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-CN-GB-6CBC8D",
"mode": "cross_border",
"transaction": {
"buyer": {
"company_id": null,
"name": "Buyer in China",
"country": "CN"
},
"supplier": {
"company_id": null,
"name": "Supplier in United Kingdom",
"country": "GB"
},
"movement": {
"ship_from": "GB",
"origin_country": "GB"
},
"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": "United Kingdom and China are the selected parties' countries; the actual customs procedure remains to be established. Our sanctions register has no reviewed coverage for China, so the answer shows the gap instead of assuming ordinary treatment."
},
"coverage_summary": "1 established · 1 need input · 4 not checked",
"facets": [
{
"key": "route",
"state": "needs_input",
"conclusion": "Customs procedure not established for this shipment",
"explanation": "You selected a seller in United Kingdom, dispatch from United Kingdom and a buyer in China. Different country codes alone do not establish an external customs border: customs territories, internal arrangements, goods status and transit must be checked. For an ordinary third-country entry, China's importer identification is Customs registration (consignee filing); its applicability to this shipment remains to be established.",
"scope": "Selected countries only; customs and tax territory and goods status have not been established",
"missing_inputs": [
"Confirm the customs and tax territories for the actual movement",
"Establish the goods' customs status and any transit procedure"
],
"sources": [
{
"source_id": "customs-id-cn",
"source_label": "General Administration of Customs of China",
"source_url": "http://english.customs.gov.cn/",
"observed_at": "2026-07-21",
"source_as_of": "Import mechanics reviewed 2026-07-21"
}
]
},
{
"key": "restrictions",
"state": "not_checked",
"conclusion": "China outside our sanctions register's reviewed coverage",
"explanation": "Our country-level register holds no programme for China, but it lists only measures we have reviewed and is not exhaustive: silence here is a gap in our coverage, not a finding that no measure exists. UK (OFSI) binds this lane, so their measures on China have to be checked at the authority before anyone relies on this. UK (OFSI) binds the supplier itself: a seller established in United Kingdom follows its own export-control and sanctions rules whatever the currency.",
"scope": "No reviewed coverage for this country in our register",
"missing_inputs": [
"Check the China country measures at each binding authority (UK (OFSI))",
"Screen the supplier, its owners, the consignee and the end user"
],
"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": "uk-ofsi",
"source_label": "UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation",
"source_url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-financial-sanctions-implementation",
"observed_at": "2026-08-27",
"source_as_of": "Current official guidance"
}
]
},
{
"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 United Kingdom and China. 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": "Standard VAT rate 13% in China; shipment treatment not established",
"explanation": "The destination's standard VAT rate is 13%. This does not establish that this movement is a taxable import or that this rate applies to these goods. Confirm customs and tax territory, exemptions, the product-specific rate and the tax base before pricing. The Customs registration (consignee filing) concerns ordinary import clearance; first establish whether that procedure applies.",
"scope": "Destination standard rate only, not this shipment's tax treatment or duty",
"missing_inputs": [
"Add the exact HS code for the duty rate"
],
"sources": [
{
"source_id": "vat-cn",
"source_label": "STA China",
"source_url": "https://www.chinatax.gov.cn/eng/",
"observed_at": "2026-07-21",
"source_as_of": "Standard rate reviewed 2026-07-21"
},
{
"source_id": "customs-id-cn",
"source_label": "General Administration of Customs of China",
"source_url": "http://english.customs.gov.cn/",
"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": "Required only if the established customs procedure calls for it; check whether Customs registration (consignee filing) applies. Country codes alone do not establish this obligation.",
"responsible_party": "Buyer / broker",
"requirement": "Conditional"
},
{
"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/china/united-kingdom"
}
Can a buyer in China import from United Kingdom?