Trade law & standards for import–export
International frameworks & standards
WTO, WCO, CISG, Incoterms, UCP 600, ISPM 15, ISO management systems and steel, welding and corrosion standards – overview, relevance for traders, official links and PDF texts (where publication is permitted).
International trade law (WTO) (6)
Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO and GATT 1994
Foundation of the multilateral trading system: most-favoured-nation treatment, national treatment, tariff bindings, transparency, exceptions and dispute settlement.
WTO TFAWTOTrade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)
Commitments to simplify and publish import/export procedures: advance rulings, single window, authorised operators, release before final duty determination, risk management. In fo…
WTO Customs ValuationWTOCustoms Valuation Agreement (GATT Art. VII)
Six valuation methods with transaction value first; additions and deductions (royalties, assists, freight, insurance…).
WTO Rules of OriginWTOAgreement on Rules of Origin
General principles for non-preferential rules of origin; preferential origin is set by each FTA.
WTO TBT & SPSWTOTechnical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreements
Rules on standards, technical regulations, conformity assessment, food-safety and phytosanitary measures – transparent, non-discriminatory, based on international standards.
WTO ADA / SCM / SafeguardsWTOAnti-Dumping, Subsidies (SCM) and Safeguards Agreements
Conditions and procedures for anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties and safeguard measures.
Customs & trade facilitation (WCO) (3)
International Convention on the Harmonized System (HS)
Common 6-digit nomenclature with six General Interpretative Rules and section/chapter notes, amended periodically (HS 2022 in force).
Revised Kyoto ConventionWCORevised Kyoto Convention on simplification and harmonisation of customs procedures
Standards for modern customs: electronic declarations, risk management, post-clearance audit, temporary admission, bonded warehouses, processing regimes…
WCO SAFE FrameworkWCOSAFE Framework of Standards to secure and facilitate global trade
Standards for advance cargo information, risk management, Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programmes and mutual recognition.
Contracts, payment & delivery terms (3)
UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG)
Rules on contract formation, obligations of seller and buyer, passing of risk, fundamental breach and damages in international sales.
Incoterms® 2020ICCIncoterms® 2020 rules
Eleven rules (EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU, DDP; FAS, FOB, CFR, CIF) allocating costs, risks and formalities between seller and buyer.
UCP 600ICCUniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (UCP 600)
Rules for letters of credit: bank obligations, document examination, transport and insurance documents, presentation periods.
Transport, packaging & supply-chain security (4)
ISPM 15 – Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade
Pallets, crates and dunnage must be treated (heat treatment or approved fumigation) and marked with the IPPC mark before export.
SOLAS VGMIMOSOLAS – Verified Gross Mass of containers (VGM)
Shippers must verify the gross mass of packed containers before loading (in force since 1 July 2016).
CTU CodeIMO / ILO / UNECEIMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code)
Guidance on securing, load distribution and safe packing in containers, flat racks and trucks.
ISO 28000ISOISO 28000 – Security management systems for the supply chain
Requirements for managing security risks in the supply chain; supports AEO programmes.
Management systems (ISO) (3)
ISO 9001:2015 – Quality management systems
Requirements for a quality management system based on the process approach and risk-based thinking.
ISO 14001:2015ISOISO 14001:2015 – Environmental management systems
Requirements for managing environmental aspects, compliance and continual improvement.
ISO 45001:2018ISOISO 45001:2018 – Occupational health and safety management systems
Requirements for occupational health and safety, hazard identification and risk control.
Steel structures, welding & corrosion protection (5)
ISO 3834-2 – Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials (comprehensive)
Quality requirements for welding workshops: welding coordination, procedures, inspection, traceability, equipment calibration.
EN 1090-1 / EN 1090-2CENEN 1090 – Execution of steel and aluminium structures; conformity assessment (CE marking)
EN 1090-1: conformity assessment and CE marking of structural components; EN 1090-2: technical requirements for steel structures by execution class EXC1–EXC4.
EN 10204CENEN 10204 – Metallic products: types of inspection documents
Defines material certificates types 2.1, 2.2, 3.1 and 3.2 (mill test certificates).
AISC 360AISCAISC 360 – Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (US)
US specification for structural steel design (LRFD/ASD); used with AISC 303 Code of Standard Practice.
AWS D1.1/D1.1MAWSAWS D1.1 – Structural Welding Code – Steel
Requirements for weld design, procedure qualification (WPS/PQR), welder qualification and inspection of steel structures.
Only texts that may be republished are attached (e.g. WTO and UNCITRAL legal texts). For copyrighted standards the site shows an overview and links to the publisher.