INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW
How to Export to Europe: A Compliance Guide
Exporting to Europe means meeting EU product rules before you ship and clearing EU customs when you arrive — the two places U.S. exporters most often get stuck. The European Union is a single customs territory with harmonized product standards, so a good that complies in one member state generally moves freely across all of them. The catch is that EU standards are their own system, and U.S. compliance does not carry over automatically.
Treat “Europe” as two markets, not one: the EU customs union, and post-Brexit Great Britain, which now sits outside it.
Product Conformity: CE Marking
For a large range of regulated products — electronics, machinery, toys, medical devices, personal protective equipment, and more — the EU requires CE marking before the product can be placed on the market. CE marking is the manufacturer’s declaration that the product meets the applicable EU health, safety, and environmental requirements. Behind the mark sit two things:
- A technical file documenting how the product meets the relevant EU directives or regulations.
- An EU Declaration of Conformity, the signed statement of compliance.
Some product categories allow self-certification; higher-risk ones require assessment by an EU “notified body.” Some categories follow their own regime entirely — cosmetics, for example, are not CE-marked but governed by the EU Cosmetics Regulation (see our cosmetics export guide). Identify your product’s specific EU rules early; the conformity route drives your timeline.
Getting Through Customs
To import into the EU, the importer of record needs an EORI number (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) — a single ID valid across the EU for customs declarations. Who holds that role depends on your Incoterms:
| Sale terms | Who is the EU importer of record | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|
| EXW / FOB / CIF (buyer clears) | Your EU buyer | Buyer needs the EORI and handles entry |
| DDP (you deliver duty paid) | You, the U.S. seller | You may need an EU EORI and a fiscal/customs representative |
Standard customs entry requires a commercial invoice, packing list, the commodity classification, and proof of origin where a trade preference is claimed. Import duty and VAT are assessed by the destination country on arrival — under its tariff schedule, not a U.S. one, since the U.S. levies no export tariffs. Classify your goods accurately so the EU entry is correct and any trade-agreement preference survives.
Great Britain Is a Separate Market
Since Brexit, Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) is outside the EU customs union and single market. Exporting there means a separate customs entry, a GB EORI for the importer, and — for many regulated goods — the UK’s own UKCA conformity marking rather than CE. The UK has continued to recognize CE marking for many product categories, but the rules here have shifted repeatedly, so confirm the current position for your specific product before relying on a CE mark for the GB market. Northern Ireland follows distinct arrangements again.
The U.S. Side Still Applies
Selling to Europe does not switch off U.S. export law. Classify the goods for export, screen the European buyer and any intermediary against the restricted-party lists, confirm the item is not export-controlled, and file Electronic Export Information when required. Europe is a low-risk destination for most goods — but “low-risk” is a conclusion you reach after screening, not before.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CE marking and do I need it?
CE marking is the manufacturer’s declaration that a product meets applicable EU safety and environmental requirements. It is mandatory for many regulated product categories before they can be sold in the EU; some categories allow self-certification, others require a notified body.
What is an EORI number?
A customs identification number required to import into (or export from) the EU. The EU importer of record needs one; whether that is you or your buyer depends on your delivery terms.
Who pays EU import duty and VAT?
The destination country assesses both on arrival. Your buyer pays them under most Incoterms; under DDP terms you do. The U.S. charges no tax on the export itself.
Can I treat the UK and the EU the same?
No. Post-Brexit, Great Britain is a separate customs territory with its own entry and, for many goods, UKCA marking. Plan GB shipments separately from EU shipments.
Europe rewards exporters who prepare the conformity and customs paperwork up front. Reidel Law Firm helps U.S. exporters meet EU requirements and clear the U.S. export side on flat-fee terms. Get an export compliance memo.
