/ EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Directorate-General for Trade
Directorate E - Neighbouring countries, USA and Canada
USA and Canada

Brussels, 9 October 2017

Limited1

Note for the attention of the Trade Policy Committee

SUBJECT:Information on applications for Registered Exporter (REX) number

ORIGIN:Commission DG Trade Units E1 and F3

BHASKAR Renita (TRADE)

Deputy Head of Unit E1, DG TRADE

+32 229 63071

Ignacio IRUARRIZAGA DIEZ

Head of Unit F3, DG TRADE

+32 2 295 2863

OBJECTIVE:For information

REMARKS:

The note provides information on the registration data for the Registered Exporter system (REX) that is to be used by the European exporters in order to benefit from the preferential tariff rates under CETA.

1 This document is only for use within the European institutions and Member States' public administrations:

  • Distribution on a need to know basis
  • Not for publication
  • All recipients should be aware of the strict application of the 'need to know'.
  • Not to be distributed or published outside the EU institutions and Member States' public administrations

* * *

CETA Preference Utilisation: REX Registration (REX)

In order for EU exporters to benefit from CETA preferences,the Agreement stipulates that exporters make origin declarations in accordance with their internal legislation. In the case of the EU, the Union Customs Code Implementing Act requires EU exporters to be registered from 1 January 2017 under the new system REX (Registered Exporters) in order to be able to produce origin declarations for GSP countries and all new EU FTAs. Consequently, EU exporters are required to register in REX to benefit from CETA preferences and preferences under any future EU FTA.

In December 2016, in light of operational delays expressed by certain Member States in the Customs Committee to register their exporters in time for CETA's provisional application (originally foreseen in Spring 2017), the Directorate General of Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) approved a transitional period of one year (ending December 2017) during which exporters could either register in REX or continue using their 'approved exporter' status to benefit from CETA preferences.

During this year, the importance of registering EU exporters in REX has been highlighted on multiple occasions in the Customs Committee, Trade Policy Committee Deputy Meetings and in the multiple CETA conferences in which the Commission services have participated. In order to facilitate registration in REX, the Commission has prepared simple guides which have been published on DG TRADE and TAXUD websites and on multiple occasions also brought to the attention of Member States and business associations. Our efforts in this regard reflect DG TRADE's full commitment to ensure the correct and effective implementation of our trade agreements.

Collectively, the Commission and the Trade Policy Committee have invested heavily to ensure the provisional application of CETA and we have often outlined the opportunities CETA provides for businesses and entrepreneurs. However these opportunities will only materialise if CETA is properly implemented and our companies are registered to benefit from the tariff elimination. It is with great regret that the Commission notes that despite the many reminders the registration in REX is far from encouraging and does not reflect the number of companies currently trading with Canada let alone new ones. The Commission would like to draw attention to the registration data (in attachment).

The Commission would urge the Committee to take this issue seriously and would be grateful if you could review the situation with your colleagues in the Customs Authorities so that the necessary remedial measures are taken. As you are aware, the debates on CETA and benefits of trade agreements are far from over; it would be regrettable if EU companies were not able to benefit from one of the most visible advantages of the trade agreement, which is tariff elimination. Given the disturbingly low rate of registration,the Commissions proposes to share the status of REX registrations on a monthly basis with the TPC to ensure that adequate attention is given to the matter.

In annex to this letter you will find the status of registrations on 17 September 2017 and some practical information on REX. We have only until 31 December 2017 to ensure registrations of EU exporters in REX after which they will not be able to benefit from CETA preferences.

The Commission counts on the Member States support to ensure that the necessary efforts are made to correct this situation without any further delay. DG TRADE and DG TAXUD stay ready to provide any further assistance or information.

Annex

What is REX?

The REX system is applied since 1 January 2017 for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), whose rules of origin are laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 and in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 of the Union Customs Code (Regulation (EU) No 952/2013). Progressively, the REX system will also be used for certifying the origin in preferential trade agreements. For instance, the texts of the FTAs with Canada (CETA) and Vietnam already foresee the possibility to apply the REX system in the EU and as of 1 January 2018 this will be the only way to benefit from the preferences granted under CETA.

How to get a REX number?

EU exporter needs to complete these few simple steps:

  1. Apply for a Registered Exporter (REX) number by completing this form.
  2. Send the completed form to your national Customs Office.
  3. They will then receive a REX number to indicate on the origin declaration to be provided on the commercial document that describes the product (for example: invoice)
  4. The originating product will then benefit from CETA in Canada on the basis of the origin declaration.

Relevant links:

  • DG TAXUD website on REX system
  • Guidance relating to the Registered Exporter System, July 2017

Status of 17/09/2017

Authorizations
Country / Registered / Revoked / Annuled / Active today
AT / 125 / 4 / 0 / 121
BE / 410 / 0 / 0 / 410
BG / 5 / 0 / 0 / 5
CY / 2 / 1 / 0 / 1
CZ / 77 / 3 / 0 / 74
DE / 1,204 / 24 / 0 / 1,180
DK / 137 / 1 / 0 / 136
EE / 7 / 1 / 1 / 7
ES / 267 / 0 / 0 / 267
FI / 30 / 0 / 0 / 30
FR / 258 / 0 / 0 / 258
GB / 12161 / 0 / 0 / 12161
GR / 69 / 3 / 0 / 66
HR / 32 / 0 / 0 / 32
HU / 6 / 0 / 0 / 6
IE / 36 / 2 / 0 / 34
IT / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
LT / 3 / 0 / 0 / 3
LU / 11 / 0 / 0 / 11
LV / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
MT / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
NL / 170 / 2 / 2 / 170
PL / 41 / 1 / 0 / 40
PT / 82 / 2 / 0 / 80
RO / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
SE / 84 / 0 / 0 / 84
SI / 36 / 1 / 0 / 35
SK / 4 / 0 / 0 / 4
CH / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
NO / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Total / 15257 / 45 / 3 / 15215

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