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With the UK's exit from the EU expected to increase the number of declarations required, businesses who trade goods with EU markets are taking steps to increase their knowledge

As the EU Exit date of March 29^th draws ever closer, and with Parliament still undecided on whether or not we should leave with a deal, we thought it important to bring you, our customers, up to date with the latest information that you need should the UK leave the EU without a deal.

This week, the i2i Infinity team began developments aimed at ensuring our users and stakeholders encounter no more friction than is necessary in the event of a no deal exit for the UK from the EU.

Trade fulfilment has never been as popular as it is right now. As the UK negotiates the terms of it’s exit from the EU, topics such as customs declarations, origin and incoterms are being talked about widely across social media. In these times of uncertainty, many businesses are taking measures to improve their resilience. While certain steps can be difficult to justify until the UK’s exit from the EU becomes clearer, one area businesses are looking at with fresh eyes is the area of training.

HMRC have informed those involved in the testing process that the end of March 2019 is the earliest implementation date now planned for the 3^rd release of Customs Declaration Service (CDS).  

There has been much talk in the media, often from politicians, of the benefits of a trusted trader scheme called Authorised Economic Operator (AEO). This post looks at the status and it’s origins, in light of increased prominence as part of Brexit related focus on trade operations.

The recent publication of a number of notices designed to help UK businesses prepare for a no deal exit from the EU has reinvigorated discussion on the practicalities for movements of goods. With 25 notices published and 50+ to come, one item among many still to be addressed concerns temporary importations. At present, a UK individual or entity can take goods and/or equipment into other member states without the need to declare. This post looks at ATA Carnets, the passport for goods.

On the 15th of August the Government released their policy paper 'Future Customs Arrangements: a future partnership paper' on proposed customs arrangements with the EU post-Brexit. They proposed a 'limited-time interim period' where both UK and EU business would benefit from time to fully implement the new customs arrangements, in order to avoid a cliff-edge.

The document identifies two broad approaches to a border with the EU. The first approach 'a highly streamlined customs arrangement' involves utilising the UK’s existing third country processes (NES export declarations to HMRC) for UK-EU trade. The second approach 'a new customs partnership with the EU' would seek to align customs with the EU in a way that removes the need for a UK-EU customs border. 

On the surface, option one seems the most likely of these two options and would certainly be the fallback position, should the 'alignment approach' fail. Under this scenario port infrastructure would look to be improved for 'as frictionless a customs border as possible', but Export and Import goods would need to be declared to HMRC, as per current third country rules.

HMRC has estimated there are 192,000 exporters in the UK who ship goods to EU countries, but have never shipped outside the EU to third countries. If your company fits into this category, read the guide below to find what you would need to do to declare goods for export.

The Government has today published a paper – Future customs arrangements: a future partnership paper. This is the first in a series of papers on the new deep and special partnership the government wants to build with the EU.

Having called a snap election, the Conservative Party is currently 21 points ahead in the first election poll since the announcement. On news of the election, the pound rose to a six-month high, largely due to speculation that five more years until the next election would lead to a 'softer' Brexit. How would a 'Soft' Brexit effect UK importers and Exporters?