As of July 1, 2024, import duties on a large number of products from China to Serbia have started to gradually decrease, and for some products the customs duty is already 0%.
This is the result of the Free Trade Agreement between Serbia and China, which provides for the gradual elimination of customs duties on many products over a period of up to 15 years.
In practice, this means that importing certain groups of products will become significantly cheaper in the long run, while for some product categories there will be no change at all.
If you are thinking about importing from China (or you already do), the key question is:
Does the product you are interested in fall into a group with zero customs duty already, a group with gradually decreasing duty, or a group where the duty remains unchanged?
Below we explain how products are grouped and what this means for your actual import costs.
How products are grouped
To make the agreement easier to apply, products are divided into five main groups, labelled A0, A5, A10, A15 and E.
Each group has its own “pace” of tariff reduction – from products with immediate zero duty to products for which the duty does not change at all.
A0 – zero duty from day one
This group includes products for which customs duties were abolished the moment the agreement entered into force.
If your product falls under A0, you no longer pay customs duty, but you still pay VAT and other costs (transport, customs broker, etc.).
A5 – on the way to zero in 5 years
Products in group A5 benefit from a gradual reduction of customs duties every year, reaching 0% after five years.
This means that importing these products becomes cheaper year by year, which makes long‑term planning worthwhile if you work with this type of goods.
A10 – zero duty in 10 years
For this group, the reduction is slower – the goal is to reach 0% after ten years.
If you are just entering this business, it is important to know that your conditions will improve over time, but not overnight.
A15 – zero duty in 15 years
This is the “slowest” group: duties are reduced over a period of 15 years, so you feel the decrease gradually.
For serious, long‑term import plans, this information helps you project your future costs.
E – no change in duty
Products in group E are not covered by tariff reductions, so the customs rate remains the same as before the agreement.
If your product falls into group E, you still apply the “old” customs rates to it.
How much trade falls into each group
The impact of the agreement becomes clearer when you look at how many tariff lines fall into each group.
For imports into Serbia from China, the distribution looks like this:
- A0 – 6,272 tariff lines (60.24%)
- A5 – 1,709 tariff lines (16.41%)
- A10 – 1,025 tariff lines (9.84%)
- A15 – 402 tariff lines (3.86%)
- E – 1,004 tariff lines (9.64%)
Total: 10,412 tariff lines (100%).
For exports from Serbia to China, the distribution is similar:
- A0 – 5,376 tariff lines (60.20%)
- A5 – 1,475 tariff lines (16.52%)
- A10 – 882 tariff lines (9.88%)
- A15 – 355 tariff lines (3.98%)
- E – 842 tariff lines (9.43%)
Total: 8,930 tariff lines (100%).
To know exactly which group your product falls into, you need to identify its HS code and check which category (A0, A5, A10, A15 or E) it belongs to.
We have prepared an Excel table where you can, using either the product name or the HS code, see the starting customs rate and how it changes over the years.
From Serbia’s perspective
The new customs rates have been included in the customs tariff under the CN designation, which you can check on the website of the Customs Administration of the Republic of Serbia.
For practical work, we have prepared two Excel tables:
Overview of duties for imports into the Republic of Serbia
Overview of duties for exports to the PR China
In these files you can, using either the product name or the HS code, check which group (A0, A5, A10, A15 or E) your goods fall into and what the customs duty is now, as well as what it will be in the coming years.
If your goal is not only to import goods from China but also to sell your own products on the Chinese market, an additional opportunity is the Hainan Free Trade Port – a special zone on Hainan Island with zero tariffs for a wide range of products and tax incentives for companies registered on the island.
You can read more about this in our dedicated article: Hainan Free Trade Port.
If you export goods from Serbia to China, the export table shows whether you can already ship without customs duties or whether you are just entering a phase of gradual tariff reduction.
For the Chinese side’s view of the agreement, see their official page: China–Serbia Free Trade Zone.
If you plan to import a product into Serbia from China, use the tables linked above to find your product and see the applicable customs duty.
However, we strongly recommend that you consult a customs broker or the Customs Administration for precise information, as regulations and interpretations may change and each shipment has its own specifics.
Frequently asked questions
1. Does zero customs duty mean I do not pay anything anymore?
No. Even when the customs duty is 0%, you still pay import VAT as well as other costs – transport, customs brokerage and any applicable fees – so your total landed cost is not the same as the invoice from China.
2. How can I find the HS code for my product?
You can find the HS code by looking it up in the customs tariff based on the product description, or by asking a customs broker; the most practical option is to contact a broker or the Customs Administration and send them a precise description and intended use of the product so they can determine the correct code.
3. Does the agreement apply only to imports from China, or also to exports from Serbia?
The agreement works both ways – it covers imports of goods from China into Serbia and exports of goods from Serbia to China; both sides have their own A0, A5, A10, A15 and E lists with gradual tariff elimination.
4. How much trade actually benefits from zero or reduced duties?
For imports into Serbia, roughly 60% of tariff lines are in A0 (zero duty immediately), about 16% in A5, about 10% in A10 and about 4% in A15, while around 10% remain in group E without any change.
Sources: Parliament of the Republic of Serbia, Paragraf, Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade.