Article | 1.5 minute read
Cross-border movements between the UK and France now include a mandatory digital border step: the Enveloppe Logistique Obligatoire, known as ELO. For businesses moving goods through the French Smart Border, ELO is no longer a future requirement. Since 20 April 2026, transport units using UK-France Smart Border routes must present an ELO at check-in. This applies to imports, exports and transit movements, and includes loaded and empty trucks.
Article | 4.5 minute read
Article | 2.5 minute read
Article | 2 minute read
Switzerland is not simply updating a customs system. It is redesigning how customs data is submitted, processed and monitored.
Article | 3 minute read
Trade complexity is no longer a background condition. It is a commercial variable. The debate is not whether trade has become more complex. It clearly has. The real question is whether your operating model converts that complexity into value, or absorbs it through margin, predictability, and market share.
Selecting a provider for a Customs Control Tower is one of the most consequential decisions a company can make in its customs and trade strategy.
Selecting a provider for a Customs Control Tower is not a routine procurement exercise. A Control Tower directly affects compliance, operational continuity, and data integrity across multiple countries. The RFQ process therefore needs to do more than compare service descriptions and prices. It must reveal whether a provider is capable of supporting long-term transformation. A structured RFQ is the foundation for that decision.
Customs outsourcing is undergoing a fundamental transformation. For many years, decisions were primarily driven by cost savings and capacity considerations. If declarations were processed efficiently and volumes could be absorbed, the model was considered successful. That logic is no longer sufficient.
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.
Article | 6 minute read
The EU–Mercosur agreement has the potential to reshape trade between Europe and South America, but its value will depend on operational readiness rather than political headlines. This article explains where the real commercial impact is likely to arise, what businesses should expect in practice, and how early preparation can turn preferential access into measurable advantage.
Article | 4 minute read
As AI reshapes customs procedures and digitalisation accelerates, the role of many people working in the field of customs is shifting as well. And this change can bring about feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. Does this mean the role of the customs broker is becoming redundant?
The European Commission has proposed a significant expansion of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, responding to lessons learned during the transitional phase. From 1 January 2028, CBAM is expected to apply to a much broader range of products, with implications across entire value chains. This article outlines the key elements of the proposal, the rationale behind the changes, and their expected practical impact for importers.
