Importing from Japan: EU/Japan trade deal

Deanicus

Hi,

I am having trouble finding out if guitars can now be imported from Japan without customs duties / VAT etc

Does anyone know for sure what the case is or has anyone recently imported one?

Cheers!

feylya

Unfortunately not. Looks like cheese, beef, and cars only http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-19-785_en.htm

Deanicus

feylya wrote: »

Unfortunately not. Looks like cheese, beef, and cars only http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-19-785_en.htm

Yeah I saw that but I think they might just be the headline stuff?

I've seen it mentioned that the agreement removes 99% of tariffs etc but I want to try and calculate costs to see if it is now cheaper to import than buy from within the EU

It's such a niche thing to import that there are no specific articles

feylya

It's fairly unlikely that they won't collect VAT. They might scrap or reduce import tax, but I'll be cynical until I see proof.

martinedwards

try contacting customs maybe?

Deanicus

I managed to get it from the UK for a great price so haven't gone any further with this but it would be nice if import duties were removed!

bbbbb

Bumping this, wondering if any one has any updates?
Thinking of getting a kawai or Yamaha piano (new), don’t want to find on Jan 1 they’ve dropped by X% or something.
Thanks

bbbbb

I think the answer is there are no additional duties to be removed.
Found rrp in Japan without taxes here
https://www.kawai.jp/product/c/uprightpianos/kseries/
According to revenue music instruments have vat at 23%
https://www.revenue.ie/en/vat/vat-rates/search-vat-rates/M/musical-instruments.aspx
Which ends up not too far off new prices here (probably a few ‘00 for shipping)
Unless of course the rrp prices are significantly discounted, but I don’t think the Japanese go in for haggling

population

Such a pity. Great instruments for a great price if the taxes weren't an issue. But sadly they are.