About Us
Value proposition.
G-CET was created with the purpose of being a different company. Working in the customs field, we understand that our role should not be merely declarative — ending with the filing of an import or export customs declaration — but much more than that. Managing a company's international trade customs essentially involves both the prevention of potential problems that could easily be avoided, and the exploration of the full customs potential of the economic operator.
01
Prevention
In prevention, we take into account:
- An export process only ends at the moment of exit certification, since it is this document (the “Exit Certification”) that proves the export for VAT exemption purposes under Article 14 of the Portuguese VAT Code (CIVA);
- The absence of a simple mention on the invoice can remove all viability from the operation, preventing the client from importing goods at a 0% customs duty rate under a trade agreement;
- Importing goods without prior consultation can lead to an unpleasant surprise at the time of import, with the application of anti-dumping duties;
- The customs value is the base on which the respective duty rates are applied, and its calculation is not as simple as it seems. Depending on the circumstances, sales commissions, certain transport costs, royalties, or even discounts may be included in it;
- Incoterms® are a fundamental part of the negotiation and can be a huge source of problems when chosen in an ill-informed way.
02
Exploring the customs potential
We seek to explore the full customs potential through, for example:
- The use of special customs procedures, allowing certain processing or storage operations to be carried out without customs duties being applied;
- In Incoterms® negotiation, it is important to consider that the client/supplier may be able to obtain more advantageous transport prices;
- A company with many customs operations may consider holding AEO status, allowing far fewer physical controls and priority treatment in the few it does undergo, as well as a series of indirect benefits arising from holding this seal of credibility and security;
- Leveraging the trade agreements concluded by the EU. For example, an operator wishing to import a machine from China for €100,000, when the same machine costs €105,000 in Japan, might at first glance assume the best option. However, the EU-Japan trade agreement allows this machine to enter the EU free of customs duties — which would not be the case if it came from China, subject to a 10% rate;
- Another example: did you know there is a customs union with Turkey? It allows industrial products to be free of customs duties, regardless of their origin.