Table of Contents
1 Regulations and Policies
1.1 Trade Regulations and Policies
1.1.1 Principal Authority Governing Trade
1.1.2 Trade Regulations
1.1.3 Relevant Provisions on Trade Administration
1.1.4 Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Commodities
1.1.5 Customs Administration Rules and Regulations
1.1 Trade Regulations and Policies
1.1.1 Principal Authority Governing Trade
As a member state of the European Union (EU), the fundamental regulations concerning import and export tariffs (including customs duties) and non-tariff barriers, as well as specific trade protection instruments such as protection against dumped imports and protection against subsidized imports of the Slovak Republic (Slovakia), are established at the EU level. Consequently, the European Commission is the specialized authority responsible for overseeing international trade. The Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic serves as the competent authority for trade, responsible for formulating domestic and foreign trade policies as well as consumer protection.
The administration of tax and customs duties is overseen by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic and its subordinate Financial Directorate. Product-specific border inspections are conducted by the State Veterinary and Food Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic. The Trade Licensing Office of the Slovak Republic is responsible for issuing general trade licenses.
1.1.2 Trade Regulations
Slovakia's economy is significantly reliant on foreign markets, and international trade holds a vital position within the national economy. The primary objective of Slovakia's trade policy is to foster rapid economic growth, enhance employment, and improve living standards through international trade of goods.
The former Česko-Slovensko was a founding member of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The Republic of Slovakia was established and became a member of GATT in January 1993. It transitioned to become one of the initial members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995. Slovakia acceded to the EU in May 2004 and began implementing the EU's unified external economic policy.
The main trade-related laws and regulations of Slovakia include:
(1) Union Customs Code (Regulation (EU) No 952/2013), available at: eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/952/2022-12-12
(2) Supplementary Provisions to the Union Customs Code (Regulation (EU) No 2015/2446), available at: eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2015/2446/2024-03-11
(3) EU Common Rules for Imports (Regulation (EU) No 2015/478), available at: eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2015/478/oj
(4) EU Common Rules for Imports (Regulation (EU) No 2015/479), available at: eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2015/479/oj
(5) EU Protection against Dumped Imports (Regulation (EU) No 2016/1036), available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/1036/2020-08-11
(6) EU Protection against Subsidized Imports (Regulation (EU) No 2016/1037), available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/1037/2020-08-11
(7) EU Foreign Subsidies Distorting the Internal Market (Regulation (EU) No 2022/2560), available at: eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2560/oj
(8) Commercial Code of the Republic of Slovakia (Act No. 513/1991 Coll.), available at: www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1991/513/20160701
(9) Act on Protection of Competition of the Slovak Republic (Act No. 187/2021 Coll.), available at: https://www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2021/187/20240515.html
(10) Act on Subsidies of the Slovak Republic (Act No. 71/2013 Coll.), available at: www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2013/71/20201209
1.1.3 Relevant Provisions on Trade Administration
Following its accession to the EU, the trade administration of Slovakia has primarily undergone the following changes: the implementation of the EU's quotas, protection against dumped imports, protection against subsidized imports, and other restrictive and tariff measures; the harmonization of technical standards, health inspection and quarantine measures, and consumer protection measures in accordance with the EU's non-tariff trade restrictions; the initiation of the EU's external relations strategy and the development of external economic relations in alignment with the EU's national and regional policies; and the execution of the EU's new Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) country-specific policies and aid policies.
The characteristics of Slovakia's trade management policy are as follows: Trade management encompasses not only the import and export processes but also the entire circulation of goods both domestically and internationally. Trade management tools have been continuously evolving and currently include tariffs, import and export quotas, licensing and other restrictions, animal and plant quarantine, domestic market regulations, commodity standards, inspection and certification for market entry, sanitary inspections, environmental protection, intellectual property rights protection, and consumer protection. In addition to managing foreign economic relations and import and export trade, the Trade Management Department is also responsible for domestic market management and consumer protection. It oversees a market inspection department and administers the national technical standard department. Additionally, Slovakia's relevant ministries have established interdepartmental coordination bodies to harmonize trade policies across different departments. Comprehensive and rational departmental functions have created favorable conditions for Slovakia's trade management and provided necessary conveniences.
In terms of management measures, Slovakia's trade management can be broadly categorized into two types: incentive policies and restrictive policies. Incentive policies primarily pertain to export promotion measures, which include providing export loans and guarantees, establishing information service systems, and funding domestic enterprises to participate in foreign exhibitions, among others. Restrictive policies primarily encompass the implementation of import and export quotas and licenses, protection against subsidized imports and protection against dumped imports, and excessive import protection measures for certain commodities. They also include the enforcement of product technical safety standards, hygiene standards, and health inspection and quarantine systems, as well as the licensing of weapons and hazardous chemicals.
To ensure the stability of Slovakia's economy, the import and export of certain products must continue to be authorized by the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic. Currently, products requiring import licenses primarily include lignite, black coal, electricity, livestock, certain agricultural products, and cigarettes. Products necessitating export licenses mainly consist of raw materials such as crude oil and natural gas. Furthermore, products such as automobiles must undergo certification for import into the Slovak market. To demonstrate that products comply with Slovakia's technical standards, Slovakia Customs may require product certification prior to importation. If the product has received foreign certification confirming compliance with Slovak standards, a certificate of conformity may be issued without testing. Details of trade licensing regulations and contact information for the Trade Licensing Offices of each regions are available on the website of the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic.
Website: www.minv.sk/? trade-licencing
1.1.4 Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Commodities
Slovakia imposes quarantine requirements on the importation of various animal and plant products, necessitating inspections of the characteristics of imported goods and the relevant information of importers. When importing animals and animal products, plants, and vegetables into Slovakia, importers must provide customs with an inspection and quarantine certificate issued by a Slovak inspection agency. The State Veterinary and Food Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic is responsible for the inspection and quarantine of animals and animal products (www.svssr.sk), and the Central Control and Testing Institute in Agriculture is responsible for the inspection and quarantine of plant products (www.uksup.sk).
China and Slovakia have signed the following major agreements:
(1) Agreement on Cooperation on Animal Quarantine and Animal Health (February 2001), available at: www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2002/content_61365.htm
(2) Agreement on Cooperation in Phytosanitary and Plant Protection (February 2001), available at: www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2002/content_61365.htm
(3) Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Field (November 2015)
(4) Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Bombus Ignitus from Slovakia to China (November 2017)
(5) Protocol on Animal Health and Public Health Conditions for the Export of Dairy Products from Slovakia to China (April 2019), available at: www.customs.gov.cn/customs/302249/2480148/2857433/index.html
(6) Memorandum on the Veterinary Sanitary Certificate for Tapirs Exported from Slovakia to China (June 2019)
(7) Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Veterinary Sanitary Requirements for the Import of Mutton from Slovakia to China (February 2021), available at:
jckspj.customs.gov.cn/spj/zcfg18/gfxwj65/3663381/index.html
1.1.5 Customs Administration Rules and Regulations
Upon Slovakia's accession to the EU on May 1, 2004, the EU's harmonized tariff rate was introduced. Products imported or exported between Slovakia and EU member states enjoy zero tariffs, but the exporter shall provide a delivery verification certificate; goods exported to Slovakia from non-EU members are levied at the EU Common Customs Tariff (CCT) based on the value of the goods. The EU annually publishes an updated tariff rate schedule in the form of Commission Directives. The methodology for tariff collection is relatively complex. While most products are subject to ad valorem tariff rates, the EU applies non-ad valorem tariff rates, including compound duties, mixed duties, or other technical tariffs, to certain agricultural products, chemical products, as well as salts, glass, watch components, and other specialized goods.
The tariff payment can be inquired at: ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/calculation-customs-duties_en
The import VAT can be inquired at: ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/vat_en
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China. The Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China version shall prevail.