Can a buyer in South Africa import from Egypt?

• 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

  Needed only when claiming the preferential rate.

  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-ZA-EG-645B86",
  "mode": "third_country",
  "transaction": {
    "buyer": {
      "company_id": null,
      "name": "Buyer in South Africa",
      "country": "ZA"
    },
    "supplier": {
      "company_id": null,
      "name": "Supplier in Egypt",
      "country": "EG"
    },
    "movement": {
      "ship_from": "EG",
      "origin_country": "EG"
    },
    "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": "Egypt to South Africa is a third-country movement. Our sanctions register has no reviewed coverage for South Africa, so the answer shows the gap instead of assuming ordinary treatment."
  },
  "coverage_summary": "2 established · 1 need input · 3 not checked",
  "facets": [
    {
      "key": "route",
      "state": "established",
      "conclusion": "Third-country import into South Africa",
      "explanation": "Egypt to South Africa 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": "South Africa sanctions regime not connected",
      "explanation": "We hold no machine-readable sanctions source for a buyer established in South Africa or a supplier established in Egypt, so this facet cannot be answered from our data.",
      "scope": "No source connected for either side's jurisdiction",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Check the South Africa 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": "needs_input",
      "conclusion": "AfCFTA covers this pair",
      "explanation": "The agreement is on record. The preferential rate itself is a product question: it needs the exact HS code, the product schedule and proof of Egypt origin.",
      "scope": "Existence of the agreement only; rate and origin rules per product",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Add the exact HS code",
        "Obtain acceptable proof of origin from the supplier"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "bloc-afcfta",
          "source_label": "African Continental Free Trade Area",
          "source_url": "https://au-afcfta.org/",
          "observed_at": "2026-05-27",
          "source_as_of": "Membership reviewed 2026-05-27"
        },
        {
          "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": "vat_and_customs",
      "state": "established",
      "conclusion": "Import VAT 15% in South Africa",
      "explanation": "South Africa charges import VAT of 15% 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-za",
          "source_label": "SARS South Africa",
          "source_url": "https://www.sars.gov.za/types-of-tax/value-added-tax/",
          "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": "Needed only when claiming the preferential rate.",
      "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/south-africa/egypt"
}