The European Union brings together 27 countries, including France, in a single market: goods move freely within it, and the same customs rules apply to products coming from outside.
Trade with Asia
In 2024, the European Union's trade in goods reached €731 billion with China, €67.4 billion with Vietnam and €42.2 billion with Thailand. Source: Eurostat (European Commission).
Since 2020, a free trade agreement has linked the European Union and Vietnam: see our guide on this agreement.
Checking a company from another EU country before you pay
- Its EU VAT number on VIES, the European Commission's free service: it shows whether the number is valid and, depending on the country, the company's name and address.
- The business register of its country, available from the European e-Justice portal.
On Passerelle France-Asie, every company from the European Union is checked with VIES, then in the business register of its country.
VIES alone is not enough: it only tells you whether a VAT number is valid. Also check the name and address in the country's business register, and pay only into an account in the name of that company.
Useful organisations
- Access2Markets: the European Commission's portal on customs duties, rules and formalities for exporting and importing.
- EU SME Centre: support centre for European small and medium-sized businesses working with China.
- EABC (European Association for Business and Commerce): the association of European businesses in Thailand.
- EuroCham Vietnam: the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.
Selling in the European Union from Asia
- The same product rules apply in all 27 countries: a product compliant in France is also compliant in Germany or Italy.
- Many products must carry the CE marking; labels must be in the language of the country of sale.
- An importer established in the Union is often responsible for compliance: choose it carefully.
Our useful guides
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