France Ends Regime 42: What It Means for Exporters and Why You Should Attend Metro’s December Customs Webinar

France Ends Regime 42: What It Means for Exporters and Why You Should Attend Metro’s December Customs Webinar

Nov 10, 2025 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,

France will withdraw Regime 42 from 1 January 2026, removing the VAT simplification that currently allows goods to enter France without import VAT when they are destined for another EU member state.

The ending of Regime 42 has attracted little publicity, but it will directly affect UK exporters shipping on DDP terms through the primary Dover–Calais Channel crossing.

Under DDP, the UK exporter is responsible for EU import formalities. Once Regime 42 is removed, any DDP shipment entering France will require French import VAT accounting, unless the exporter holds a French VAT registration. For many businesses, this introduces new administrative steps and potential cash-flow exposure.

Some exporters may look to reroute via alternative EU entry points, like Belgium or the Netherlands, where Regime 42 will continue. However, the Dover–Calais corridor remains the fastest, most reliable and most cost-efficient route into mainland Europe.

Diverting freight via Belgian or Dutch ports will inevitably add cost, extend transit times and risk congestion if volumes surge.

To ensure continuity, Metro can support exporters with three practical solutions:

  • T1 Transit Solution
    Goods can transit France under a T1, avoiding the need to pay French import VAT. Clearance takes place at the final EU destination, maintaining full route flexibility.
  • French VAT Registration and Returns
    For exporters wishing to continue using Dover–Calais without a transit procedure, Metro can arrange and manage French VAT registration and periodic returns.
  • Routing via alternative port pairs
    Where customers prefer to use Dutch or Belgian ports to retain Regime 42 benefits, Metro can support and coordinate these routings through established carrier and agent networks.

For many DDP exporters, the T1 transit route or French VAT registration, supported by Metro, will offer the best combination of compliance, speed and cost-efficiency.

Exporters should review their EU import arrangements early to ensure seamless operations ahead of January 2026.

Metro’s customs and compliance specialists are working with exporting customers to identify exposure, adapt procedures, and ensure every movement remains compliant and cost-efficient under the new rules.

EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director, to discuss how we can help safeguard your European exports and keep your goods flowing smoothly through the transition.

Upcoming Metro Webinar: Essential Customs Changes for 2026

To help businesses prepare for these and other major regulatory shifts, Metro’s customs specialists will host a one-hour webinar in December.

Webinar Title

Avoid EU Border Disruption in 2026: The Key Customs Changes and How to Prepare Now

What We’ll Cover
A focused, practical review of:

  • ICS2 and the new GB ENS requirements
  • The end of Regime 42 in France: who is affected and what to do
  • French Douane ELO rules and their impact on all French port traffic
  • EUDR, CBAM and the UK’s expected approach
  • 2026 trade agreements and anticipated regulatory changes
  • Accessing CDS data free of charge
  • De minimis rule changes and the end of low-value relief
  • Compliance requirements for 2026 – what they mean in real terms

5 December @ 11:00 AM (1 hour) – CLICK TO BOOK

Exporters, importers and supply chain managers are strongly encouraged to attend. This session provides clarity on the border changes that will define 2026, and the actions businesses need to take now to stay compliant and competitive.

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Metro Global USA: Building Momentum in a Key Market

Nov 9, 2025 | ,

Metro has taken a major step forward in its international growth strategy with the successful establishment and rapid expansion of Metro Global USA.

The operation now spans more than 10 offices across key logistics hubs, including New York, Chicago, and Dallas, strengthening Metro’s local presence and ability to support clients and partners in one of the world’s most critical trade markets.

The groundwork for this expansion was laid earlier this year, when CEO Grant Liddell and Managing Director Andy Smith completed a two-week visit to the United States to meet key clients, carriers, and partners. The visit confirmed the opportunity for a dedicated U.S. sales platform that would complement Metro’s global network and enhance its ability to serve transatlantic and intra-Americas trade.

That vision has now become a reality. Chief Financial Officer Laurence Burford and Project Manager Sophie Moss recently completed a strategic visit to the U.S. to embed Metro’s systems, culture, and governance across the new business. Their work focused on establishing financial and operational infrastructure aligned with U.S. regulations, ensuring robust budgeting frameworks, and integrating Metro’s digital and customer service platforms to deliver consistency and efficiency from day one.

Expanding Capability and Confidence

Momentum is building rapidly. Metro Global USA has already begun hiring additional staff to manage growing client demand, and its teams are now fully operational across a range of sectors. The U.S. offices are working closely with Metro’s UK and global teams to optimise trade lanes, improve routing options, and deliver end-to-end visibility through enhanced systems integration.

The visit by Burford and Moss was described internally as “extremely positive and beneficial,” generating strong engagement among U.S. staff and reinforcing Metro’s people-first culture. Their presence ensured alignment in both process and purpose, establishing a foundation for scalable growth that reflects Metro’s commitment to long-term partnership and service excellence.

Looking Ahead: Deepening Transatlantic Collaboration

Building on this momentum, Grant Liddell and Andy Smith are planning a follow-up visit to the U.S. in December to review progress, meet with staff and partners, and shape the next phase of expansion. Their agenda will focus on strengthening customer engagement, supporting further recruitment, and exploring additional investment opportunities in the North American market.

As global trade patterns evolve, Metro’s deepened presence in the U.S. ensures that its clients benefit from a truly integrated network, combining global reach with local expertise, and delivering predictable, efficient, and resilient logistics solutions across the Atlantic and beyond.

For more information about Metro Global USA or to explore opportunities in the U.S. market, please EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director.

BIFA’s 2025 Standard Trading Conditions: A Strategic Update for UK Freight Forwarding

BIFA’s 2025 Standard Trading Conditions: A Strategic Update for UK Freight Forwarding

Oct 24, 2025 | , ,

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has unveiled its 2025 edition of the Standard Trading Conditions (STC), replacing the 2021 version under which Metro and the wider UK forwarding industry currently operate. 

The 2025 revision represents one of the most comprehensive updates in recent years.
BIFA has sought to future-proof the framework against a more volatile trading environment, incorporating lessons learned since Brexit and adapting to the increasing frequency of customs-related responsibilities handled by forwarders.

The new STC also strengthens legal robustness, ensuring compliance with the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, and updates terminology to align with modern commercial practice and current UK contract law.

Key Changes in the 2025 STC

  • Updated liability framework – Clarified definitions of loss, damage, delay, and consequential loss, with adjustments to how liability limits apply to multimodal transport and ancillary services.
  • Enhanced customs provisions – Expanded clauses covering declarations, indirect representation, and data accuracy, reflecting the critical role forwarders play in UK border compliance.
  • Digital documentation and e-commerce – Introduction of language recognising electronic records, digital communication, and automation tools as valid and binding forms of documentation.
  • Improved clarity on lien and payment rights – Modernised wording on forwarders’ entitlement to retain goods or documentation until payment is received, ensuring consistency with case law.
  • Force majeure and sanctions – Strengthened references to trade sanctions, embargoes, and extraordinary disruptions such as pandemics or cyber incidents.
  • Modernised terminology – Simplified and standardised language throughout to reduce ambiguity and prevent misinterpretation in contractual disputes.

Collectively, these revisions make the 2025 STC more aligned with the realities of today’s international trade, providing forwarders and their clients with a transparent and fair contractual framework.

What Shippers Should Do

  • Familiarise themselves with the new conditions and note how these may affect contractual responsibilities, especially regarding customs declarations and documentation accuracy.
  • Review existing contracts to ensure consistency with the updated terms ahead of implementation.
  • Engage with account managers for clarification on any specific service implications under the new framework.

Transition and Implementation

The 2025 Standard Trading Conditions take effect on 31 December 2025, replacing the 2021 edition.

BIFA has published the revised terms well in advance to give members and their customers time to prepare, review contractual documentation, and ensure a seamless transition.

The full text for the 2025 edition can be found here, and the 2021 edition here.

The 2025 BIFA Standard Trading Conditions introduce important legal and operational changes that affect all freight forwarding contracts. EMAIL Laurence Burford, Chief Financial Officer, to discuss the details, potential implications, and how Metro can help ensure your trading agreements remain fully compliant and commercially protected.

Tariff Front-loading Pushes US Imports from Record Highs to Year-End Declines

Tariff Front-loading Pushes US Imports from Record Highs to Year-End Declines

Aug 19, 2025 | , , ,

After setting an all-time monthly record for container imports in July, US retailers are bracing for a sharp reversal to close out 2025, with volumes projected to tumble nearly 20% year on year through the holiday season.

The National Retail Federation’s (NRF) latest Global Port Tracker shows that front-loading tied to tariff deadlines and labour fears has left supply chains overstocked heading into the final quarter. As a result, the NRF forecasts full-year imports will be down almost 6% on 2024.

September’s forecast suggest that inbound containerised cargo will be down 20% on last year, while October and November are predicted to be almost 20% below 2024 levels. November would mark the lowest monthly total since April 2023. December imports are also set to fall nearly 20% year over year.

This comes in stark contrast to July, when tariff-driven front-loading propelled US imports to 2.609 million TEUs. The highest monthly figure ever recorded. Ports such as Los Angeles and Houston reported double-digit growth compared with June, as shippers rushed to beat potential duty increases. Imports from Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent set new records, while China’s volumes rebounded 36% month on month, even if still down compared with 2024.

But analysts caution that the surge represented a distortion, not a sustainable trend. “Friends, allies and foes are all being hit by distortions in trade flows as importers try to second-guess tariff levels by pulling forward imports before the tariffs take effect,” warned one. “This will certainly lead to a downturn in trade volumes by late September because inventories for the holiday season will already be in hand.”

The tariff backdrop remains fluid. Washington and Beijing recently extended their trade truce until November, keeping tariffs at 30% on Chinese goods entering the US and 10% on American exports to China. That temporary pause avoided the escalation to triple-digit duties threatened earlier in the year, but left shippers in limbo.

Jonathan Gold, NRF’s vice president for supply chain and customs policy, said the figures underline how tariffs are reshaping supply chains. “Tariffs are beginning to drive up consumer prices, and fewer imports will eventually mean fewer goods on store shelves,” he noted.

With consumer demand uncertain and trade policy still in flux, retailers are preparing for a far quieter peak season than the record-breaking summer surge suggested.

From record highs to steep year-end declines, many supply chains are overstocked and exposed to policy uncertainty.

In this volatile environment, shippers need more than capacity, they need agility and control.

Metro’s dedicated sea freight team and expanding US footprint, helps businesses navigate these swings with confidence. From proactive capacity management and efficient routing to supply chain visibility and inventory optimisation, we ensure your cargo keeps moving smoothly across the Pacific, whatever the market conditions.

EMAIL Andy Smith, Managing Director, to discuss how Metro can safeguard your transpacific supply chain.

Category: Metro

BIFA | International Trade | Metro

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