One Minute Late, Thousands Lost: U.S. Customs Tightens Enforcement Across All Modes

One Minute Late, Thousands Lost: U.S. Customs Tightens Enforcement Across All Modes

Oct 22, 2025 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In U.S. trade compliance, even a one-minute delay can be costly. Recent cases show importers and logistics partners facing thousands of dollars in penalties simply because mandatory filings were completed moments after official cut-off times.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has stepped up automated monitoring across all major modes. For ocean freight, the Importer Security Filing (ISF-10) and manifest submissions must be lodged 24 hours before vessel loading. In airfreight, the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) system requires pre-departure data to be transmitted electronically before goods leave origin. And for trucking, particularly on north- and south-bound cross-border movements, the ACE eManifest must be filed at least one hour before arrival at the border. In all cases, late filings, even by seconds can trigger massive penalties or cargo holds.

The increased use of digital systems means there is now almost zero tolerance for timing errors. CBP’s automated compliance tools record submission times to the second, leaving little room for discretion or appeal.

This sharper focus on procedural precision comes amid a wider enforcement drive targeting customs fraud. In a separate case this month, two executives at a Los Angeles-based wholesale clothing importer were jailed and their company hit with a multi-million dollar fine for systematically under-valuing goods to reduce duties.

The message is clear: whether it’s filing times or declared values, compliance margins have all but disappeared.  To avoid finding yourself on the wrong side of a deadline lapse, it is critical that risks are mitigated:

  • Integrate automated alerts in your customs-filing systems so you’re aware of lead-time requirements well in advance.
  • Build a buffer into your internal processes: treat the submission cutoff as real time, and build in a buffer to allow for any delay.
  • Ensure your documentation and data (B/L numbers, consignee information, classification) are final and entered before the time cut-off — incomplete entries are a common cause of last-minute corrections and delay.

The Critical Take-Away

For businesses based in the UK or EU working with U.S. supply chains, this is a reminder that compliance deadlines are not just internal housekeeping, they carry real cost. When operational bottlenecks or last-minute changes push a filing even seconds late, the financial consequences can be large. Work closely with your U.S. customers and brokers to ensure that your entry process is streamlined, accurately filed and firmly upstream of any bottleneck.

Metro’s U.S. brokerage teams combine deep CBP compliance expertise with our advanced CuDoS customs automation platform, ensuring every declaration meets filing deadlines accurately and on time. EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director, to learn how our integrated systems and on-the-ground U.S. presence can help safeguard your business and keep your supply chain fully compliant.

Carriers Pull Sailings and Add GRIs as US Port Fees Add New Cost Layer

Carriers Pull Sailings and Add GRIs as US Port Fees Add New Cost Layer

Oct 14, 2025 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Container lines are tightening capacity to defend freight rates just as new U.S. port fees on China vessels start on 14 October—costs that carriers say will be passed through to shippers.

In the run-up to contracting season, the shipping alliances have stepped up blank sailings to support pricing. Between weeks 42–46, carriers withdrew 41 of 716 planned east–west sailings with the heaviest cuts on the transpacific and Asia–Europe corridors. It means that 6% of capacity, or 544,000 TEU have been stripped from transpacific and Asia–Europe trade-lanes over the past four weeks. 

Spot rates remain soft, with Drewry’s composite World Container Index dipping 1% in week 41, as carriers signal fresh GRIs of up to $2,300/teu and congestion/peak surcharges as they curb supply with voids and slow steaming.

USTR port fees are active

From 14 October, the United States is imposing USTR “special port service fees” on China-linked tonnage, with payment required in advance of arrival to avoid being denied lading, unlading or clearance.

For Chinese-owned/operated vessels, the fee starts at $50 per net ton, stepping up annually to 2028. For Chinese-built ships (not China-operated), the fee is the higher of $18 per net ton or $120 per discharged container, while foreign-built vehicle carriers face $46 per net ton from today.

What it means for shippers

  • The USTR regime adds a new fixed cost per container on top of base ocean rates and surcharges, and carriers are preparing pass-throughs.
  • With 6% of departures already pulled on main east–west trades and more voids likely, load factors are rising on the sailings that remain, which will add upward price pressure.
  • U.S. rules emphasise USTR pre-payment and proof on arrival, with non-compliance risks of port denial, cascading delays to inland supply chains and additional cost.

The container shipping lines are using their capacity and surcharge levers to prop up rates, while the USTR/China port fees, effective from last Tuesday, inject a non-market cost that will filter through to shippers. Expect more targeted blanks, GRIs with short notice, and more surcharges on Asia–Europe and transpacific flows into November.

At Metro, we work hand-in-hand with our network and carrier partners to keep cargo moving, even when the market is disrupted.

From time-sensitive shipments to sudden blankings, our sea freight team secure the right space to safeguard your supply chains and shield you from GRIs.

EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director, today to explore how we can protect your US supply chains and insulate you from threatened GRIs.

Airfreight Cools; Growth Still Building

Airfreight Cools; Growth Still Building

Oct 14, 2025 | , , , , , ,

Even though air cargo is easing back after a brisk summer, global tonnages rose in the third quarter, with eCommerce redrawing lanes and hub dynamics, while UK airport expansions point to a more connected decade ahead.

Worldwide air cargo tonnages were up 4% YoY in Q3 2025 and while average spot prices were down 3% over the same period, it signals a market that’s cooling from 2024’s highs rather than falling. 

IATA’s cargo data reinforces this picture: CTKs, a key measure of air-freight volume, rose over 5% in July and 4% in August, indicating capacity is expanding but broadly in line with demand.

Analysts continue to forecast demand growth of 3 to 4% for 2025, noting that while September momentum moderated after a surprisingly strong summer it is evidence of stabilisation rather than slump. 

The biggest structural change is in cross-border eCommerce, with operators pivoting to high frequency, later cut-off and belly-hold connectivity over traditional bulk consolidations. 

While tariff hikes and the end of de minimis exemptions have softened traffic flows from China and Hong Kong to the USA, trade-lanes from China and Hong Kong into Europe have gained share, with European hubs absorbing tech, parts, components and small-package uplifts.

Primary winners include:

  • Liege where July and August cargo figures are up 14% and 29% YoY, with YTD volumes up 13% at almost 850,000 tonnes.
  • East Midlands handled 375,000 tonnes of freight in 2024/25 and has flagged surging express volumes tied to export growth. 
  • Leipzig/Halle processes around 2,000 tonnes per night for Europe-wide next-day delivery, underlining its position as Europe’s eCommerce workhorse. 
  • Cologne/Bonn handles 850,000 tonnes annually, with envious wide-body links, including the addition of India–Europe capacity this year. 

More UK lift on the way

  • Gatwick second runway approved, with reports suggesting operations by 2029. With almost two-thirds of UK air cargo moving in passenger belly-hold, air cargo tonnage could double. 
  • East Midlands continues to invest around its all-cargo ecosystem and free-port, positioning. 
  • Heathrow is already the UK’s most important port by value and approval for a 3rd runway will enhance its role as a global hub for imports and provide unparalleled access for British businesses to international markets.

Capacity Challenges Still Remain

About 4m tonnes of eCommerce was carried by air last year and that will be exceeded in 2025, yet new capacity cannot be added fast enough, with Boeing and Airbus unable to deliver the numbers needed. The result is a squeezed market, with carriers competing for capacity and aircraft flying harder. 

On Asia–Europe, 2023 saw 1.2× more lift east-to-west and yields 1.6× higher than the return; in early 2025, the yield gap widened to 2.6×. Similar imbalances appear on transpacific lanes, creating quasi one-way flows that force changes to freighter scheduling, network design and even fleet choices. In short, eCommerce is growing faster than airframes can, and the economics are shifting with it.

Outlook

Air freight is adapting to a new environment, with softer rates, steady volumes steady and ascendant eCommerce. With European hubs thriving and the UK set to add runway and cargo capability, the sector’s medium-term outlook is positive, but shippers need to stay agile to see the benefits. 

Metro gives you the visibility, agility, and expertise to adapt to shifting trade flows and capacity constraints. 

EMAIL managing director, Andy Smith, to learn how we can strengthen your supply chain by actively managing capacity, optimising routings, and leveraging trusted carrier partnerships.

Brands Adapt to a New US Trade Reality

Brands Adapt to a New US Trade Reality

Sep 30, 2025 | , , ,

UK fashion brands and retailers have long viewed the United States as the ultimate growth market, drawn by its scale, spending power, and trendsetting influence. But new trade policies and tariff changes mean that succeeding in America now demands more resilience and strategic agility than ever before.

As the US has scrapped the “de minimis” rule, which had allowed shipments under $800 to enter duty-free and ramped up tariffs, UK brands are rethinking every stage of their entry strategies. Once reliant on seamless, low-cost access for direct-to-consumer and test shipments, brands now face extra duty, customs checks, shipping expense, and more paperwork, even on small parcels.

For many, rising costs and increased bureaucracy threaten profitability and expansion plans just as competition and consumer expectations intensify.

Turning Challenge into Opportunity

While some UK retailers have pressed pause on ambitious US store launches, pivoting towards digital channels or wholesale collaborations to maintain a presence with lower risk, others have doubled down, unveiling shops in key metros and converting retail units to local fulfilment spaces. Robust consumer demand, particularly for womenswear and occasion-wear is encouraging brands to keep investing, yet the focus for autumn/winter 2025 is on smarter pricing and operational transparency.

Many are adopting “all-inclusive” US pricing, building duties and shipping into up-front costs and clearly communicating this to customers. This not only preserves brand trust but also softens the sting of retail price hikes, which are often in the range of 20–30%, to reflect tariff increases and core logistics expenses. According to executives quoted in industry analysis, US shoppers, and especially women seeking high-value items, remain willing to spend if pricing is transparent and the overall brand proposition remains strong.

Managing Tariff and Sourcing Risks

Tariff structures have become more complex and increasingly volatile, with rates ranging from 10% for UK-origin apparel to as high as 50% for goods sourced from countries such as India, now impacted by additional duties in retaliation for trade decisions. The end of de minimis has further complicated direct-to-consumer logistics, requiring every incoming parcel to undergo duty assessment and customs clearance. Many brands have responded by broadening sourcing strategies, seeking to insulate themselves from abrupt tariff escalation or disruptions in high-risk producer nations.

Retailers also report stepping up risk management by diversifying suppliers, even at the cost of short-term speed or margin. Some brands, for instance, have paused or revised launches tied to affected regions, while others are maintaining close scrutiny of the US policy environment before committing to major investments.

Metro: Delivering Fashion Logistics Advantage

Succeeding in this new environment requires supply chain partners with deep expertise and agile solutions. Metro stands out for its long track record of delivering fashion logistics, combining global knowledge with hands-on operational support in the UK and United states.

Metro’s dedicated retail platform offers end-to-end supply chain visibility, specialist fulfilment services, and responsive support that fashion brands trust. From managing in-store launches and pop-ups to supporting direct-to-consumer deliveries and optimising last-mile logistics, Metro’s technology empowers brands to control costs, navigate customs changes, and keep products moving in sync with shifting sales cycles.

This level of insight and flexibility is essential as the “golden quarter” peak season approaches. Metro’s experience and local support help brands stay ahead of regulatory changes, respond to market trends, and build lasting competitive advantage.

Though the US trade landscape now presents more complexity and risk, it remains a vital growth market for fashion brands committed to meeting high consumer expectations and navigating tariff headwinds.

Businesses that benefit from Metro’s resilient, intelligent supply chain solutions will be best placed to weather uncertainty, prosper and grow in the evolving American marketplace.

EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director, today to explore how we can support your success in the United States.

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