1. How to export to the European Union? Port Vila, xx xxxx 201X
European Commission, Directorate General for Trade

2. What?
A tool to facilitate exports from developing countries into the EU
An internet service
An interactive database on trade in goods
Free of charge and free access
In 6 languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and now also in Arabic and Russian
What is the Export Heldpesk ?
An internet service
It is free of charge and free access : anyone can access the Helpdesk via the Internet. No member fee is collected, no password is required, it is not restricted by sector or user groups as most similar portals This is an important feature as this instrument was conceived for the benefit of developing countries and therefore the objective was to ensure its use by the widest possible circle of users in developing countries.
User-friendly (searches are fast and straightforward). A User Guide and a FAQ have been posted on the website in 4 languages to facilitate the use of this tool.
It is provided in 4 languages : English, Spanish, French and Portuguese (which are also EU languages) so as to reach the largest number of people in the DCs. Only the Specific Requirements under the “Requirement and Taxes” section is in English only, given the complexity to have the data complete and updated at the same time.
It is a database covering goods (only, not services) and that is based on the systematic research of the product through the product code.

3. Why? Trade and Development Agenda
Contribution to Doha Development Round
Special and Differential Treatment for developing countries
Practical tool for trade facilitation
What is the context of the Export Heldpesk ?
Since 1997 the European Commission has been providing European exporters with information on how to export their products to third countries, via the Market Access Database set up by the Directorate Generate for External Trade (Market Access unit).
In the meantime, in 2001 the Doha Development Round was launched, which as its name indicates, gave a particular focus on « Development ». There was indeed recognition that previous rounds had not brought to the developing countries the benefits that have been expected and this time DCs should be able to get more tangible benefits.
A series of initiatives were therefore taken by the EC. As one concrete contribution to the Trade and Development agenda, the EC launched in 2004 a trade facilitation tool, the “Export Helpdesk”, which is a free database on the Internet to help developing countries enhance their economic growth and welfare through trade by facilitating access of exporters to European markets. By doing this, the EC gave a tangible development dimension to its trade policy.
Today a EH Team has been built. There are 4 people working on this project within DG Trade (Maryse Coutsouradis, as programme manager, Ines Escudero and Catarina De Barros Coelho as communication assistants and Alda Rabottini as publication assistant) There is also a team of IT experts to support us.

4. Where? Use of the Export Helpdesk in the world
in Vanuatu
Since then the Export Helpdesk has been constantly improved – in terms of content, presentation, new languages, etc. As you can see, these improvements have been fruitful as more and more people are using it each year (just take a look at the graph).
As you can also see, there is a geographical imbalance between our users in developing countries. The reasons for this may include:
- the extent of internet access,
- languages (the fact that the Export Helpdesk has been available also in Spanish since the beginning probably explains why use in Latin America is so high),
- lack of awareness (hence the needed to organize information sessions like this one).
The fact that EU countries use our tool a lot reflect import-export relations (European businesses need to know the conditions of access of products from third countries to the EU to inform exporters, also how much it will cost them etc).
But, now that you know what Export Helpdesk is, why it exists and that many businesses all around the world find it useful, why should you find it useful? 4

5.
Here is a view of how the webpage of the Export Helpdesk looks like with the various sections and the buttons with the 4 linguistic versions.

6. What is the Export Helpdesk?
Brief explanation on what you can find in this website and how
Examples
Glossary
Help tools
This section provides a good introduction to the Export Helpdesk outlining briefly its content and the services provided.
This is one of the new features of the big overhaul of the Export Helpdesk that took place early July 2009, with the objective to provide to our users more detailed and didactic information about our tool and the services it provides.
Among the help tools provided are a glossary in 4 languages, a sample search, a desktop presentation and the explanation of the EU law.

7. What do I need to know before?
Overview of import procedures
General requirements to import to the EU
Specific requirements applicable to each product
National taxes (VAT)
The Requirements and Taxes Section provides detailed information on :
Overview of import procedures
General requirements applicable to all products
EU and Member State specific requirements for each particular product (including animal and plant health requirements (SPS), labelling, marketing, etc.),
Member State internal taxes that apply (VAT and excise).
In other words, it turns the Export Helpdesk into a « first-stop- shop » for information on exporting to the EU.

8. What do I need to pay at customs?
Duty applicable to a product for all countries outside the EU
Preferential duty applicable to a particular country
This Import Tariffs section allows the exporter to know how much the exportation to Europe will cost.
This section gives for a single product all applicable tariffs :
the third country duty (called erga omnes, i.e. duty applicable to countries that don’t enjoy any EU preferences)
the various preferential duties, when applicable (or example, both EPA and GSP tariffs)
When applicable, the results’ page also provide information on :
Tariff quotas
Antidumping measures (duties and reference of legislation)

9. How do I proof the origin of my product?
Outline of various preferential arrangements between the EU and your country
Certificate of origin
Specific conditions as regards the origin of the product
Remember: without the certificate of
origin, your product will not
benefit from preferential tariff rate
The Section on Preferential arrangements, gives an overview of the various arrangements between the EU and developing countries.
The user can find information as to the relevant certificate or proof of origin that need to be produced to qualify for preferential duty treatment under the different preferential schemes. Also the user can look at the Rules of Origin for information as to the conditions as regards the origin of the product that need to be met for goods to qualify for advantageous tariff treatment.

10. Where can I get the facts & figures?
To obtain detailed statistics about trade flows
To find potential markets in the European Union
This Trade Statistics section assists the user of the EH to investigate the potential export markets for a specific product. This section provides the current or past trade flows between a partner country and the whole of the EU, as well as with the Member States individually.
It also gives data about intra-Community trade.
Statistical data are available back to 2002 up to 2009.

11. How can I find potential customers?
Chambers of Commerce
Trade associations
Business directories
Market Places
List of business organisations in Europe who could assist you on a more detailed way regarding a product/market

12. How can I get regularly informed?
To subscribe
to the Export Helpdesk
Newsletter
Quarterly newsletter in English, French,Spanish and Portuguese. Sent by . To suscribe just enter your data in our website. It will take you 2 minutes and you’ll keep updated 4 times per year on the lastest EU agreements with developing countries regarding trade & exports.

13. Where can you get further information?
Contact the EU Delegation in Vanuatu at:
PO Box 422, Port-Vila Tel:         Fax: hwww.ec.europa.eu/delegations/vanuatu Or
the Export Helpdesk
team

14. Do you want to know how to export coconut oil to the European Union?
Now it’s your turn!
Do you want to know how to export coconut oil to the European Union?
Your first step:
check the Export Helpdesk!
Example: Everyone knows that you have the best coconut oil in Fiji. It is so good that when these French tourist passed by they told you that everyone in France would buy it. Think about it!. A huge market, right? But, how could you export your coconut oil to France?
So let us take the example of a fishermen who would like to export “freshwater crayfish” from Armenia to Europe.