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Across global trade, the role of customs is evolving rapidly. What was once treated as a transactional necessity is now influencing supply chain resilience, cost control, risk management, and commercial performance.
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The customs world is moving faster than ever. As global trade faces constant geopolitical tension, new sustainability demands and sweeping digital transformation, customs has become a strategic function for both large logistics service providers and shippers. Here are six key trends shaping 2026 and what your business can do now to stay compliant, efficient and ahead of the curve.
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Import Control System 2 is no longer an upcoming regulatory change. With January 2026 only weeks away, many carriers, logistics service providers, and shippers are now in the final stage of readiness. ICS2 becomes mandatory from 1 January 2026. At this point, the question is no longer whether businesses are aware of the change, but whether data, partners, and processes are genuinely ready for go live. The final weeks of 2025 are about validation, confirmation, and risk reduction.
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The UK Government has confirmed that the £135 customs duty relief for low value imports will be removed by March 2029 at the latest. A public consultation is now underway to shape the new model that will replace it. This change will have significant operational and financial implications for shippers and logistics service providers moving goods into the UK.
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As Gaston Schul celebrates its 180-year anniversary, one thing is clear: customs has never been more central to how businesses operate, compete, and grow. What once revolved around duty calculations and paperwork has transformed into a strategic domain shaped by geopolitics, sustainability, digitalisation, and supply chain resilience. Today, customs is no longer an operational afterthought. It is a boardroom priority.
The European Commission has proposed a new steel trade defence regulation (COM(2025)726 final) to protect the EU market from global overcapacity, particularly from non-market economies such as China. The initiative replaces the current safeguard measure in 2026 and introduces fresh compliance rules for importers, including a Tariff Rate Quota system and new ‘Melt and Pour’ origin requirements.
The EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia marks a new phase in Europe’s economic response to the war in Ukraine. It strengthens existing restrictions on energy, finance and dual-use goods, while expanding measures against crypto assets and third-country intermediaries. For European traders and logistics providers, these developments bring heightened compliance demands and supply-chain complexity. This article outlines the main rules, their business impact, and how Gaston Schul helps businesses stay compliant across Europe.
As global trade regulations tighten and enforcement rises, customs due diligence has become critical for protecting your business. From verifying suppliers to maintaining compliant documentation, it safeguards operations against delays, penalties, and reputational risks – while unlocking efficiencies and building trust with authorities.
A recent outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Spain has prompted the UK to introduce immediate import restrictions on certain bovine products. These measures apply to England, Scotland and Wales and follow existing controls already in place for France and Italy due to earlier outbreaks.
In recent years, we’ve seen a sharp rise in sanctions activity, and 2024 has been no exception. Between the evolving Russia sanctions, renewed measures on Iran, and increasingly complex EU and UK regulations, sanctions compliance has become a pressing concern for any business involved in international trade.
