Customs Compliance & Risk Management
Country update
Where have the 'green' import lanes gone? Challenges at Lithuanian seaport Customs
Despite the ambition to create a smart, business-friendly customs administration, practical experience at the Klaipėda (Lithuania) seaport customs posts suggests otherwise: procedures are taking longer and green lanes are becoming increasingly rare. A round-table meeting initiated by the Lithuanian Customs Practitioners Association with Lithuanian Customs on 15 January 2025 once again highlighted the systemic issues that continue to disrupt import flows on a daily basis.
Electricity breakdown at Customs: 8502 or 8504 (0% or 10% duty?)
A recent Israeli court ruling highlights the decisive role of tariff classification in customs compliance and project economics. The importer had obtained advance approval to open a 'secretariat file' - a procedure enabling all components of a single project to be classified under a single HS code - yet the customs authority excluded high-value transformers and sought duties of approximately €400,000 under a separate heading. How the court ultimately resolved this dispute, and the broader implications for classification practice, are examined in the following overview of the ruling.
Parallel food importers: compliance challenges
Food importers must submit a number of documents as a prerequisite for importation, and state authorities continue to monitor the process even after the food has been imported. In recent years, regulatory reforms - such as the 'What is good for Europe is also good for Israel' initiative - have reshaped the landscape for food importers in Israel, simplifying procedures for imports from the European Union while introducing new complexities for imports from other regions. This article examines the activities of a parallel importer who does not purchase directly from the manufacturer, and who only imports 'regular' foodstuffs, such as pasta, snacks or dried fruit, which are not defined as 'sensitive' foodstuffs.
Millions of declarations, one platform: new Italian IT customs platform project
The Italian national federation of customs brokers’ associations has approved an ambitious project to establish a proprietary digital platform underpinned by actual operational customs declaration data - comprising millions of declarations per annum, including e-commerce H7 declarations. With the first phase already concluded and EU funding secured, the platform is on a 24-month clock to delivery.
News update
EU customs and trade news: February 2026
News in week 9: EU Customs Authority - Council and Parliament agree procedure to select a host city; EU-Mercosur agreement - provisional application; broad package of agreements with Switzerland; upcoming steel measure addressing the negative effects of global overcapacity; anti-dumping duty on imports of steel road wheels; imports of new mobile cranes subject to registration; human rights violations in Russia - EU lists additional eight individuals; EU terrorist list - Council strengthens the scope; EU extends Russia sanctions over occupied Ukrainian territories; and further updates.
US customs tariff news: February 2026
News in brief: the US Supreme Court’s ruling on the reciprocal and other IEEPA tariffs; the US President’s actions in response to the Supreme Courts ruling; new temporary tariffs imposed; the suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries continued; new frameworks for trade agreements between the US and certain countries; and other updates.
UK customs and trade news: February 2026
News in brief: the biggest sanctions package against Russia announced; two notices to exporters issued; tariff notice on the classification of inverters with maximum power point tracking functionality issued; CBAM policy paper published and consultation on draft regulations announced; countervailing duty on continuous filament glass fibre products originating in Egypt revoked; anti-dumping duty on ironing boards from China varied; both anti-dumping and countervailing duties on glass fibre products from China cancelled; registration of imports of creamy/white limestone originating from Portugal introduced; and further updates.
EU customs and trade news: March 2026
News in week 13: historic agreement to reform EU Customs Union; selection of Lille as seat for EU Customs Authority; 14th WTO Ministerial Conference; EU-Australia FTA; CJEU judgments on customs valuation and on imports of goods generating significant revenues for Russia; provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of yarns of polyamide; decision on exemptions from anti‑dumping duties on certain bicycle parts; anti-dumping extension to cover unthreaded tube or pipe cast fittings of malleable cast iron; safeguard investigation into imports of grain-oriented electrical steel; and further updates.
UK customs and trade news: March 2026
News in brief: new Steel Strategy published; small and medium-sized enterprise action plan published; updates on future EU-UK SPS agreement; tariff notices on the tariff classification of ballot (box) partitions and animal feed issued; guidance on classification of toys and games republished; new versions of the certain reference documents published; definitive anti-dumping duty on tin mill products originating from China imposed; safeguard measure: tariff-rate quota on steel goods changed; registration of imports of glass containers originating from China and Turkiye as well as imports of rutile titanium dioxide originating from China introduced; UK-Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, UK-Turkiye, UK-Swtzerland, UK-Nigeria negotiations updates; and further updates.
Ukraine customs and trade news: February / March 2026
News in brief: events supporting the European integration of Ukraine; changes in authorisation for customs procedures; reassessment of companies' financial solvency compliance; the start of automatic processing of import declarations; new anti-dumping investigations regarding imports of steel bars and angles from Turkiye, and welding equipment from China; licensing regime for the importing certain products from Moldova to be introduced; and other updates.
Topic spotlight
Illusion of savings: the real cost of trade and customs non-compliance
This article poses a straightforward yet unsettling question: what is the true cost of 'saving' on trade compliance? Against a backdrop of volatile regulation and enforcement, it reveals how apparent savings can quietly turn into significant strategic risks.
The end of IEEPA tariffs: what importers must do now
The US Supreme Court’s 20 February 2026 ruling limits presidential emergency powers, confirming that IEEPA cannot be used to impose tariffs. For companies, this creates potentially billions in refund claims and requires urgent attention to the new temporary Section 122 tariffs, which carry strict limits and a 150-day sunset. Meanwhile, broader trade enforcement under Sections 232, 301, and 338 remains in force, keeping compliance and strategic planning critical. The article also examines practical steps for protecting refund claims, navigating Section 122 exemptions, and assessing the impact on ongoing US import strategies.
HS 2028 revision: key changes and how to prepare
This article reviews the changes introduced in the HS 2028 revision. A total of 299 sets of amendments have been introduced, covering areas such as healthcare, epidemic control, emergency preparedness, environmental protection, green transition technologies, the circular economy, recycled goods and the fight against illicit trade. It also provides businesses with insights into how they can prepare for these changes.
Perspective
Stability in times of uncertainty: PIFFA’s perspective on the future of logistics in Europe
The interview underlines the increasing complexity of trade and customs compliance for the logistics sector, driven by sanctions regimes, environmental regulations, tighter border controls and ongoing EU Customs Code reforms. It points to Poland’s growing importance as a regional logistics hub and the disruptive effects of the war in Ukraine on supply chains, while stressing the value of digital customs systems, recognised compliance statuses such as AEO, continuous professional training and effective industry representation. Overall, the discussion highlights resilience, cooperation and regulatory clarity as critical factors for a stable and compliant European trade environment.
Modernising EU Customs: a perspective from the European Shippers' Council
In this interview, Godfried Smit, Secretary General of the European Shippers’ Council, shares his reflections on the EU Customs Reform. From the future EU Data Hub and the growing importance of high-quality supply chain data to the practical steps companies should already be taking, the interview offers an insider’s view from Brussels on how the reform is evolving - and why businesses, particularly SMEs, should start preparing now rather than waiting for the new rules to arrive.
How AI is revolutionising international trade compliance research
Different companies are integrating AI tools into international trade compliance in various ways, depending on their specific requirements, data environments and appetite for risk. This article introduces readers to the approach of US law firm Crowell & Moring LLP: using an in-house AI system for routine legal tasks and the secure handling of sensitive information, alongside a third-party platform for large-scale data analysis and trend identification. The article provides practical insights into how AI is already transforming trade compliance work, and emphasises that the manner in which firms implement AI is now more important than ever.
Explainer
CBAM as seen by the customs representative
Customs representatives navigating the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) face responsibilities that vary significantly depending on the type of representation they provide. This article examines how liability is allocated under direct and indirect representation, when a customs broker must obtain authorised CBAM declarant status, and the legal and financial consequences that follow, including annual declaration obligations, certificate surrender requirements, and direct exposure to CBAM costs. Practical guidance is also provided on refusing CBAM liability and structuring representation contracts to manage financial risk.