November 2024; Customs and compliance update
Our customs consultancy team provide insights on the latest changes, making it easier for you to stay on top of your planning and development needs.
To help us better support your compliance and efficiency goals, including duty/tax reclaims, we encourage you to click the button below to comple...
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UK Freeports Offer New Opportunities for Businesses
The new labour government has confirmed its commitment to the ‘Freeports’ initiative that aims to stimulate economic growth, by offering an array of incentives, from tax relief on investment to National Insurance contributions (NICs) relief on employee earnings.
With eight Freeports now op...
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Stricter air cargo security measures in response to rising threats
The US and Canada have introduced new security measures aimed at addressing the potential risks posed by incendiary devices found in European parcel networks.
Recent incidents, including a fire at a logistics hub in Leipzig originating from a Baltic package, have heightened awareness of potent...
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Import Control System 2
Enhancing supply chain security and safety, Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the Import Control system for movements both ways between the UK and the EU, including Norway, Switzerland, and Northern Ireland.
Based on similar worldwide systems that pre-declare shipments, to determine risk, secu...
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European ports turned into EV car parks
European ports are overflowing with imported electric vehicles (EVs), especially from China, as manufacturers rush to ship cars before new tariffs take effect. This surge in imports has turned car terminals into vast car parks, with dealers hesitating to accept more vehicles due to slowing sales....
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US Customs target non-compliant eCommerce and brokers
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is taking action to minimise the exploitation of the generous small package, or ‘de minimis' environment. Seizing goods and enhancing enforcement efforts to hold brokers accountable, the CBP’s actions are unsettling the eCommerce and freighter markets, a...
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US tariff increases on China EV’s have wider ramifications
Only 2% of US electric vehicle (EV) imports come from China and while economists ponder how effective President Biden’s new 100% tariff will be in protecting US markets, it is likely that EV flows will be redirected to Europe by manufacturers eager to exploit profitable markets.
On the 14th ...
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Importers concerned at cost of Brexit trade checks
Delayed five times by the UK government, post-Brexit physical border checks of animal products, plants and plant products through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel were finally implemented on the 30th April 2024. However, importers of affected products express concern about additional costs.
Th...
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UK and EU customs border changes
ICS2 advance filings will be used by EU customs to identify high-risk shipments from the 3rd June, while post-Brexit import charges which come into effect on the 30th April have raised fears of UK food price inflation.
The UK Common User Charge (CUC)
The CUC will apply to each commodity line ...
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The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
There are 195 signatories to the Paris Agreement to limit their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, though some including the EU and UK have undertaken to cut carbon emissions faster than others.
The EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) continuously expands to include new sectors to encourage ind...
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China dumping fears growing
The United States is voicing increasing concerns that Chinese manufacturing overcapacity will hit world markets, while the EU launched an anti-dumping investigation into China’s EV industry last year.
Senior US Treasury officials told the Financial Times this week that a visiting US delega...
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Metro’s new LCL guru
With over 20 years' experience in freight and logistics, the majority of which has been in the ocean freight environment and specifically the LCL product, in the UK and overseas, we are pleased to introduce our new Senior LCL Commercial Manager, Jane Kenny, who is leading this critical service ar...
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