Article | 2 Minuten Lesezeit
As we move through 2025, the global trade environment continues to evolve at speed – and with it, customs processes are becoming more complex, digital, and high-stakes. For importers, exporters, and logistics professionals, keeping up with the latest developments isn’t just a best practice – it’s essential. Here are 5 key customs trends still shaping 2025, and what your business can do now to stay compliant, efficient, and ahead of the curve.
Article | 3 Minuten Lesezeit
As cross-border trade between the UK and EU continues to evolve post-Brexit, France is introducing a new digital requirement that will affect how goods are processed at its borders. Known as the Enveloppe Logistique Obligatoire (ELO), this system is set to become mandatory from September 1, 2025, and is particularly relevant for businesses involved in freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and logistics operations across the UK–France corridor.
Article | 2.5 Minuten Lesezeit
About 70% of Europeans regularly buy products online. In 2024, 4.6 billion low-value items (items under €150) were imported into the EU. This equals to 12 million parcels per day. This is double the amount of 2023 and triple the amount 2022. In 2024, 91% of these shipments originated from China, particularly from major platforms like Temu, SHEIN, and AliExpress. This exponential growth raised some important concerns.
Article | 4 Minuten Lesezeit
In this article, Managing Advisor Arjo Groenendijk introduces the concept of a 'Customs Health Check' and explains why businesses should prioritise to perform these assessments on a regular basis, particularly given recent developments in global trade.
Article | 5.5 Minuten Lesezeit
Have you ever experienced your shipment getting stuck at customs because you entered a document code incorrectly? It may seem like a minor detail, but choosing the right document code can make the difference between a smooth process and weeks of delays at customs, extra charges or even a blocking of your shipment. A document code is more than a simple number: it is a statement to customs about the declaration of goods. In this article, customs expert Lilian Retel explains what document codes are used for and why knowledge about the product is important. She also explains what the consequences can be of a wrong choice. Finally, some examples of situations follow, where the document code provides essential information for customs.
President Trump's announcement of new tariffs, targeting nearly the entire world, has created significant market uncertainty. While determining their exact consequences will require time, one certainty remains: the EU and other countries will introduce countermeasures against the US. This analysis provides an overview of the tariffs, international reactions, and preliminary considerations for businesses preparing for what is yet to come.
Article | 1 Minuten Lesezeit
The European Commission is making regulatory changes to reduce complexity and ease the burden on businesses. As the global landscape evolves, policies are changing rapidly. After years of regulatory complexity, the EU now aims to "make life easier for our businesses," according to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This raises a key question: what was the approach before? More importantly for businesses, what exactly is being simplified? This article explores the upcoming changes to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
The UK government introduced the UK Forest Risk Commodity Regulation (UKFRC) as part of the Environment Act of 2021. As the UK’s equivalent to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), this legislation aims to combat global illegal deforestation by ensuring that British company supply chains do not contribute to the problem. For consumers, this provides the assurance that their purchases are not contributing to illegal deforestation.
In July, the Centralised Clearance for Import (CCI) system entered its initial phase, enabling a streamlined customs process across multiple EU member states. Designed to simplify and harmonise the import procedure, CCI allows authorised economic operators (AEOs) to manage customs declarations centrally while goods are physically presented in another member state.
