OVERVIEW Reading the December 2025 Trade Picture On 12 February 2026, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published the UK's trade data for December 2025, offering the final snapshot of the year's cross-border goods flows. The headline figures reveal a mixed picture: goods imports edged upward while goods exports contracted, and the UK-US trade corridor [...]
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Based on the official notice issued by the French General Directorate of Customs and Indirect Taxes (DGDDI), 16 February 2026 Introduction The French customs authority (Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects) has issued an updated operational notice addressing how Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) must be completed and submitted through ICS2 for goods crossing the [...]
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The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism has transitioned from reporting to full enforcement, marking a fundamental shift in how carbon-intensive goods are imported into the EU. On January 14, 2026, the European Commission activated the "definitive period" of CBAM, requiring customs validation of carbon declarations before goods can be released for free circulation. For [...]
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Introduction: The Foundation of EU Customs Security The Import Control System 2 (ICS2) represents a fundamental transformation in how safety and security information is collected, analysed, and acted upon at European Union borders. For businesses moving goods into the EU customs territory—whether from the United Kingdom, Asia, the Americas, or any non-EU origin—understanding the complete [...]
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The Import Control System 2 represents the most significant transformation of European customs border security in decades. For UK businesses exporting to the European Union, understanding this system is not merely helpful but essential for maintaining uninterrupted trade flows. As ICS2 Release 3 became fully operational on 1 September 2025 across all transport modes, the [...]
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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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According to Transport Intelligence, the global market for freight forwarding surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2021, but limited capacity and record-high freight prices offer a tough call. Ti estimates the market will expand 5.7 % in 2022, falling to 3.7% by 2026. Their Global Freight Forwarding 2022 report provides an up-to-date view of the freight forwarding landscape, [...]
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HMRC received a total of 78.3 million customs declarations for international commerce in 2021. Listed below is a breakdown of the same: 58.0 million import declarations 20.3 million export declarations 34,3 million declarations for trade between the United Kingdom and the European Union 42.9 million declarations for the United Kingdom's trade with non-European Union nations 19.6 million [...]
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