The European customs landscape is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades, driven by the parallel evolution of two critical systems: the Import Control System 2 (ICS2) and the New Computerised Transit System Phase 6 (NCTS-P6). These developments, culminating in late 2025, represent a fundamental shift in how goods move across European borders, affecting traders, [...]
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On 13 November 2025, HMRC launched a significant new self-service tool that gives UK importers, exporters, and their agents free access to their customs declaration data. The Get Customs Data for Import and Export Declarations service represents a major shift in how businesses can access, review, and audit their customs information—without the fees previously associated [...]
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Importing scientific instruments—ranging from laboratory analyzers, microscopes, and spectrometers to advanced precision sensors—from Germany to the United Kingdom remains a cornerstone of scientific collaboration and technological innovation. Germany’s expertise in high-precision engineering and the UK’s strong research ecosystem make this trade route essential. Following Brexit, however, what was once a simple intra-EU transaction now involves [...]
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Importing office machinery—such as printers, servers, and peripherals—from the Netherlands to the United Kingdom is a routine yet technically regulated process. Since Brexit, goods arriving from the EU are treated as imports, meaning importers must comply with UK customs, safety, and VAT rules. Although trade with the EU is tariff-free under the UK-EU Trade and [...]
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Introduction Handcrafted goods—textiles, ceramics, carved wood, metalwork, baskets, jewellery, decorative glass, and artisan homeware—enjoy resilient demand in the United Kingdom. Their appeal lies in cultural provenance, design authenticity, and sustainable narratives that mass production rarely matches. Bringing handicrafts to market, however, requires diligence across three domains: accurate tariff classification and origin treatment; precise computation of [...]
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The United Kingdom’s market for wines and specialty beverages—ranging from estate-bottled Bordeaux and premium sparkling wines to craft beers, ciders, meads, sakes, and small-batch spirits—remains resilient and discerning. Turning that demand into sustainable margin requires clear mastery of three pillars: accurate commodity classification and origin treatment; precise computation of customs duty, alcohol duty, and import [...]
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Introduction From designer sofas and handcrafted tables to lighting, textiles, glassware and ceramics, furniture and home goods arrive in the United Kingdom under close fiscal and regulatory scrutiny. To move consignments efficiently you must build a coherent pathway that starts with accurate classification and origin, continues through duty and VAT calculations, and culminates in an [...]
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Introduction From couture apparel and leather goods to fine jewellery and prestige timepieces, luxury categories command premium prices and discerning customers. That same exclusivity attracts heightened scrutiny at the border. Whether you are a boutique scaling cross-border sourcing or a brand managing direct-to-consumer shipments, successful importation hinges on three pillars: precise tariff classification and origin [...]
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