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Digital ATA Carnets Go Live from 1 June 2026

May 27, 2026 | ,

From 1 June 2026, the ATA Carnet system begins its digital transition, with eATA Carnets going live for movements involving the United Kingdom, EU, Norway and Switzerland. This is the first step in a phased global rollout that aims to make ATA Carnet procedures fully digital worldwide by 1 January 2028.

For businesses that regularly move professional equipment, exhibition and trade fair goods or commercial samples across borders on a temporary basis, this is a significant change and one that aligns closely with Metro’s broader investment in digital visibility and customs intelligence.

The ATA Carnet and what changes

An ATA Carnet is an international customs document that allows goods to be temporarily exported and imported into over 80 participating countries without paying duties or taxes, on the condition that they are re‑exported within the carnet’s validity period. It consolidates multiple customs declarations into a single document, simplifying border processes for temporary movements such as trade shows, product demos, film and TV shoots, sporting events and business travel with specialist equipment.

Under the new arrangements:

  • The process for obtaining a Carnet from issuing chambers remains broadly the same; applications are still submitted online to the relevant chamber.
  • Once issued, holders receive digital credentials (such as a PIN and QR code) and can download the Carnet into an official app or desktop interface.
  • At customs, the Carnet is presented digitally, typically by showing a QR code for scanning, instead of handing over a paper booklet.

During the transition, some routes will still require paper and others will support digital or both, depending on which countries have activated eATA procedures.

For Metro, this fits naturally alongside CuDoS, the AI‑powered customs operating system that is already helping automate declarations and improve classification accuracy. As Carnets become digital, the underlying data they generate may be linked to shipment tracking, analytics and risk profiling, giving customers a clearer end‑to‑end picture of temporary movements.

Practical steps before 1 June 2026

To prepare for the transition, businesses should:

  • Review upcoming movements
    Identify any temporary exports on or after 1 June 2026 involving the UK, EU, Norway or Switzerland that may need an ATA Carnet.
  • Check whether a digital Carnet will be required
    For relevant routes, confirm whether customs authorities on each leg are expecting an eATA Carnet, a paper Carnet or both, and plan accordingly.
  • Ensure staff understand the new process
    Anyone preparing, carrying or presenting Carnets – from logistics teams to travelling technicians and sales staff – should be briefed on how the digital process works and what to expect at customs.
  • Confirm access to the digital tools
    Make sure the person travelling with the goods, or the team managing the movement, has access to the required eATA app or desktop application, and knows how to retrieve and present the Carnet at border points.
  • Allow extra preparation time in early stages
    Build in additional time for applications, checks and customs formalities during the initial rollout period, while systems and users bed in.
  • Speak to your Carnet provider early
    Engage with your issuing chamber or customs partner in advance for any movements affected by the change to avoid last‑minute issues.

During the transition, it is strongly recommended that a paper Carnet is carried alongside the digital version whenever the itinerary crosses countries that are at different stages of the rollout. A single “paper‑only” country on the route means the paper Carnet must remain active throughout, even if eATA is available elsewhere.

Where Metro’s customs and tech capability helps

As a long‑standing customs intermediary, Metro already manages complex multi‑country documentation, guarantees and temporary admissions for customers in sectors such as events, engineering, automotive and high‑tech.

As eATA adoption expands, Carnet data may be integrated into wider shipment visibility and analytics for example, flagging expiring Carnets, tracking where goods are in relation to their authorised timelines, and highlighting any anomalies that could affect re‑export or future entries.

If you would like to discuss how the eATA rollout affects your planned events, demos or temporary equipment movements, or how to integrate Carnet processes into your wider customs and visibility strategy, please EMAIL Andy Fitchett, Metro’s Head of Customs & Compliance.

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New quote platform improves speed and accuracy

May 13, 2026 | , , ,

Metro’s updated online quote platform is helping businesses secure faster and more accurate freight solutions, as supply chains face growing time pressure and complexity.

The redesigned system captures more detailed shipment information at the enquiry stage, giving Metro’s commercial teams greater visibility of transport requirements from the outset and helping reduce delays caused by incomplete or fragmented information.

Customers can now specify transport mode, shipment type, cargo characteristics, customs requirements, pickup and delivery needs, and additional operational details within a single streamlined process. The enhanced structure is designed to support quicker turnaround times and more tailored responses, particularly for urgent, multimodal or specialist shipments.

Faster and more accurate responses for increasingly complex supply chains

As supply chains become more volatile, the ability to assess routing options and operational requirements quickly is becoming increasingly important. Delays at the enquiry stage can affect pricing accuracy, routing decisions and capacity availability, especially where shipments involve customs formalities, hazardous cargo, project freight or time-critical movements.

The revised quote process helps Metro gather the information needed to respond more effectively from the beginning, reducing the need for repeated follow-up communication and allowing solutions to be aligned more closely to customer requirements.

The platform has also been designed to reflect the increasingly varied nature of freight movements. Businesses can provide details covering road, sea, air, sea-air and project cargo requirements, alongside shipment type information including FCL, LCL, express, courier and full or part load transport.

Additional fields covering palletisation, stackability, hazardous cargo status and customs clearance requirements help improve operational planning and ensure enquiries are directed quickly to the appropriate specialist teams.

Supporting better planning and operational agility

The changes come at a time when businesses are placing greater emphasis on agility, contingency planning and visibility across supply chains. Ongoing disruption across ocean, air and road freight continues to create operational uncertainty, increasing the importance of rapid decision-making and accurate information exchange between customers and logistics providers.

By improving the quality of information available at the start of the enquiry process, Metro aims to accelerate response times and provide customers with routing and pricing solutions that more closely reflect their operational priorities.

Businesses looking for faster response times, tailored freight solutions and competitive pricing can access the updated quote platform via the green button above.

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US tariff refunds move closer as customs systems adapt to process large-scale repayments

Mar 18, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The process of refunding tariffs to US importers is beginning to take shape following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down duties imposed under emergency powers. 

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is developing a dedicated system within its Automated Commercial Environment to handle what is expected to be one of the largest refund exercises undertaken by the agency.

The process is being designed around four key stages: claim submission, automated validation and recalculation of duties, review and liquidation, and final refund payment. Importers will be required to submit detailed entry data, which the system will validate before calculating the amounts owed and issuing repayments electronically.

Although progress is being made, the scale of the task remains considerable. Tens of millions of entries are potentially affected, and the volume of data required means the process cannot be implemented immediately. Current timelines suggest the system will take several weeks to become fully operational, with further updates expected as development continues.

Data requirements will increase scrutiny on historical entries

The refund process will require importers to provide a comprehensive dataset covering entries where tariffs were paid. This includes classification details, country of origin, entry numbers, duty amounts and supporting documentation.

As a result, the process is likely to do more than simply return funds. By consolidating this level of information into a single submission, it effectively creates a detailed audit trail of past imports.

For businesses, this increases the importance of data accuracy and consistency. Any discrepancies in classification, valuation or origin could trigger further review, potentially extending timelines or leading to additional compliance checks.

Despite the scale of the opportunity, readiness across the importing community remains relatively low.

Only a small proportion of eligible importers have completed the necessary setup to receive refunds electronically. Until this process is finalised, any payments issued may be rejected, delaying recovery of funds.

At the same time, recent changes to US customs requirements mean that more detailed shipment information is already being requested earlier in the import process. Combined with the refund requirements, this is increasing the administrative burden on importers.

Submitting claims without fully validating the underlying data may expose businesses to additional scrutiny. Conversely, delaying preparation could result in slower access to funds once the system becomes fully operational.

This creates a balance between speed and compliance, where careful preparation is likely to be the most effective strategy.

Technology and expertise will play a critical role

Given the volume of entries and the level of detail required, technology is expected to play an increasingly important role in managing the process.

Automated systems can help organise entry data, validate submissions and identify inconsistencies before claims are filed. At the same time, experienced customs oversight remains essential to ensure that filings are accurate and aligned with regulatory requirements.

For many importers, this combination of technology and expertise will be key to navigating what is likely to be a complex and closely monitored process.

The tariff refund process presents a clear financial opportunity, but it also requires careful handling of data, compliance and submission timing.

Metro combines its US presence, local customs brokerage expertise and advanced systems, including its AI and machine-learning powered CuDoS platform, to support the CBP refund process - helping customers prepare accurate, compliant claims.

If you want to understand what you may be owed and how to approach the refund process with confidence, EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director at Metro, to discuss how Metro’s US customs team can support your submission strategy.

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Turning disruption into decision advantage

Mar 3, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The simultaneous disruption in the Persian Gulf and continued Red Sea avoidance is creating a supply chain shock without modern precedent. Metro’s latest application release is giving you unprecedented visibility.

With vessels held or diverting, Gulf-bound cargo potentially discharging at intermediate hubs, and 2%+ of the global fleet positioned in or near the Persian Gulf, pressure is rapidly shifting across global port networks.

Congestion is no longer isolated to one region. It is migrating.

Transhipment hubs such as Salalah, Khor Fakkan, Sohar, Duqm and Colombo are absorbing displaced volumes. Secondary effects are already emerging at Singapore, Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas. As carriers reassess Gulf calls and reroute services, containers already on the water may face discharge changes, berth delays and inland knock-on disruption.

In this environment, traditional vessel tracking is not enough.

Shippers need early, reliable visibility into port performance — not just where the vessel is, but what will happen when it arrives.

Introducing port congestion visibility in Metro MVT

To support customers navigating this evolving situation, Metro has launched a new Port Congestion application within the Metro MVT Portal.

The solution provides real-time, data-driven insight into port conditions across key global gateways, enabling proactive planning rather than reactive firefighting.

Key Capabilities

Interactive dashboards deliver clear visibility of:

• Vessel Waiting Time
• Vessel Traffic at Port
• Vessel Days Wasted
• Vessel Dwell Time
• Country-level congestion trends
• Port-level congestion indicators

This allows customers to identify where congestion is building — often days or weeks before cargo arrival.

Why this matters now

With emergency war-risk surcharges applied, routing changes underway and air cargo capacity reduced, cost exposure is already rising. Port congestion adds a further layer of unpredictability.

Early visibility enables:

Smarter Routing Decisions

Assess risk exposure at potential discharge ports before cargo is affected.

Delivery & Warehouse Planning

Align inland haulage, labour and warehouse capacity with real arrival conditions — not estimated schedules.

Priority Management

Identify at-risk shipments early and protect critical cargo before delays escalate.

Cost Control

Reduce detention, demurrage and last-minute premium transport spend triggered by unexpected congestion.

From tracking to foresight

In today’s environment, supply chain resilience depends on anticipation.

Port congestion visibility transforms MVT from a tracking platform into a decision-support tool, combining global congestion intelligence with shipment-level visibility in one place.

As geopolitical volatility reshapes trade flows, having early insight into where disruption is building can materially change operational outcomes.

Accessing the capability

All MVT users with access to the Track & Trace application automatically have access to the new Port Congestion feature.

Your account director will be in touch to arrange a demo. For further information or a guided walkthrough, please EMAIL Ian Powell, Customer & Technical Solutions Director.

Category: MVT

Customs | MVT

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