Article | 2.5 minute read
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.
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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.
Last month, the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB) published a research report on the potential impact of new American import tariffs on the Dutch and European economy. While the research conclusions were largely positive, with the CPB expecting only limited effects, we should remain cautious given the many assumptions underlying this analysis. This means we must continue preparing for Trump's new tariff era.
Article | 3.5 minute read
Last week, Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed 'tariff man', won the U.S. presidential election by a landslide. His administration is likely to impose substantial import tariffs on all European goods entering the United States, making it crucial for businesses to prepare.
The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) enters a critical phase in Q3 2024, with significant changes to reporting requirements. Importers must transition from using default values to reporting actual embedded emissions for goods released into free circulation from July 1, 2024. This update provides crucial information about these changes and how to prepare for the October 31, 2024 reporting deadline.
Article | 2 minute read
The European Commission proposes a major reform of the Union Customs Code, introducing a new 'Trust and Check' trader status. This overhaul, planned for 2028-2037, aims to modernise EU customs procedures, promising improved efficiency and security. However, it raises concerns about data privacy and its impact on SMEs and customs representatives.
Dutch parliamentary work extends far beyond the iconic blue-chaired plenary hall. In smaller, less visible committee rooms, MPs tackle numerous critical issues that shape the nation's future, including last week's debate on Customs. In this article, we examine the key points discussed and their potential impact on the Netherlands' role in global trade.
On 5 January 2023, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) came into force. Read here what exactly it entails and what it means for your company.
