EU Tariff & Import Duty Lookup

How Do I Actually Find the EU Duty Rate for a Specific Product?

Every product entering the EU gets classified under a 10-digit TARIC code, built by adding EU-specific layers onto the global 6-digit HS code (iCustoms, 2026). The first six digits are the same worldwide; the last four are where the EU adds its own duty rates, quotas, and trade defense measures.

I went looking for a single official "furniture duty rate" when I first pulled this data together and quickly learned there isn't one. HS chapter 94 alone spans dozens of sub-codes for wood, metal, and upholstered furniture, each carrying its own rate. That's exactly why a category-level lookup like the one above is useful for a quick estimate, while the full 10-digit TARIC code is what you'd need for a customs declaration.

Why Do Duty Rates Vary So Much Between Similar-Looking Products?

Small material or construction differences can double the duty rate on what looks like the same product. Leather-upper footwear carries an 8% EU duty rate, while the same shoe with a textile upper pays 16.5% - the material listed on the customs declaration, not the shoe style, decides the rate.

Watches show a similar split: most wristwatches sit at 4.5% duty, but certain quartz movements classify at 3.7% instead (TARIC Support, 2026). A single percentage point doesn't sound like much until you're pricing a shipment of a few thousand units.

Isn't it a little strange that two nearly identical shoes can owe twice the duty depending on what they're made of? Customs classification runs on the exact wording of the tariff schedule, not on what a product looks like to a shopper.

What's the Difference Between the Standard Rate and What You Actually Pay?

The rate in a lookup table is the MFN (Most Favoured Nation) rate - what applies by default, before any trade agreement or trade defense measure changes it. Origin country can swing the real number dramatically in either direction.

A free trade agreement between the EU and the exporting country can bring the MFN rate down to 0%, regardless of the product category. Anti-dumping and countervailing duties work the opposite way, and this is the part that genuinely surprised me while building this dataset: electric bicycles from China can face anti-dumping duties of 10.3% to 70.1%, plus countervailing duties of 3.9% to 17.2%, on top of the standard rate (LEVA-EU, 2025). Stack those together and the effective duty on some shipments approaches 90% of the declared value.

Those measures were extended in January 2025 and now run until at least 2030, aimed at protecting an EU e-bike industry that directly employs around 12,000 people. It's the single largest gap between "standard rate" and "actual rate" in this entire dataset, and it applies to exactly one origin country for exactly one product.

How Often Do These Rates Actually Change?

Less often than shoppers assume, but not never. Standard MFN rates are relatively stable and tied to the EU's Common Customs Tariff schedule, while anti-dumping measures, tariff suspensions, and trade agreement phase-ins can shift specific codes with only a regulation announcement, not a full tariff overhaul.

We review this table by hand against current EU tariff data rather than pulling it from a live government feed - TARIC itself is built for customs brokers filing declarations, not for a quick category lookup, and there's no simple public API that returns "the rate for sneakers" in one call. Every rate above is dated 5 August 2026, and we'd rather be upfront about that than call something "live" that isn't.

How Does the Duty Rate Connect to What You Actually Pay at Checkout?

Duty is only one line in the total landed cost. VAT applies on top of customs value plus duty, and orders over 150 euros also pick up a carrier handling fee, typically 10 to 20 euros, on top of both.

A 4.5% watch and a 16.5% pair of sneakers can end up costing similar amounts more than their sticker price once VAT compounds on top of each - the duty rate alone rarely tells the whole story.

For the full breakdown of how duty, VAT, and handling fees stack together, see our EU customs valuation guide.

FAQs About Our EU Tariffs Lookup Tool

Is this tool pulling live data from the EU TARIC database?

No, and we would rather tell you that plainly than oversell it. TARIC is not a simple public API - it is a complex system built for customs brokers. This table is a curated, sourced reference we review by hand, last updated 5 August 2026. For a legally binding classification, always check the official EU Customs Tariff database or a licensed customs broker.

What is the difference between an HS code, a CN code, and a TARIC code?

HS is the 6-digit global product code used worldwide. The EU adds two digits to make an 8-digit CN code for trade statistics and duty rates. TARIC adds two more digits (10 total) to layer in EU-specific measures like anti-dumping duties and quotas.

Why does my product's duty rate not match what I paid?

Country of origin changes everything. MFN rates apply by default, but a free trade agreement can bring the rate to 0%, and an anti-dumping measure - like the ones on Chinese e-bikes - can push it far higher than the standard rate for that product category.

Does the duty rate include VAT?

No. Customs duty and VAT are two separate charges calculated in sequence: duty applies to the customs value first, then VAT applies to customs value plus duty. Our EU 150 euro threshold guide walks through the full calculation with worked examples.

How do I find the exact TARIC code for my specific product?

This tool gives you the typical rate for a category, not a legal classification. For an exact 10-digit code, use the European Commission's TARIC consultation database, or paste your product URL into the Dutix calculator for an estimated landed cost based on category-level rates.

Tariff Rate Explained

The rate on a product category is a starting point, not the final number. Material, construction, and above all, country of origin can move the real duty well beyond what a category-level table shows, sometimes by a wide margin. Use the tool above to get a fast, sourced estimate, then run the exact product through the calculator below for a full landed-cost breakdown including VAT and handling fees - or, for a bulk or wholesale shipment with a real quantity and unit cost, the landed cost calculator adds freight, insurance, brokerage, and a per-unit margin on top of the same numbers.