International convention and customs procedures of Lithuania
- International Conventions
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Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Party to the Kyoto Protocol
Party to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
Party to the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls For Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies
Party to the International Coffee Agreement
- International Economic Cooperation
- Lithuania is member of the European Union since 2004 and has close ties with nearby Baltic and Eastern European countries. It is well integrated in the international trade system and is party to a number of agreements.
- Non Tariff Barriers
- In accordance with its European Union membership since 1 May 2004, Lithuania applies the European Union trade policy such as antidumping or anti-subsidy measures. The European Union import regime applies to Lithuania. If Lithuania has adopted the main part of EU regulations on 1 May 2004, a transitory period has been granted to the country regarding some EU rules like freedom of movement for workers or cabotage inside some countries.
While the European Union has a rather liberal foreign trade policy, some products need import licences. There are some restrictions, especially on farm products, following the implementation of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy): the application of compensations on the import and export of farm products, aimed at favouring the development of agriculture within the EU, implies a certain number of control and regulation systems for goods entering EU territory.
When being introduced into Lithuania, some products (mainly those having a link with safety) must be 'CE' marked in respect to the European Directives adopted on the basis of the New Approach and the Global Approach.
- Customs Duties and Taxes on Imports
- As a member of the EU, Lithuania does not apply customs duties on operations carried out within the EEA. The Common Customs Tariff of the EU applies to goods originating outside the area. Lithuania tariffs can be found on the website of the Integrated Tariff of the Republic of Lithuania (LITAR), which provides information on EU tariff measures in addition to national taxes and import/export restrictions and prohibitions.
The duties for non-European countries are relatively low, especially for manufactured goods (4.2% on average for the general rate); however, textile, clothing items (high duties and quota system) and food-processing industry sectors (average duties of 17.3% and numerous tariff quotas, PAC) still face protective measures.
- Customs Classification
- The combined Nomenclature of the European Community (EC) integrates the HS nomenclature and has supplementary eight figure subdivisions and its own legal notes created for community purposes.
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Import Procedures
- As a member of the European Union, Lithuania applies EU Customs Code. When introducing goods into Lithuania, exporters shall fill in a Declaration of Exchange of Goods or Intrastat declaration. When the country of origin of the goods exported to Lithuania is not part of the European Union, customs duties are calculated Ad valorem on the CIF value of the goods, in accordance with the Common Customs Tariff (CCT).
As part of the 'SAFE' standards set forth by the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the European Union has set up a new system of import controls, the 'Import Control System' (ICS), which aims to secure the flow of goods at the time of their entry into the customs territory of the EU. This control system, part of the Community Programme eCustoms, has been in effect since 1 January 2011. Since then, operators are required to pass an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) to the customs of the country of entry, prior to the introduction of goods into the customs territory of the European Union.A new system, the Union Customs Code (UCC), entered into force in October 2013 as part of customs modernisation reform.
For more information, please visit the website of Lithuanian Customs.
- Importing Samples
- Goods transiting Lithuania are not subject to duties. It is possible to obtain a temporary duty exemption for items such as commercial samples and for goods intended for public displays at exhibitions or trade fairs.
To go further, check out our service Import controls
and Export Controls.
- For Further Information
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Lithuanian Customs
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Latest Update: November 2024