NordLink Advisory, who work closely with here at the Chamber are a firm who work with organisations across Europe to support international trade, investment, and cross-border collaboration. Together with their trusted partners - Bid Masters (UK), MMEHR (Germany), Pomerico Group (Poland) and Németh Sigetty - They are planning a series of practical webinars aimed at helping UK businesses explore opportunities and navigate market entry across key European markets. Before finalis

Thursday 9th July, 11am On 1 July 2026, the UK Government and European Union applied new systems of quotas and tariffs through their revised safeguard measures on steel, affecting billions of pounds of trade in steel products, and downstream industries like manufacturing, engineering and construction. Both sides reached a deal in late June, meaning that of the EU's 47% reduction in its overall steel quota to 18.3m tonnes per year, two-thirds of UK steel exports to the EU, wor

From 1 July 2026, businesses importing low-value goods into the EU face a significant change to customs treatment. The European Union will introduce a new €3 customs duty on low-value consignments (up to €150) imported from outside the EU, bringing an end to the long-standing "de minimis" customs duty exemption that has allowed millions of small parcels to enter the bloc duty-free. The measure is part of the EU's wider customs reform programme and is aimed at addressing the r

First Class delivery is the standard delivery option we offer in the Export Documentation Team at the Greater Manchester Chamber. This service offers delivery between 3 to 5 working days, and carries no additional fee. Special Delivery is a next day delivery service that we offer for documents that are required more urgently. There is an additional fee associated with this service. We have noticed that sometimes applicants will choose the First Class option assuming their doc

The UK and India have confirmed that their historic free trade agreement will enter into force on 15 July. Formally known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the deal was originally signed in July 2025. Following high-level talks at the G7 Summit in Evian, Sir Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Narendra Modi resolved eleventh-hour complications surrounding steel import safeguards to secure the final timeline. With the launch date established, businesses hav

The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will generally apply from 12 August 2026, introducing new requirements aimed at reducing packaging waste and supporting a circular economy. The regulation replaces the previous directive-based framework with a single set of rules across all EU Member States, affecting manufacturers, importers, retailers, and exporters placing packaged products on the EU market. Key Changes Packaging minimisation – Packaging must be limi

Applying for a UK EUR1 movement certificate after your goods have already left the UK requires a retrospective application. While it serves the same purpose as a standard EUR1 - allowing your overseas buyer to claim preferential (often zero) import duties - applying after the fact means meeting stricter documentation standards. To ensure HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) or the Chamber of Commerce approves your retrospective request without delay, you must provide a specific set o

What is an ATA Carnet? It is an export document allowing for the temporary movement of goods between countries without paying the associated duties and taxes. It is used for exhibitions, professional equipment and commercial samples. As the world moves towards digitalisation, export documentation is no exception. As of 1st June 2026, the Digital Carnet scheme has been live in the UK, EU, Norway and Switzerland. This new system allows for faster processing, reduced paperwork

Deadline to Apply – 30 June , 2026 2-Day Exclusive Business Program, ALL EXPENSES PAID, round-trip flight, hotel, transportation, interpretation Osaka Invites You Osaka Business Development Agency (OBDA) and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) have opened applications for "GO GLOBAL OSAKA," an exclusive 2-day business matchmaking program, connecting international buyers with leading Japanese wellness suppliers. They are looking for International buyers / i

When making UK Certificate of Origin and UK EUR1 applications you may have noticed an adjusted formatting on Box 6 (in COO applications) and Box 8 (in EUR1 applications). Previously these were split into 2 sections, Marks and Numbers on the left, and Description of Packaging and Goods on the right. These boxes are now formatted as one free text box. The information that needs to be included in them is the same, but the way it is presented is slightly different. Line 1 should

If you’re completing the general list for an ATA Carnet application, it’s important to get the item descriptions formatted correctly. This guide focuses on electrical items. For all electrical goods, you should include a serial number in the description wherever possible. If an item does not have a serial number, you can enter “NSN” instead. Please be aware that if a serial number is not provided, you may be asked to complete a declaration confirming this. The Chamber cannot

Date: Tuesday 30 June Time: 10:00 to 16:30 How should Greater Manchester respond to a rapidly changing global economy? As geopolitical shifts, trade dynamics, technological advances and sustainability pressures reshape where organisations invest and grow, this event explores what it means for regions like ours. As part of the Academy of International Business (AIB) 2026 Congress, Manchester Metropolitan University will bring together global experts, policymakers and business

The United States has proposed two new Section 301 tariffs: a forced-labour duty reaching sixty economies, and a separate 25% duty on Brazil. Alongside these, it has modified its Section 232 metals regime. We have published five analyses and explainers unpacking what these actions cover, whom they hit, and where the burden lands. Query these tariff actions directly via the Global Trade Alert MCP. Our MCP server lets your AI assistant ask about any Section 232 or Section 301 a

 Join us this June for an afternoon of networking and building connections with representatives from Saxony's and Greater Manchester's business communities. Over 60 representatives from the cities of Chemnitz, Leipzig and Dresden are visiting Manchester to build economic connections. 📅 Date: Monday 22 June 🕠 Time: 1pm - 3pm 📍 Location: Manchester Central Library Performance space, St Peters Square, City Centre, M2 5PD Speakers will be announced shortly. RSVP now t

Cyber threats are escalating. Talent is scarce. Greater Manchester businesses need a partner who moves fast, delivers reliably, and keeps them secure. $10T+projected annual cybercrime cost globally 4M+unfilled cybersecurity roles worldwide 40%Isoskills growth rate in 2024 State of the market Ransomware, AI-powered fraud, API exploits, and supply-chain attacks now target organisations of every size. Global cybercrime costs are on course to exceed $10 trillion annually — while

The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK is delighted to present "InBuyer 2026", the free online B2B matchmaking programme promoted by Promos Italia. InBuyer connects international buyers, importers, distributors, and trade operators with a carefully curated selection of verified Italian SMEs across a wide range of product sectors. All meetings take place online via a dedicated platform; no travel required, no registration fee. THE 2026 PROGRAMME InBuyer 20

UK manufacturers increased selling prices at their fastest pace in nearly four years during May, highlighting growing inflationary pressures across the industrial sector and raising concerns about the outlook for exporters and the wider economy. According to the latest S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), manufacturers are facing a sharp rise in costs linked to supply chain disruption, higher energy prices and ongoing geopolitical instability. Companies

India has warned that it could reconsider key tariff concessions granted to British exports under the UK–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) if the UK proceeds with planned restrictions on steel imports, raising fresh uncertainty over one of Britain's most significant post-Brexit trade deals. The warning comes ahead of trade talks between UK Trade Secretary Peter Kyle and Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, as both countries work towards implementing the agreement signed in 2