Pablo Muñiz Partner, Head of Customs Practice VAN BAEL & BELLIS
Pablo specialises in EU trade law with a particular emphasis on EU customs law, including customs classification, origin issues, customs valuation, export controls and sanctions. He regularly advises clients on multi-jurisdictional customs matters involving the European Commission, OLAF, and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
Pablo represents clients before national customs administrations, including the Spanish customs administration. His extensive experience includes litigation before the EU and national courts.
Pablo’s expertise includes assisting clients in the submission of remission and repayment applications to the national administrations and in related proceedings before the European Commission and the EU Court of Justice. In one Commission case, he successfully obtained the remission of imports concerning the tariff classification of home cinema devices. He also represented Makro Autoservicio Mayorista and Vestel Iberia in a case concerning the validity of a Commission remission decision, in which the EU Court of Justice addressed the effects that such Commission decisions have on economic operators.
Pablo has also assisted governments in a number of WTO disputes including: EU – Anti-Dumping Duties on Malleable Cast Iron Tube or Pipe Fittings from Brazil; EC-Selected Customs Issues; and EC and its Member States – Tariff Treatment of Certain Information Technology Products. Pablo regularly participates in training seminars organised by the WCO as an expert speaker on various customs matters. Pablo’s expertise is in EU customs law, including tariff classification, origin issues, with particular emphasis on free trade agreements and other preferential arrangements, as well as customs valuation controversies. He advises on multi-jurisdictional customs matters involving the EU Court of Justice, the European Commission, OLAF, and the World Customs Organization (WCO). He has deep experience in submission of remission and repayment requests in various EU Member states, and litigation on customs classification, origin and valuation issues before national courts, often with the aim to refer the matter to the EU Court of Justice, or directly in appeals before the EU Court of Justice, as well as disputes concerning access to documents on customs matters. He is also experienced in WTO matters, particularly customs-related matters.
Pablo deals on a daily basis with issues involving Binding Origin Information and Binding Tariff Information. Moreover, he is actively involved in a number of committees as a rapporteur, most notably the Customs & Trade Facilitation Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU, where he is heavily involved in the file concerning the European Commission’s proposal to harmonise customs infringements and penalties – an issue that is quite controversial.
Education College of Europe, Bruges, LL.M. in European Legal Studies University of Oviedo, Spain, Master of Laws University of Sheffield
Bar Admissions Oviedo, Spain Brussels
Professional Activities Editorial Board of the Global Trade and Customs Journal