Korean Tech and Brands into the EU: Operating the FTA

Components for EU manufacturers

EU manufacturers design Korean components into their products. They expect reliable supply in the EU: buffer stock, engineering support and a contract partner under EU law. The BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) takes on that role. Customers call off goods from Dutch stock. The BV invoices within the EU at 0% VAT with documented proof and handles claims locally.

Battery components

Korean companies supply cathode materials, separators and modules to the growing battery industry in Europe. The EU battery rules place duties on companies in the EU. These duties cover due diligence, carbon footprint declarations and the battery passport, which is being introduced in stages. The BV takes on these roles in the group’s own name.

Selling products in the EU? Check which EU representative your product needs.

Consumer brands and K-beauty

For cosmetics, you need an EU responsible person for each product line. For consumer electronics, you need someone in the GPSR role. For all product lines, you need EPR registrations. One BV can take on all these roles for all 27 markets. For direct sales to consumers, a growing channel, you use OSS.

Is your group setting up a Dutch entity? See setting up a Dutch subsidiary for what you need, how long it takes and what the parent company must sign.

The entity

For the setup process from Korea, see how Korean companies set up a Dutch BV. For import cash flow, see Article 23.