International Trade News July 2026

Gibraltar Transaction Tax w.e.f 15th July 2026

As part of the new UK-EU Treaty on Gibraltar, from 15th July 2026 a Transaction Tax has been introduced on goods imported into Gibraltar, or manufactured for sale within Gibraltar. The standard Transaction Tax rate is 15%, which may result in increased charges on certain imported goods levied by Customs, in addition to any applicable customs duties.

While Transaction Tax applies to many commercial imports, there are exceptions and reliefs available, and in some cases the tax may be deferred or not apply immediately where goods are moved under specific customs procedures.

Goods where the standard Transaction Tax rate does not apply include:

Zero-rated goods (0%):

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages
• Medicines and pharmaceuticals
• Medical equipment
• Books and periodicals
• Water supplies

Reduced rate goods (5%):

• Children’s clothing and footwear
• Bicycles and e-bikes
• Certain agricultural products
• Works of art and antiques

Goods outside the scope of Transaction Tax:

• Ship and aircraft supplies
• Bunkering fuels
• Goods not intended for sale in Gibraltar

Full details on the UK-EU Treaty on Gibraltar can be found at treaty-gov.info.

UK-India Trade Agreement Comes into Force: A Major Opportunity for UK eCommerce Exporters

The UK’s new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India officially came into force on 15th July 2026, marking one of the UK’s most significant post-Brexit trade agreements and opening the door to one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets. 

For UK eCommerce businesses looking to expand internationally, the agreement creates new opportunities to trade with India under preferential terms, reducing costs, simplifying customs processes and making it easier to access a market of more than 1.4 billion consumers.

What does the agreement mean for exporters?

The UK-India FTA is expected to strengthen bilateral trade by an estimated £25.5 billion over the long term while making it faster, simpler and more cost-effective for UK businesses to export to India. The agreement also introduces improved market access across goods, services and digital trade. 

Among the key benefits are:

• Preferential tariffs on a wide range of UK exports
• Simplified customs and origin procedures
• Improved digital trade provisions
• Greater access to India’s government procurement market
• Enhanced opportunities for UK service providers

Lower tariffs for many UK products

Many UK exporters will benefit from significant tariff reductions, with some products becoming duty-free immediately and others seeing phased reductions over the coming years.

Examples include:

• Mechanical machinery – reduced to 0% immediately
• Medical devices – reduced to 0% immediately
• Shaving cream and detergents – reduced to 0% immediately
• Chocolate – reduced to 0% over seven years
• Scotch whisky and gin – tariffs reduced from 150% to between 75% and 40% over ten years

Businesses exporting apparel and footwear may also benefit from tariff reductions, although eligibility depends on the specific commodity (HS) code.

Faster customs and simpler compliance

The agreement introduces several measures designed to reduce border friction.

UK exporters can now self-declare the origin of qualifying goods rather than obtaining origin certificates for every shipment. Businesses exporting under the agreement must register with HMRC to make origin declarations, enabling Indian customs to verify eligibility electronically. UK and India Trade Agreement 15.7.26.pdf

Additional customs improvements include:

• Target clearance of goods within 48 hours of arrival.
• Priority processing for perishable goods.
• Advance tariff rulings for greater certainty before exporting.
• A new single-window customs system to streamline border interactions.
• Better support for digital trade
• The FTA also reflects the growing importance of digital commerce by recognising:
• Electronic contracts and signatures.
• Electronic invoices.
• Paperless trade documentation
• Provisions supporting cross-border data flows
• Protection against mandatory disclosure of source code

These measures should help online retailers and digitally enabled businesses reduce administrative burden when trading internationally.

Preparing to export to India

Businesses planning to take advantage of the agreement should ensure they understand:

• Whether their products qualify for preferential tariffs
• The relevant Rules of Origin requirements
• HMRC registration requirements for origin declarations
• The correct commodity codes and applicable tariff rates

HMRC provides guidance and online tools to help businesses check export requirements and tariff eligibility before shipping goods. 

Looking ahead

India is expected to become one of the UK’s largest trading partners over the coming years. For ambitious eCommerce businesses, the new Free Trade Agreement represents an opportunity to expand into a rapidly growing market while benefiting from lower tariffs, simplified customs procedures and improved trading conditions.

Businesses considering expansion into India should review the new rules carefully to ensure they maximise the benefits available under the agreement.

Out-of-Home Delivery Around the World: Is Your Delivery Strategy Keeping Up?

Out-of-Home (OOH) delivery is no longer just a European trend, it’s rapidly becoming a global expectation. From parcel lockers in Poland and Germany to convenience store collections in Japan, shoppers increasingly want the flexibility to choose where and when they collect their orders.

Our latest Fast Facts explore how delivery preferences differ across key international markets and what UK retailers can learn to improve the customer experience, reduce failed deliveries and support international growth.

Global Online Shopper Numbers Continue to Climb

The global online shopping population has reached 2.86 billion people in 2026, representing around one-third of the world’s population. The figure is expected to exceed 3 billion shoppers before the end of the year as internet access and digital commerce continue to expand across emerging markets.

For UK retailers, the continued growth of digital consumers presents significant opportunities to expand internationally. However, success will increasingly depend on offering a seamless cross-border experience, including local payment methods, clear customs information and delivery options that meet regional expectations.

Source: SellersCommerce, Global eCommerce Statistics 2026