Check a trade route
Start with what is already known. We separate the country route, the goods and the companies, then show what is established, what remains unknown and the next safe action.
Japan imports from South Korea across a customs border. No agreement is on record in our register. Classify the goods and verify the supplier before relying on any number.
Can a buyer in Japan import from South Korea?
TR-JP-KR-98798ABuyer in Japan → Supplier in South Korea · Goods not specifiedThird-country import into Japan
South Korea to Japan crosses a customs border. A customs declaration is filed on entry and the importer needs a Importer registration (or an Attorney for Customs Procedures).
No country-level sanctions programme on record (Japan)
No country-level programme of Japan covers South Korea or Japan in our sanctions register (register entries reviewed between 2026-05-27 and 2026-10-14).
No agreement found in our register
Our register of blocs and selected bilateral agreements has no entry covering South Korea and Japan. 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.
Check the WTO RTA database for the exact pair · Add the exact HS code
Import JCT 10% in Japan, Importer registration (or an Attorney for Customs Procedures) required
Japan charges import JCT of 10% on goods plus freight plus duty; the importer clears with a Importer registration (or an Attorney for Customs Procedures). Duty depends on the HS code and is not stated here.
Add the exact HS code for the duty rate
Goods not specified
Without the exact HS or CN code neither duty nor product rules can be established.
Add the exact HS or CN code · Describe the product
No supplier company selected
Country information cannot establish a supplier identity. Select the exact legal entity to screen it.
Select or establish the exact legal entity
Answer before detail
Country data cannot clear a transaction by itself. The boundary stays visible.
Established now
Still needed
Commercial invoice and packing list
Core shipment and valuation documents.
Transport document
Bill of lading, air waybill or road consignment note.
Customs declaration
Filed by the importer or a customs representative under the Importer registration (or an Attorney for Customs Procedures).
Proof of origin
Format depends on the applicable agreement, if any.
Product compliance evidence
Depends on the product code and intended use.
Typical and mandatory are kept separate. Each requirement names the responsible party.
Japan Customs
Observed Jul 21, 2026 · Import mechanics reviewed 2026-07-21
United Nations Security Council, sanctions information
Observed Aug 27, 2026 · Current official programme index
Japan MOFA, restrictive measures
Observed May 27, 2026 · Register reviewed 2026-05-27
WTO, Regional Trade Agreements database
Observed Aug 27, 2026 · Live register of notified agreements
NTA Japan
Observed Jul 21, 2026 · Standard rate reviewed 2026-07-21
Access2Markets, My Trade Assistant (tariffs and product requirements by HS code)
Observed Aug 27, 2026 · Live product query required
TR-JP-KR-98798A+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-JP-KR-98798A",
"mode": "third_country",
"transaction": {
"buyer": {
"company_id": null,
"name": "Buyer in Japan",
"country": "JP"
},
"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": "The route is open at country level. Duty, product rules and the supplier remain to be established.",
"summary": "Japan imports from South Korea across a customs border. No agreement is on record in our register. Classify the goods and verify the supplier before relying on any number."
},
"coverage_summary": "3 established · 3 not checked",
"facets": [
{
"key": "route",
"state": "established",
"conclusion": "Third-country import into Japan",
"explanation": "South Korea to Japan crosses a customs border. A customs declaration is filed on entry and the importer needs a Importer registration (or an Attorney for Customs Procedures).",
"scope": "Country route only. Says nothing about the goods or the parties.",
"missing_inputs": [],
"sources": [
{
"source_id": "customs-id-jp",
"source_label": "Japan Customs",
"source_url": "https://www.customs.go.jp/english/",
"observed_at": "2026-07-21",
"source_as_of": "Import mechanics reviewed 2026-07-21"
}
]
},
{
"key": "restrictions",
"state": "established",
"conclusion": "No country-level sanctions programme on record (Japan)",
"explanation": "No country-level programme of Japan covers South Korea or Japan in our sanctions register (register entries reviewed between 2026-05-27 and 2026-10-14).",
"scope": "Country-level programmes only; listed persons and entities are screened per company",
"missing_inputs": [],
"sources": [
{
"source_id": "un-sc-sanctions",
"source_label": "United Nations Security Council, sanctions information",
"source_url": "https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/sanctions/information",
"observed_at": "2026-08-27",
"source_as_of": "Current official programme index"
},
{
"source_id": "jp-mofa-sanctions",
"source_label": "Japan MOFA, restrictive measures",
"source_url": "https://www.mofa.go.jp/erp/c_see/ua/page1e_000378.html",
"observed_at": "2026-05-27",
"source_as_of": "Register reviewed 2026-05-27"
}
]
},
{
"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 Japan. 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 JCT 10% in Japan, Importer registration (or an Attorney for Customs Procedures) required",
"explanation": "Japan charges import JCT of 10% on goods plus freight plus duty; the importer clears with a Importer registration (or an Attorney for Customs Procedures). 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-jp",
"source_label": "NTA Japan",
"source_url": "https://www.nta.go.jp/english/",
"observed_at": "2026-07-21",
"source_as_of": "Standard rate reviewed 2026-07-21"
},
{
"source_id": "customs-id-jp",
"source_label": "Japan Customs",
"source_url": "https://www.customs.go.jp/english/",
"observed_at": "2026-07-21",
"source_as_of": "Import mechanics 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 under the Importer registration (or an Attorney for Customs Procedures).",
"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/japan/south-korea"
}Recommended next step
Reported facts with their official sources, not legal advice.
Before contracting, verify the South Korea supplier at the registry. Selling the other way? Can a buyer in South Korea import from Japan?