. It will also give practical tools on how to best use our tool!

12. Where can you get further information?
Contact the EU Delegation in Lesotho at:
167, Constitutional Road,
Maseru West  
P.O. Box MS 518, Maseru 100    
Tel:  
Fax:   Or
the Export Helpdesk team

13. Do you want to know how to export to the European Union?
Now it’s your turn!
Do you want to know
how to export to the European Union?
Your first step:
check the Export Helpdesk!
Do you want to know how to export your product to Europe? Your first step: Check the Export Helpdesk and find out.
So let us take the example of a fishermen who would like to export “freshwater crayfish” from Armenia to Europe.