Latvia

Distributing a product

Organizations in the retail sector

Market access procedures

International Conventions

Non tariff barriers

In accordance with its European Union membership since May, 1st of 2004, Latvia applies the European Union trade policy such as antidumping or anti-subsidy measures. The European Union import regime applies to Latvia. If Latvia has adopted the main part of EU regulations on May, 1st of 2004, some transitory periods have been granted to the country regarding some EU rules like the freedom of movement for workers or cabotage inside some countries. For further information about each candidate country’s compliance with the acquis, please consult the Enlargement of the EU Guide to the Negotiations published by the European Commission.

The European Union has a rather liberal foreign trade policy, some products need import licenses. There are some restrictions, especially on farm products, following the implementation of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy): the application of compensations on import and export of farm products, aimed at favouring the development of agriculture within the EU, implies a certain number of control and regulation systems for the goods entering the EU territory.

When being introduced into Latvia, some products must be "CE" marked in respect for the European Directives adopted on the basis of the New Approach and the Global Approach. For further information, please consult the Guide to the Implementation of Directives based on New Approach and Global Approach.

Customs classification

Since its accession to the European Union on May, 1st of 2004, Latvia has adopted the EU Common External Tariff. Consequently, trade with Latvia is totally free from customs duties, provided that the country of origin of the goods is one of the other 24 EU Member States. Nevertheless, when introducing goods into Latvia, exporters shall fill in an intrastat declaration.

When the country of origin of the goods exported to Latvia is not part of the European Union, customs duties are calculated Ad valorem on the CIF value of the goods, in accordance with the Common Customs Tariff (CCT).

The duties for non-European countries are relatively low, notably for manufactured goods (4.2% on average for the general rate), however textile, clothing items (high duties and quota system) and food-processing industry sectors (average duties of a 17.3% and numerous tariff quotas, PAC) still know protective measures.

In order to get exhaustive regulations and customs tariffs regarding their products, exporters shall refer to the TARIC code and its database, including all applicable customs duties and all customs trade policy measures for all the goods.

Import procedures

Since its accession to the European Union on May, 1st of 2004, Latvia has adopted the EU Common External Tariff. Consequently, trade with Latvia is totally free from customs duties, provided that the country of origin of the goods is one of the other 24 EU Member States. Nevertheless, when introducing goods into Latvia, exporters shall fill in an intrastat declaration.

When the country of origin of the goods exported to Latvia is not part of the European Union, customs duties are calculated Ad valorem on the CIF value of the goods, in accordance with the Common Customs Tariff (CCT).

The duties for non-European countries are relatively low, notably for manufactured goods (4.2% on average for the general rate), however textile, clothing items (high duties and quota system) and food-processing industry sectors (average duties of a 17.3% and numerous tariff quotas, PAC) still know protective measures.

In order to get exhaustive regulations and customs tariffs regarding their products, exporters shall refer to the TARIC code and its database, including all applicable customs duties and all customs trade policy measures for all the goods.

For further information

Organizing goods transport

Ports

The airline company Air Baltic
The international airport of Riga
The railroad company of Latvia
Information about the ports of Latvia

Airports

Sea transport organizations

Air transport organizations

Road transport organizations

Rail transport organizations