Tullpolitik

Tullpolitik, or customs policy, is the framework of government rules and administrative practices governing the import and export of goods across borders. Its primary aims are to raise public revenue, enforce national laws related to health, safety, environment and security, protect domestic industries, and facilitate legitimate trade while combating smuggling and illicit movement.

Key instruments of tullpolitik include tariffs and tariff-rate quotas, non-tariff measures such as licensing, standards, and labeling requirements, and rules of origin used to determine preferential treatment. It also involves procedures for customs declarations, valuation and classification of goods for duty assessment, and inspections, often prioritizing risk-based approaches. Revenue collection, value-added tax or excise taxes on imports, and procedures to simplify or expedite clearance for trusted traders are important components. Non-tariff barriers may serve policy goals beyond protectionism, such as safeguarding public health or strategic industries.

Institutional and legal frameworks shape tullpolitik. National customs administrations enforce policies under domestic law and international obligations. In many regions, customs policy is harmonized or coordinated at the regional level; for example, the European Union operates a common external tariff and a Union Customs Code, with member states collecting duties on imports from outside the bloc while upholding internal market rules. Globally, tullpolitik interacts with World Trade Organization agreements, including the GATT, and with regional trade agreements and mutual cooperation arrangements.

Modern developments include adapting to digital trade, e-commerce, and global supply chains, advancing risk management, and balancing revenue, protection, and facilitation across borders.