VGTC Insights

Regulatory Intelligence & Trade Guides

Practical material for importers, exporters and customs teams. Regulatory guides include primary-source references and review dates, so you can verify every claim at the issuing authority.

HS Classification

Diagram: a product flows to an HS candidate, then a mismatch flag, then duty and delay consequences.

What Happens When You Use the Wrong HS Code?

Misclassification is one of the most common customs violations. Here is how US and EU authorities treat an incorrect HS code, what penalties can look like, and how to fix past errors before they become enforcement cases.

Last reviewed 2026-08-25

Diagram: a global HS six-digit code expanding into US, EU and India national subheadings.

HS Code vs HTS Code: What Importers Need to Know

The 6-digit HS code is international; the HTS is the United States' national extension of it — and the digits beyond six are where duty rates and legal obligations actually live. How the systems fit together across major markets.

Last reviewed 2026-08-26

Sanctions

Diagram: a party name screened against five sanctions lists producing match types and a risk level.

Why a Sanctions Name Match Does Not Automatically Mean a Party Is Sanctioned

Screening tools return name matches, not verdicts. How to read SDN entries, why identifiers — not names — decide the outcome, and a defensible triage process for possible matches.

Last reviewed 2026-08-25

Tariffs & Landed Cost

Diagram: landed cost composition of goods, freight, insurance, duty and tax.

How to Check Import Duty Before Shipping

A practical workflow for estimating duty and taxes before goods move — using the official lookup tools for the US, EU, UK, Vietnam and India, and understanding which charges they do (and don't) include.

Last reviewed 2026-08-25

FTA & Origin

Diagram: origin and EVFTA agreement feeding a rules-of-origin check before any preferential rate.

EVFTA Rules of Origin for Vietnam–EU Trade: What Actually Qualifies a Shipment

The EU–Vietnam FTA cuts duties to zero for most goods — if the product qualifies as originating and you can prove it. Product-specific rules, tolerance, cumulation, direct transport and proof of origin, with primary sources.

Last reviewed 2026-08-25

Regulatory Updates

Short dated regulatory updates will appear here alongside our in-depth guides.

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