Home/Trade Route/HS 7208

Cross-Border Trade Guide

🇮🇩 Indonesia 🇪🇺 EU (Germany)

HS 7208 · FL-RL IRON & NA STEEL NUN600MM WD HOT-RL, NOT CLADAnnual bilateral volume: $3M

Estimated Duties

~5%

MFN 0-2.5% + CBAM (full phase Jan 2026)

Transit Time

24-32 days

End to end

Compliance

CBAM + Safeguards

Embedded emissions report + quotas

Export Rebate

0%

VAT zero-rated; BKPM tax holidays

Key Rules

Indonesia 🇮🇩 EU (Germany) 🇪🇺

Shipping Timeline from EU
Shipping Timeline to EU
Single Administrative Document (SAD)
Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Certificate of Origin / EUR.1
CE Declaration of Conformity
💰

Estimated Cost Breakdown

per $100K shipment · IndonesiaEU (Germany)

DUTY CALCULATION — EU (GERMANY)

Base Duty

0%

MFN (ITA): Free

VAT 19% (Germany)

19%

on (CIF + duty)

Effective Total

~0%

duty only

Product cost (FOB)$100,000
Ocean freight (est.)$3,500
Marine insurance (0.4%)$400
VAT 19% (Germany) on $103,900$19,741
Customs broker~$150
Estimated total landed cost~$123,791

* Estimates based on $100K FOB shipment of electronics (HS 85). Actual costs vary by exact HS code, weight/volume, and current rates.

SHIPPING & TIMELINE
Shipping Timeline from EU
EU → China: Ocean 25-35 days, $2,500-4,500/FEU. EU → US: Ocean 10-14 days, $2,000-3,500/FEU. EU → Japan: Ocean 25-35 days, $2,500-4,000/FEU.
Shipping Timeline to EU
From China: Ocean (Shanghai→Rotterdam) 25-35 days via Suez, $2,500-4,500/FEU. Air 2-3 days, $4-7/kg. From US: Ocean (NY→Rotterdam) 10-14 days, $2,000-3,500/FEU. Air 1-2 days, $3-6/kg. From Japan: Ocean (Tokyo→Hamburg) 25-35 days via Suez, $2,500-4,000/FEU. From Korea: Ocean 25-32 days, $2,200-3,800/FEU. Customs clearance: 1-3 days typical.
§REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Single Administrative Document (SAD)
Standard EU customs declaration form. Filed electronically. Contains: importer details, goods description, HS/CN code, origin, customs value, duty calculation.
Commercial Invoice
Must include: seller/buyer, description, quantity, value, Incoterms, origin country.
Packing List
Detailed contents per package: weights, dimensions, marks.
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Transport document for cargo release.
Certificate of Origin / EUR.1
Required for preferential tariff rates under FTAs/EPAs. EUR.1 movement certificate or origin self-declaration. For EU-Japan EPA: origin declaration on invoice by approved exporter.
CE Declaration of Conformity
Manufacturer's/importer's declaration that product meets applicable EU directives. Must accompany the product and be available to customs authorities on request.
PROCESS STEPS
Pre-arrival Safety & Security (ICS2)
Since March 2024, all goods entering the EU must have Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) filed via ICS2 system before arrival. Air cargo: before loading. Ocean cargo: 24h before loading at port of departure.
Customs Declaration (SAD/Electronic)
Import declaration filed electronically via national customs system (e.g., ATLAS in Germany, DELTA in France). Single Administrative Document (SAD) or electronic equivalent. EU moving to fully electronic customs by 2028.
Customs Examination & Release
Risk-based inspection. Green channel (immediate release), Orange (document check), Red (physical inspection). AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) certified importers get expedited processing. Typical clearance: 1-3 business days.
Pay Customs Duty + VAT
Pay customs duty (TARIC rate) + import VAT. VAT paid at import can be reclaimed as input tax by VAT-registered businesses. Germany: 19% VAT. France: 20%. Netherlands: 21%. Italy: 22%. Varies by member state.
¤TARIFF & DUTIES
EU TARIC Tariff — Electronics (HS 85)
Most electronics: 0% under WTO ITA. EU is ITA signatory. HS 8517, 8471, 8528 = Free. Non-ITA electronics may have 2-14% MFN rates. Check TARIC database for exact rates. EU-Japan EPA: additional tariff elimination for Japanese goods (most electronics already Free). EU-Korea FTA: tariff elimination for Korean goods. No EU-China FTA: Chinese goods pay MFN rates (but most electronics = Free under ITA). No EU-US FTA: US goods pay MFN rates.
EU Import VAT
Import VAT applied on (customs value + duty + transport to EU border). Rate varies by member state: Germany 19%, France 20%, Netherlands 21%, Spain 21%, Italy 22%, Sweden 25%. VAT-registered businesses can reclaim import VAT as input tax credit. Reverse charge mechanism available in some countries for B2B imports.
CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism)
EU CBAM transitional phase since October 2023. Full implementation from January 2026. Applies to: iron/steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, electricity, hydrogen. Importers must purchase CBAM certificates reflecting the carbon price. Electronics (HS 85) NOT currently covered by CBAM. May expand in future.
EU-Japan EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement)
In effect since February 2019. EU's largest bilateral trade deal. Japan eliminated tariffs on ~97% of EU exports. EU eliminated tariffs on ~99% of Japanese imports. Electronics: already Free under ITA. Key benefits: food/agriculture (cheese, wine, pork from EU), auto parts, chemicals. Origin proof: self-declaration by approved/registered exporters.
CERTIFICATIONS
CE Marking (Conformité Européenne)
MANDATORY for products sold in the EU/EEA. Not a quality mark — it's a legal declaration that the product complies with applicable EU directives. For electronics: LVD (Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU), EMC Directive 2014/30/EU, RED (Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU for wireless devices), RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU. Manufacturer/importer is responsible. Some products require Notified Body involvement. Timeline: 4-12 weeks. Cost: $5,000-30,000 depending on product complexity.
RED (Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU)
Mandatory for ALL radio equipment (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, NFC, etc.) sold in EU. Covers: safety, EMC, and efficient use of radio spectrum. Most products can use self-declaration with harmonized standards, but some need Notified Body. Equipment must be registered in REDCA database before placing on EU market.
REACH & RoHS Compliance
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals): applies to all products containing chemicals. Importers must ensure substances are registered. SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) above 0.1% must be declared. RoHS: restricts hazardous substances in electronics (lead, mercury, cadmium, etc.). EU RoHS aligns with but differs from China RoHS.
WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment)
Importers/producers must register with national WEEE authority in each EU member state where they sell. Finance collection and recycling of e-waste. Registration required BEFORE placing products on market.

Recent Advisories

Product recalls in the destination market

2026-04-09BISSELL Recalls Over One Million Steam Shot OmniReach Steam Cleaners Due to Risk of Serious Burn Hazard from Attachments
2026-04-09Easymake Adult Portable Bed Rails Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Entrapment and Asphyxiation; Violates Mandatory Standard for Adult Portable Bed Rails; Imported by ZFZG-US
2026-04-09Halloween Pumpkin Carving Kits Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Battery Ingestion; Violates Mandatory Standard for Consumer Products with Button Cell Batteries; Sold on Amazon by Besslly Store
2026-04-09LED Lights Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Battery Ingestion; Violates Mandatory Standard for Consumer Products with Coin Batteries; Sold on Amazon by Happiness Light
2026-04-09Magnetic Drinkware Charms Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Magnet Ingestion; Violate Mandatory Standard for Magnets; Sold on Amazon by Maitys

Related analysis

Cross-border trade — 10 things to know on June 3, 2026

Ten items as of June 3: USTR forced-labor §301 publishes concrete proposal — 60 economies, up to 12.5% (comments July 6, hearings July 7); 54 'failed to enforce' vs 6 'have but failed to enforce' tier split; Brazil §301 separately initiated June 1; §122 CAFC merits opinion most likely late 2026 (correcting May 29 deep-dive); CAPE — no paper checks since Feb 6, IOR without registered ACH = no refund; China State Council Order No. 834 (March 31) confirmed as the supply-chain security regulation; rare earths samarium/gadolinium/lutetium added Jan 1; §232 pharma 58 days; full July sequence locks in; Busan 160 days.

2026-06-03 · Read →

Cross-border trade — 10 things to know on May 6, 2026

Ten dated items as of May 6: §301 excess-capacity day-one testimony aimed at China while pushing to drop the other 15, CAPE's first IEEPA refund Monday, forced-labor §301 rebuttals due Friday, Eaton's next CBP progress report May 12, US-Mexico bilateral May 25, leaked Mexican retaliation list 5–20%, Canadian Liberal minority govt April 28, US average effective tariff at 11.8% (highest since early 1940s), §301 maritime vessel fees in force since April 17, and 188 days to Busan-truce expiry.

2026-05-06 · Read →

Cross-border trade — 10 things to know on May 3, 2026

Ten dated, sourced items shaping cross-border trade as of May 3: §301 excess-capacity hearings open Monday, CAPE Phase 1 throughput at 3% in stage, May 25 US-Mexico bilateral, §232 full-value methodology one month in, pharma 100% on calendar, Mexico textile decree sunset, CBAM Q2 due July 6, single-source PRC retaliation cluster, and 191 days to the Busan-truce expiry.

2026-05-03 · Read →

USTR §301 isn't an investigation — it's a delivery schedule. 16 economies, 135 days.

March 11 — USTR Greer named 16 economies and 21 sectors. Statutory window: 12 months. Greer's public target: July 24, 135 days. Compared with the 2017 China §301 investigation that ran 322 days from launch to first tariff, this calendar is 58% shorter. The investigation is still running; the destination has been marked.

2026-04-26 · Read →

CBAM Q2 July 6 countdown — a six-week checklist for Chinese exporters

CBAM's Q2 2026 certificate price publishes July 6 — 38 days out. Q1 set €75.36/tCO₂; the 2026 adjustment factor is 2.5%, so headline cash is small. But three numbers will matter on July 6: the new price (EU ETS futures currently €82-88), whether JRC default emission factors get refreshed, and whether EU buyers begin embedding 'verified emissions data' in RFQs. Walks through a worked example (Chinese BOF mill, 50K tonnes/year HRC) — €25M cumulative 2026-2034 CBAM cash impact — and lays out a week-by-week six-week prep checklist driven from the DutyTrade CBAM Cost Estimator.

2026-05-29 · Read →

Cross-border trade — 10 things to know on May 19, 2026

Ten dated items as of May 19: Trump-Xi Beijing summit landed May 14-15 heavy on symbolism ($17B/yr soybeans, 200 Boeing, two new bilateral committees), rare-earths named only in US communiqué not China's, CAPE Phase 1 at 15.1M validated and $35.46B refund pool with Treasury disbursing May 12, US-Mexico bilateral opens May 25 with 52 US demands on the table, July 1 trilateral review unlikely to conclude on time, US average effective rate on China at ~31.6% base, §232 pharma 73 days from kickoff, CAPE Phase 2 timing undisclosed, forced-labor §301 entering determination, 175 days to Busan expiry.

2026-05-19 · Read →

CBAM's first 100 days: the €75 price is a distraction; the registry is the policy

Q1 2026 CBAM landed at €75.36/tonne CO₂ — but the 2.5% adjustment factor means the bill is tiny. The actual policy is a verified-emissions registry that producers pay to build.

2026-04-20 · Read →

The hidden detail in §232's April 2 overhaul: it killed seven years of tariff engineering

April 6 raised §232 from 25% to 50% — but the policy story is buried in Annex I-B's switch from metal-content to full-customs valuation.

2026-04-20 · Read →
Disclaimer: Figures are best-effort estimates based on April 2026 public regulations (§122, §232, §301, CBAM, RCEP, etc.). Verify with the relevant customs authority before trade decisions.