Article | 3 minuten leestijd
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.
News | 2 minuten leestijd
The European Union is ramping up sanctions against Russia, and the United Kingdom is following suit. Last month, the UK announced its most extensive sanctions package since 2022. The aims of these sanctions include supporting Ukraine and addressing security concerns in Europe.
Article | 1 minuten leestijd
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).
News | 2.5 minuten leestijd
On 24 February the EU published its 16th sanctions package, effective immediately, expanding restrictions on Russia’s shadow fleet, tightening export controls on military-use technology, and imposing stricter financial, media, and transport bans. It also introduces new due diligence requirements for EU operators and extends sanctions to Belarus and Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. Aimed at curbing Russia’s war financing and reinforcing Ukraine’s position, these measures add new compliance challenges for businesses.
Customs valuation plays a crucial role in international trade, determining the duties, VAT, and tariff quotas applicable to imported goods. However, navigating the complexities of customs valuation and transfer pricing in the EU has long been a challenge for businesses. To address this issue, the European Commission has introduced Binding Valuation Information (BVI) decisions, aimed at increasing legal certainty and transparency. This article explores the significance of BVI, its relationship with existing binding information decisions, and its impact on economic operators within the EU.
Dutch Customs is currently working on the first phase of the implementation of CERTEX, the European Union Customs Single Window Certificates Exchange System (EU-CSW-CERTEX). This system is an important step in the further automation of customs declarations and contributes to more efficient processing of non-customs formalities.
From 1 January 2025, VAT corrections for errors made in the past five years must be submitted within eight weeks of discovery. This change aims to eliminate confusion over previous vague submission deadlines that often led to disputes. By introducing a clear supplementation period, the new law offers a more straightforward framework for VAT corrections.
Starting March 1, 2025, Skal Biocontrole will take over all organic import controls in the Netherlands, replacing Customs. This includes verifying the organic status of shipments and endorsing the Certificate of Inspection (COI) earlier in the process. These updates ensure compliance with EU regulations and streamline organic import controls in the Netherlands.
Article | 2.5 minuten leestijd
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.
