International Trade News
January 2026
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🇪🇺 EU Update: Fixed Customs Duty on Low-Value Parcels
Effective: 1st July 2026
A new €3 fixed customs duty will apply to each individual item in consignments valued under €150 entering the EU.
Key points:
- Currently, these parcels enter duty-free
- Applies to non-EU sellers using IOSS
- Expected to impact ~93% of eCommerce flows into the EU
- The €3 fee is per item, not per parcel
- This is a temporary measure until full EU customs reform removes the €150 threshold entirely
Note:
This does not change the EU–UK Trade & Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Zero tariffs still apply for qualifying goods — but customs formalities and origin rules still apply.
What Now?
No immediate action required. We will continue to monitor and update you.
🇷🇴 Romania: New Mandatory Logistics Fee
Effective since: 1st January 2026
25 RON (~£4.35) per parcel
Applies to non-EU origin parcels under €150
Charged even if EU clearance happens in another country
Non-refundable if the parcel is returned
How this is handled:
Carrier partners will pay this on your behalf and recharge it via invoice to avoid border delays.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: Mandatory National Address
Effective: January 2026
All shipments must include either:
A full National Address, or
A Short Address (which converts to the full address automatically)
If not compliant:
Delays, Returns, Extra handling fees
🇹🇭 Thailand: Duty Exemption Removed
Effective since: 1 January 2026
Previously: Shipments under 1,500 THB were duty-free
Now: All shipments are subject to customs duties
Impact:
Higher landed costs
More risk of delays if duties are unpaid or disputed
🇮🇱 Israel: VAT-Free Threshold Increased
Effective since: 24 December 2025
VAT exemption increased from $75 → $150
Why this matters:
Fewer split shipments
Higher average order values
Better checkout conversion
More confident buyers
🇮🇹 Italy: New Regulatory Fee
Effective since: 1st January 2026
€2 per shipment
Applies to: B2C and B2B, Shipments under €150,
To avoid delays:
- Accurate descriptions
- Correct HS codes
- Complete invoice data
- Valid customer contact details
More EU countries are expected to follow with similar fees in 2026.
📦 ICS2 & Goods Descriptions
Following ICS2 implementation, generic descriptions are no longer acceptable.
❌ “Footwear”
✅ “Men’s leather sports shoes”
Using vague descriptions will lead to:
Customs holds, Returns, Delays
Kindly refer to the “Suitable vs Unsuitable Descriptions” guide to support this:
🇦🇪 UAE: Mandatory 12-Digit HS Code
Effective: February 2026
All shipments must include a 12-digit HS code
Missing codes are expected to cause customs clearance delays
Operational Update – Holyhead Port Congestion
Severe congestion at Holyhead Port Terminal is significantly affecting both trailer exports and imports. Due to the ongoing congestion, the port has temporarily cancelled all block bookings until the existing backlog has been cleared. Normal booking allocations will resume as soon as conditions improve.
DPD – Jersey Delivery Schedule Changes
Due to seasonal adjustments and low passenger volumes, DFDS has suspended their Monday ferry crossing to Jersey. This suspension is effective immediately and is scheduled to continue until 7th April.
As DFDS is the sole ferry provider for this route, all carriers are currently affected and there are no alternative options available during this period.
Tuesday to Friday shipments will remain unaffected and will follow the standard delivery schedule.
We are monitoring the situation closely and will return to our normal six-day-a-week sailing schedule as soon as the Monday service is reinstated in April.
The Big Picture
Across markets, we are seeing a rising pattern of:
| Higher fees on low-value parcels
| More data requirements
| Tighter enforcement and regulation
The future of cross-border delivery is more regulated, more data-driven and less forgiving.
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