Can a buyer in Egypt import from South Korea?

• Commercial invoice and packing list

  Core shipment and valuation documents.

  TypicalSupplier

• Transport document

  Bill of lading, air waybill or road consignment note.

  TypicalCarrier

• Customs declaration

  Filed by the importer or a customs representative.

  MandatoryBuyer / broker

• Proof of origin

  Format depends on the applicable agreement, if any.

  ConditionalSupplier

• Product compliance evidence

  Depends on the product code and intended use.

  ConditionalSupplier

Typical and mandatory are kept separate. Each requirement names the responsible party.

The same facet states, sources, evidence dates, missing inputs and transaction context as structured JSON.

{
  "schema_version": "trade-route-answer.v1",
  "kind": "trade_route_answer",
  "context_id": "TR-EG-KR-B3C0DD",
  "mode": "third_country",
  "transaction": {
    "buyer": {
      "company_id": null,
      "name": "Buyer in Egypt",
      "country": "EG"
    },
    "supplier": {
      "company_id": null,
      "name": "Supplier in South Korea",
      "country": "KR"
    },
    "movement": {
      "ship_from": "KR",
      "origin_country": "KR"
    },
    "goods": {
      "description": null,
      "hs_code": null,
      "end_use": "unknown"
    },
    "payment": {
      "currency": null,
      "bank_jurisdiction": "unknown"
    }
  },
  "verdict": {
    "state": "review",
    "title": "Country route described, coverage incomplete. No conclusion on this transaction yet.",
    "summary": "South Korea to Egypt is a third-country movement. Our sanctions register has no reviewed coverage for Egypt, so the answer shows the gap instead of assuming ordinary treatment."
  },
  "coverage_summary": "2 established · 4 not checked",
  "facets": [
    {
      "key": "route",
      "state": "established",
      "conclusion": "Third-country import into Egypt",
      "explanation": "South Korea to Egypt crosses a customs border. A customs declaration is filed on entry.",
      "scope": "Country route only. Says nothing about the goods or the parties.",
      "missing_inputs": [],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "wto-tariff-data",
          "source_label": "WTO, tariff data (MFN applied rates by member)",
          "source_url": "https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tariffs_e/tariff_data_e.htm",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Live tariff query required"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "restrictions",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "Egypt sanctions regime not connected",
      "explanation": "We hold no machine-readable sanctions source for a buyer established in Egypt or a supplier established in South Korea, so this facet cannot be answered from our data.",
      "scope": "No source connected for either side's jurisdiction",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Check the Egypt sanctions and export-control rules at the responsible authority",
        "Name the payment currency and bank to surface any US, UK or EU nexus"
      ],
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "key": "trade_preference",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "No agreement found in our register",
      "explanation": "Our register of blocs and selected bilateral agreements has no entry covering South Korea and Egypt. It is not exhaustive (for example it does not yet hold the EEA, the EU-Switzerland agreements or RCEP), so this is not a finding that no agreement exists or that MFN duty applies; check the WTO database before pricing.",
      "scope": "Our agreement register (13 blocs, selected bilateral FTAs)",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Check the WTO RTA database for the exact pair",
        "Add the exact HS code"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "wto-rta-is",
          "source_label": "WTO, Regional Trade Agreements database",
          "source_url": "https://rtais.wto.org/UI/PublicMaintainRTAHome.aspx",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Live register of notified agreements"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "vat_and_customs",
      "state": "established",
      "conclusion": "Import VAT 14% in Egypt",
      "explanation": "Egypt charges import VAT of 14% on goods plus freight plus duty. Duty depends on the HS code and is not stated here.",
      "scope": "Standard rate on a B2B import; reduced rates, deferral schemes and duty are outside this statement",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Add the exact HS code for the duty rate"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "vat-eg",
          "source_label": "ETA Egypt",
          "source_url": "https://www.eta.gov.eg/",
          "observed_at": "2026-07-21",
          "source_as_of": "Standard rate reviewed 2026-07-21"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "goods",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "Goods not specified",
      "explanation": "Without the exact HS or CN code neither duty nor product rules can be established.",
      "scope": "Product-specific requirements per code",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Add the exact HS or CN code",
        "Describe the product"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "access2markets",
          "source_label": "Access2Markets, My Trade Assistant (tariffs and product requirements by HS code)",
          "source_url": "https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/home",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Live product query required"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "company_screening",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "No supplier company selected",
      "explanation": "Country information cannot establish a supplier identity. Select the exact legal entity to screen it.",
      "scope": "No counterparty in scope",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Select or establish the exact legal entity"
      ],
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "documents": [
    {
      "title": "Commercial invoice and packing list",
      "note": "Core shipment and valuation documents.",
      "responsible_party": "Supplier",
      "requirement": "Typical"
    },
    {
      "title": "Transport document",
      "note": "Bill of lading, air waybill or road consignment note.",
      "responsible_party": "Carrier",
      "requirement": "Typical"
    },
    {
      "title": "Customs declaration",
      "note": "Filed by the importer or a customs representative.",
      "responsible_party": "Buyer / broker",
      "requirement": "Mandatory"
    },
    {
      "title": "Proof of origin",
      "note": "Format depends on the applicable agreement, if any.",
      "responsible_party": "Supplier",
      "requirement": "Conditional"
    },
    {
      "title": "Product compliance evidence",
      "note": "Depends on the product code and intended use.",
      "responsible_party": "Supplier",
      "requirement": "Conditional"
    }
  ],
  "next_actions": [
    "company_passport",
    "pre_payment_check",
    "landed_cost",
    "alternative_suppliers",
    "rfq"
  ],
  "human_page": "https://hellofapartner.com/can-i-trade/egypt/south-korea"
}