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Regulations & legal advice

International trade often involves complex regulations and legislation. In collaboration with the regional institutions, the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency formulates an answer to various questions:

  • import and export regulations
  • purchase contracts and terms of delivery
  • health standards
  • standardisation
  • tax obligations
  • payment techniques

The Agency also supports regional initiatives aimed at proactively informing businesses, in particular through seminars and presentations.

Competences of the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency

Article 2 of Annex 1 to the Cooperation Agreement provides that, with regard to information and documentation regarding regulatory and legal requirements, the Agency is responsible for the following matters:

  • export (Belgian and European regulations)
  • system of sales and contractual obligations
  • product control: health standards and standardisation
  • tax obligations (customs and indirect taxes)
  • business practices
  • sales and distribution
  • export and import in Belgium
  • industrial property
  • establishment abroad
  • payment rules and trade disputes
Katrien Van Loocke
Legal Counsel
Katrien.Vanloocke@abh-ace.be
+32 2 206 35 50

  • Incoterms

    CHOOSE THE RIGHT INCOTERM FOR YOUR TRANSACTION

    image choose the right incoterm for your transactionAn international delivery is not limited to commercial terms and conditions but also involves practical and technical agreements between the buyer, the seller and possible third parties, often in legal, cultural and commercial climates that are quite different. In order to define everyone’s (legal) liability, the Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) were developed. These international agreements regarding the international transport of goods allocate the risks and costs between the various parties involved based on 11 rules as set out in

  • Distribution channels

    HOW TO ORGANISE YOUR DISTRIBUTION ABROAD?

    image outilFind out which distribution channel fits your company, your products, the market you target and your business strategy.

    An exporter should always select the most suitable distribution channel to warrant a continuous, sustainable offer of its products and/or services. Choosing the right channel will allow the exporter to reduce the cost of his market entry and thus warrant a competitive offer. This application intends to help you identify the organizational structure that is probably most appropriate given your specific profile. It presents two

  • Invoice an international transaction with or without VAT?

    VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT)

    image outilDo I have to charge VAT on my international invoices?

    If you supply goods or services to a customer in your own country, you normally have to charge VAT on your invoice. But what about the invoices you send to clients abroad? Do you also have to charge VAT? This tool will guide you towards the most probable answer.

    This application tool is adapted for use on tablets and smartphones.

    You will find more information here.

  • Webinar 17.06.2022 & 22.06.2020

    INTERNATIONAL SALES CONTRACTS AND INCOTERMS® 2020

    image invitationWe were very pleased that on 17 and 22 June 22, 2020, you participated in such a large number in our webinar "INTERNATIONAL SALES CONTRACTS AND INCOTERMS® 2020 Strategic choices and possibilities in times of crisis (Covid-19, Brexit, Trade wars, ...)". 

    We finally reached 100 subscribed participants for the two editions of our webinar. On 17 June 2020, the webinar was held in Dutch and on 22 June 2020, the webinar was held in French. The presentation of this webinar can be downloaded « here ».

    For further questions, please do not

Legal alerts and information

  1. Legal information

    ICC Guide to Incoterms® 2020 released

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    Buyers, suppliers, lawyers, transport/logistics companies, customs authorities, insurance professionals and international business professors/students, … BE AWARE: ICC released the Guide to Incoterms®. The guide explains how ICC’s world-famous trade terms apply in practice.

    The guide explains the changes since the last

More legal alerts and information