International Trade News October 2025
View previous months:
Canada Post Strike: What’s the Latest?
Following a full national strike that began on September 25, 2025, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has now transitioned to rotating strikes as of October 11, 2025. Canada Post has begun a phased restart of its national operations, and while the embargo on mail services has been lifted, customers should expect significant delays due to the accumulated backlog and ongoing localised disruptions.
All service guarantees remain suspended, mail and parcels will be processed and delivered as quickly as possible, depending on the impact of rotating strike activity at specific facilities.
How GFS Can Keep Your Canada Shipments Moving
While the disruption continues, GFS International’s Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) solution offers a reliable alternative that bypasses the Canada Post network entirely:
Door-to-door delivery across Canada via GFS International’s trusted carrier partners.
No customs or strike-related delays: Duties & taxes are pre-paid by the sender.
Typical transit time: 5–9 days through our partner network.
With strike action impacting operations into the busy period, now is the time to switch to GFS International’s DDP services to Canada and protect your customer experience.
Several GFS customers have already moved to GFS DDP for Canada with excellent results, building resilience for Peak.
Shipping to the USA: DAP vs DDP
When it comes to cross-border delivery, shipping duty paid (DDP) offers a more transparent and seamless experience for US customers, helping retailers reduce unexpected delivery fees, improve first-time delivery success and strengthen customer trust.
GFS is pleased to confirm updated solutions to keep you compliant and uninterrupted for US-bound parcels:
DAP (Deliver at Place) — Duties & Taxes paid by the US receiver (DDU)
- Also known as GFS DutyPRO; available to all GFS customers.
- GFS collects duty & tax payments for you, releasing shipments once paid.
- Payment window: 5 days for US consumers.
- If unpaid after 5 days, shipments are consolidated and returned to sender at the shipper’s expense.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) — Duties & Taxes paid by shipper
- All duties & taxes billed back to the shipper.
Invoices include: - a) Standard duty % (HS-code based)
- b) Section 301 tariff % (where applicable)
- c) IEEPA rate (reciprocal tariff %)
- d) US DDP/customs administration fee: £0.75 per parcel
- e) Shipping rates: no changes to existing rates
- f) Fuel surcharge: none
Our recommendation: If you want the smoothest customer experience, DDP removes friction at delivery.
EU MARKETPLACE WATCH
Zalando expands to Portugal
Zalando has launched its marketplace in Portugal, tapping into one of Southern Europe’s fastest-growing eCommerce markets.
Why it matters: Opens a fresh EU channel for UK exporters, strong demand for localised service and returns makes reliable cross-border delivery essential.
OnBuy goes pan-European
UK-based OnBuy is rolling out to 20 EU countries by year-end, positioning itself as a seller-friendly alternative to Amazon and eBay.
Why it matters: A prime opportunity for UK brands to reach new European audiences, especially with GFS’ cross-border delivery network supporting expansion into emerging markets.
Temu doubles EU profits
Temu’s EU operations hit US$120 million pre-tax profit, intensifying competition across Europe.
Why it matters: With low-cost rivals scaling fast, UK exporters should compete on service, reliability and transparent delivery costs, not just product price.
Europe’s marketplace landscape is expanding fast — success will hinge on fast, compliant, customer-focused delivery. With GFS International, UK retailers can reach new EU markets confidently and maintain a competitive edge.
