Trade guides
Learn international trade, one shipment at a time.
Short, practical guides written for manufacturers, traders and online sellers — each one linked to the tool that does the work.
How to find the right HS code for your product
A step-by-step method to classify any product, and why the last digits change from country to country.
6 min readRead IncotermsIncoterms 2020 explained for small exporters
Who pays freight, insurance and duty — and where the risk moves — under EXW, FCA, FOB, CIF, DAP and DDP.
7 min readRead DocumentsThe export documents checklist
The papers almost every shipment needs, the ones that depend on your product, and who prepares each one.
5 min readRead Duties & taxesHow import duty and VAT are calculated
Customs value, duty, VAT and fees — with a worked example so you can price your goods correctly.
6 min readRead ShippingAir vs ocean freight: how to choose
Chargeable weight, transit time and total cost — when air pays off and when ocean wins.
4 min readRead Duties & taxesUsing trade agreements to cut duty to zero
How rules of origin work and which proof your buyer needs to claim preferential duty.
5 min readRead Duties & taxesLanded cost: the real price of an imported product
Add up goods, freight, insurance, duty, VAT and fees to know your true cost per unit before you set a price.
5 min readRead DocumentsFirst-time importer checklist
Registrations, licences and checks to sort out before your first container or air shipment arrives.
6 min readRead ShippingSelling online across borders: duties for e-commerce sellers
DDP vs DAP, de minimis thresholds, VAT on small parcels and how to avoid refused deliveries.
6 min readRead DocumentsCertificate of origin: when you need one and which type
Non-preferential vs preferential origin, EUR.1, GAFTA and origin declarations explained simply.
4 min readReadReady to put it into practice?
The trade journey applies every guide to your own product and route.
Try it with real tariff data
Describe a product, pick the countries and get the official duty and VAT for that HS code.
Live official tariff
HS code & duty calculator
VAT is calculated on goods value + duty; freight and insurance are excluded here. Confirm the final classification with a customs broker.