Market guide · Netherlands

Sourcing from India and China for Dutch brands.

Dutch brands import under the EU tariff, usually through Rotterdam: Indian industrial goods pay MFN while GSP is suspended, Chinese goods pay MFN plus trade defence on some lines, and Vietnamese goods use the EVFTA. On top of EU product law, the Netherlands runs extended producer responsibility for packaging and for clothing and household textiles.

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Rotterdam: main Asia–Europe gateway
EPR: for packaging and textiles
MFN: for most Indian industrial goods

Duty snapshot · checked 28 September 2026 Goods into Netherlands

INIndia MFN (GSP suspended on most lines) In flux
CNChina MFN + trade defence on some lines No agreement
VNVietnam EVFTA preferences In force

Full duty picture and sources ↓

The short answer

What Dutch buyers need to know.

As of 28 September 2026. Checked against official sources.

01
The Netherlands applies the EU Common Customs Tariff. Indian goods pay MFN on most industrial lines while EU GSP is suspended for India (2026–2028); the EU–India FTA is concluded but not in force.
02
Vietnamese goods can use the EVFTA. Chinese goods pay MFN, plus anti-dumping or anti-subsidy duties on specific products.
03
Dutch EPR covers packaging and clothing and household textiles; foreign producers selling direct to Dutch consumers must appoint an authorised representative for textiles.

1 · Duty picture

What you pay at the border.

As of 28 September 2026. Every rate depends on the product’s HS code, so treat this as the map and check your own codes before you order.

How duty works in Netherlands

Duty is charged at the EU Common Customs Tariff rate for the product’s CN code, on the customs value delivered to the EU border (a CIF-type value, so sea freight and insurance count). Import VAT is then charged at the national rate of the country of import.
The same tariff applies in every EU member state, so the duty on a product is the same in Hamburg, Rotterdam, Le Havre or Gothenburg. National differences are in VAT, packaging and product EPR, and enforcement.
A temporary flat customs duty of €3 applies to low-value e-commerce items under €150 from 1 July 2026 until 1 July 2028. Brands shipping direct to consumers should budget for it.

From India

MFN on most industrial goods

In force
EU GSP preferences for India are suspended from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028 for most industrial sections: minerals, chemicals, plastics and rubber, textiles and garments, stone and ceramics, precious metals, iron and steel, base metals, machinery, electrical goods and transport equipment.
In force
Leather goods, some handicrafts and many agricultural lines keep the GSP rate. Check your CN code before assuming either way.
Concluded, not in force
The EU–India FTA was concluded in January 2026. The Commission sent its proposals to the Council in September 2026; the agreement still needs signature, European Parliament consent and ratification by India. It is not in force.

From China

MFN, plus trade defence on some lines

No agreement
No free trade agreement and no GSP: Chinese goods pay the MFN rate in the EU tariff.
In force
Anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties apply to a long list of Chinese products (steel, aluminium, fasteners, e-bikes, some ceramics and chemicals among them). Always check TARIC for additional duties by exporter.

From Vietnam

EVFTA preferences

In force
The EU–Vietnam FTA (EVFTA) has applied since 1 August 2020 and eliminates 99% of tariffs between the two, in stages. Many lines are already at zero; claim the preference with valid proof of origin.
In force
Rules of origin decide eligibility: garments, for example, need qualifying fabric origin. Chinese fabric sewn in Vietnam often does not qualify.

Agreements and measures that apply

EU–India FTAEU and India

Concluded, not in forceConcluded Jan 2026

Commission proposals with the Council since September 2026. Signature, Parliament consent and Indian ratification still to come.
EU GSP (India)EU → India

In force1 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2028

Preferences suspended for most industrial sections; leather goods and some handicrafts keep them.
EU–Vietnam FTA (EVFTA)EU and Vietnam

In forceSince 1 Aug 2020

99% of tariffs eliminated in stages; proof of origin required.
EU–ChinaEU and China

No agreement—

MFN rates, plus anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on specific products.

Model it for your product: Find the HS code Compare landed cost

2 · Product compliance

The rules your product has to meet.

EU product law applies in full; the Netherlands adds national producer responsibility schemes.

Safety

GPSR and CE marking

The General Product Safety Regulation has applied since 13 December 2024: every consumer product needs an EU-based responsible economic operator, traceability details on the product and a risk analysis. Products under harmonised laws (toys, electrical, radio, machinery, PPE) also need CE marking and a declaration of conformity.

Chemicals

REACH and RoHS

SVHCs above 0.1% in an article must be communicated to customers, Annex XVII restrictions apply to textiles, leather, plastics and more, and electrical goods must meet RoHS substance limits.

REACH guide

Packaging

PPWR, since 12 August 2026

Packaging needs conformity assessment, technical documentation and an EU declaration of conformity. Heavy metals are capped at 100 mg/kg combined, and PFAS limits apply to food-contact packaging.

PPWR guide

Netherlands · packaging

Packaging EPR

Producers and importers that first place packaged goods on the Dutch market report packaging volumes and pay the waste management contribution to the Afvalfonds Verpakkingen, alongside the EU-wide PPWR duties.

Netherlands · textiles

Textile EPR (UPV Textiel)

Producers, importers and foreign suppliers of clothing (including workwear), bed and table linen and household linen must ensure free collection and meet rising reuse and recycling targets (50% by 2025, 75% by 2030), reporting each year. Foreign producers selling direct to consumers need an authorised representative.

Deforestation

EUDR, from 30 December 2026

Wood, rubber, leather from cattle, coffee, cocoa, palm oil and soy products need a due diligence statement with plot geolocation. Micro and small operators follow on 30 June 2027.

EUDR guide

Carbon

CBAM

Importers of steel, aluminium and the other CBAM goods above 50 tonnes a year need authorised declarant status and embedded-emissions data from the plant. The first annual declaration is due by 30 September 2027.

CBAM guide

3 · Getting goods there

Sea lanes, transit times and Incoterms.

Indicative port-to-port planning ranges, not a carrier schedule. Transhipment, blank sailings and routing change them; confirm with the carrier at booking.

Nhava Sheva / MundraRotterdam

20–28days

Via Suez; 32–40 via the Cape
ChennaiRotterdam

26–40days

Often transhipped at Colombo
Ningbo / ShanghaiRotterdam

30–38days

Via Suez; 40–50 via the Cape

Routing in September 2026: carriers were returning Asia–Europe services to the Suez Canal gradually, service by service; sailings via the Cape of Good Hope take roughly 10 to 14 days longer.

Incoterms norms

FOB (named Indian or Chinese port) is the default for full containers: you control the main freight and insurance, and your forwarder books the vessel.
FCA suits LCL and air, and is safer than EXW in India, where an Indian exporter must file the shipping bill for export clearance.
Your EU company imports on its own EORI number. DDP from an Asian supplier only works if they are VAT-registered and able to act as importer in the EU, which few factories are.
EU customs value includes freight and insurance to the EU border, so CIF-level landed cost is the right basis for comparing India and China quotes.

Pick a term with the Incoterms advisor

4 · India or China

Which country suits which product.

Many Dutch importers run a China lane and an India lane side by side, and use Rotterdam to consolidate both.

Strong from India

About sourcing from India

Metal parts and fabricationsCastings, forgings, sheet metal and welded frames for Dutch machine builders and mobility brands.
Apparel and household textilesCotton garments, workwear and linen, with textile EPR data collected from the supplier.
Foam, rubber and technical partsIndian converters and moulders for filters, seals and technical components.

Strong from China

About sourcing from China

Electronics and e-mobility componentsControllers, batteries and chargers, with CE, RoHS and trade-defence checks built in.
Plastic and consumer goodsMoulded products at speed; packaging declarations for PPWR from day one.
Lighting and household goodsBroad supplier base for private label ranges.

Running both? Plan a China + 1 second source

5 · How SourceSquid helps

From duty map to landed container.

Our teams in Bengaluru and Ningbo find, audit and inspect factories for Dutch brands buying from India and China, and collect the evidence your market asks for.

USD 390 · named factories

Supplier shortlist

Named manufacturers in India and China, checked by calls, matched to Dutch requirements.

Free tool

Landed cost calculator

Factory price, freight, duty and taxes side by side, so you compare lanes, not quotes.

Free tool

HS code finder

Find the likely HS code first; every duty rate on this page depends on it.

USD 490 per supplier

FTA duty-saver audit

Rules of origin checked at the factory, up to 5 HS lines, so your zero-duty claim is defensible.

From USD 229 per person-day

Inspections and audits

In-line, pre-shipment and loading inspections by our own team in India and China.

Compliance

PPWR packaging

The Dutch rules above turned into a supplier evidence list, collected at the factory.

Sources

Where these facts come from

Checked on 28 September 2026 and refreshed monthly. Official government, customs and EU sources first; commentary is named as such. This page explains the rules in plain English. For a view on your own products, ask our team or your customs broker.

Netherlands buyer questions

Straight answers.

Checked on 28 September 2026. We update this guide when duties or rules move.

anirudh@sourcesquid.co

What duty do Indian goods pay in the Netherlands?

The EU tariff applies. Most Indian industrial goods pay the full MFN rate because EU GSP preferences for India are suspended for most industrial sections from 2026 to 2028. Leather goods, some handicrafts and many agricultural lines keep GSP. The EU–India FTA is concluded but not in force.

Does the Netherlands have EPR for textiles?

Yes. Producers, importers and foreign suppliers of clothing, including workwear, and of bed, table and household linen must organise free collection and meet reuse and recycling targets that rise to 75% by 2030, and report each year. Foreign producers selling direct to consumers need an authorised representative.

Who pays packaging EPR in the Netherlands?

The producer or importer that first places packaged products on the Dutch market reports packaging volumes and pays the waste management contribution to the Afvalfonds Verpakkingen. The EU PPWR adds conformity and documentation duties from 12 August 2026.

Is Vietnam cheaper than China for Dutch brands?

Often on duty: the EU–Vietnam FTA has removed or is removing most tariffs, while Chinese goods pay MFN and sometimes anti-dumping duty. The goods must meet EVFTA rules of origin, and factory price, freight and quality still decide the landed cost.

How long does shipping take from Ningbo to Rotterdam?

As a planning range, about 30 to 38 days port to port via Suez and 40 to 50 days via the Cape of Good Hope. Carriers were moving services back to Suez gradually in September 2026, so confirm the routing on each booking.

Other market guides

Selling in more than one market?

DE · EuropeGermanyEU duty applies, GSP for India is suspended on most industrial goods, and the VerpackDG replaced the VerpackG on 12 August 2026.FR · EuropeFranceFrance runs the widest set of EPR schemes in Europe: Triman, your IDU and a French representative if you are based abroad.UK · EuropeUnited KingdomIndia–UK CETA has been in force since 15 July 2026: zero duty on about 99% of tariff lines for Indian goods.

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