Russia’s invasion of Ukraine leaves global trade in tatters

MIAMI (AP) — Sanctions on Russia are starting to wreak havoc on global trade, with potentially devastating consequences for energy and grain importers while also generating ripple effects across a world still struggling with pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, hundreds of tankers and bulk carriers have been diverted away from the Black Sea, while…

UK government to blame for Brexit delays, says logistics sector

20 September 2021 – It is UK government “unreadiness” that is the source of further delays to Brexit customs procedure implementation, while associations, brokers, forwarders, ports, and retailers are “ready”. Last week the UK government announced that it would further delay the implementation of export health certificates, phytosanitary (SPS) certificates and safety and security declarations…

Over 2,000 hauliers fined for arriving at border without correct export documents after transition

1 September 2021 – More than 2,000 hauliers were fined for not having the correct export documentation in the four months following the end of the transition period. The UK completed its departure from the EU’s single market and customs union on New Year’s Eve, meaning exporters had to comply with new rules to continue…

New procedure code for customs declarations to make goods movements through smaller ports quicker

05 August 2021 – A new ‘customs procedure code’ will facilitate the faster movement of goods through smaller ports, an international trade and customs expert has said. Customs procedure codes (CPCs) are entered onto customs declarations to identify the customs and/or excise regimes which goods are being entered into and removed from (where this applies).…

Customs Declaration Service to become UK’s single customs platform

03 August 2021 – HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has today announced that the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), a system founded on world-leading technology, will serve as the UK’s single customs platform from 31 March 2023. HMRC will be closing its Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system on 31 March 2023. Hence, from…

EU implements new VAT regulations for cross-border eCommerce

14 July 2021 – The European Union (EU) has introduced new rules governing the value-added tax (VAT) applied to cross-border eCommerce sales. These changes, effective July 1, include the removal of the VAT exemption on imported goods into the EU with a value up to EUR22 (around Dhs95). A special scheme for distance sales of…

Government warns firms to prepare for EU trade rule changes – including supplementary declarations

13 July 2021 – The government is encouraging UK businesses to prepare for rule changes for trade with the EU which will come into effect across the next six months. HMRC has today (12 July) written to more than 160,000 VAT-registered businesses explaining the measures firms must take to continue trading with the counterparts on the continent.…

Becoming a customs broker can help you win more logistics work

02 July 2021 – Time is running out for UK importers of European goods who deferred their customs declarations as part of a six-month moratorium to soften the impact of Brexit. But many importers are woefully unprepared to meet the rolling deadline for lodging supplementary declarations for goods imported from 1 January. The situation has…