Based primarily in Paris and Brussels, our dedicated Customs and International Trade team advises clients on all aspects of French and EU regulations governing cross-border trade.
Our Expertise in Customs and International Trade Law
In an increasingly complex and evolving regulatory landscape, we leverage our in-depth knowledge to help secure your international operations. Our key areas of expertise include:
- Customs Law
- Tariff classification
- Origin and “Made in” labeling
- Customs valuation (transaction value, adjustments, transfer pricing)
- Special procedures and customs regimes
- Customs certifications (AEO)
- Preferential trade agreements
- Trade Compliance & Export Controls
- Export controls (dual-use goods and technology, military equipment, waste)
- Economic and financial sanctions
- Anti-corruption and anti-money laundering compliance
- Indirect Taxation
- Environmental and energy taxes (TIC)
- Excise duties on alcohol and tobacco
- Import VAT
- Contractual Structuring of Trade Flows
- Customs and freight forwarding representation agreements
- Incoterms management
- Technical Standards and Non-Tariff Barriers
- Sector-specific regulations (e.g., REACH, IVD)
- Technical standards (e.g., CE marking)
- Ethics and Supply Chain Decarbonization
- CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism)
- Deforestation regulations
- Forced labor compliance
Dispute Resolution and Regulatory Enforcement
To ensure the success of our assignments, we have developed a perfect We offer clients deep expertise in navigating disputes and enforcement proceedings before national, EU (DG TAXUD), and international (WCO) customs authorities, as well as investigative bodies (OLAF, national and European prosecutors) and relevant courts and tribunals.
A Global Structure to Support Your International Needs
Thanks to the international structure and culture of the DS Group, our Customs & International Trade team can support your projects across all jurisdictions where we have offices, including: Europe, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Africa
A Network of Trusted International Partners
In jurisdictions where DS does not have a physical presence, our attorneys work closely with a trusted network of specialized local partners (e.g., for U.S. EAR/ITAR regulations). DS Avocats is the French member of both the Global Legal Customs Association (GLCA) and the European Customs Counsel Network (ECCN).
We also play an active role within the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), notably in both the French and international customs commissions, particularly in areas related to customs valuation.
A Unique, Integrated Offering Combining Tax and Customs Expertise
Our Tax, Customs & International Trade department offers a one-stop-shop approach that combines efficiency with legal excellence, ensuring seamless, pragmatic support tailored to your needs in France and across the EU.
Customs and Tax Audit & Litigation
We guide clients through every stage of customs and tax audits and litigation, at both national and international levels. Our team includes three former senior officials from French tax and customs administrations (DGFIP and DGDDI), bringing valuable insight and proven experience.
Tax & Supply Chain Modeling
We help design and optimize your operational structures from a tax and customs perspective—including transfer pricing, leveraging trade agreements, VAT management, and dealing with tariff and non-tariff barriers—for market entry, restructuring, sourcing, and distribution strategies.
Indirect and Environmental Taxation
We provide comprehensive, forward-looking advice on increasingly critical issues such as cross-border VAT on digital sales, excise duties, eco-contributions, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)—all key to meeting today’s environmental and sustainability goals.
Discover our tax law expertise: Tax Law
Specialized Expertise in European Economic Law
Our Brussels-based lawyers provide targeted support to clients on matters relating to trade defense instruments (anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, safeguard measures) and market protection regulations, including the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR), Anti-Coercion Regulation (ACR), International Procurement Instrument (IPI), and others.
