Documentary Collections: A Lifeline for UK Exporters — Powered by Synergy in Trade In today’s shifting landscape of international trade, UK exporters face mounting challenges when collecting payments from overseas buyers — for example in markets like Pakistan, Algeria, and Egypt, where exchange control regulations often mandate the use of Documentary Collections . Yet, just as this method remains essential, many banks have quietly withdrawn support for it, leaving exporters s

In August 2025, UK goods exports fell to £31.2 billion, down from £32.4 billion in July, according to Trading Economics data. Over the year to August, total UK exports of goods and services reached about £923.6 billion, representing a 5.5% increase compared with the previous year. Within that, however, goods exports declined around 3.5%, while services exports surged nearly 13%. This shift reflects the UK’s growing identity as a services-driven export economy, with goods now

200,000+ active sellers. Fastest growth rate in Walmart Marketplace history. A global seller boom – and our clients are riding the wave. Walmart is evolving into a powerful e-commerce destination, and third-party sellers are leading the charge. Since opening to international sellers in 2021, the platform has become a key launchpad for global brands looking to break into the US market. At Infinity Blue Group, we’ve seen it all firsthand. As 1 of 20 global Walmart Strategic Par

Gulfood, the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition, is returning on January 26 th  – 30 th ,   2026 – and it promises to be bigger and better than ever! With thousands of global exhibitors and visitors, Gulfood is where the industry comes together to: Discover the latest food trends and innovations Build international partnerships Showcase products on a world stage Unlock opportunities in one of the fastest-growing markets   UAE Market Snapshot: Why This

Importing controlled goods into the UK? Make the process faster, smoother, and fully compliant with an International Import Certificate (IIC) from the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce your trusted trade partner for global success.   What is an International Import Certificate (IIC)? An IIC is an essential document for importing ‘controlled’ goods, such as items listed on military or dual-use control lists. By obtaining an IIC, importers commit to bringing goods directly

The recent changes to the U.S. de minimis threshold have become problematic for UK traders. With a value limit of $800 USD per shipment per recipient, Section 321 of the U.S. Tariff Act allows qualifying imports to enter the country duty- and tax-free, without a formal customs entry. Understanding the U.S. De Minimis Rule De minimis is designed to simplify customs clearance for low-value shipments. Under Section 321: Shipments valued at $800 USD or less  can enter the U.S. f

HMRC has announced changes to how CHED (Certificate of Health for Export of Dairy) document codes are handled on CDS declarations. The aim is to simplify the process and make it easier to comply with waiver rules. XX Status Code to Be Removed From 23 rd  of October 2025, the document status code XX  will no longer be available. The XW  code will become the default for CHED-related declarations. HMRC advises declarants to start using the correct waiver codes now rather than co

Please note the following important update regarding the Manchester Airport Freight Centre : Manchester Airport is currently undergoing a major infrastructure transformation . As a result, the Border Force  has had to readjust its operating model, leading to some changes in the freight team’s service provision. The Trade Counter at Building 302  is now staffed during the following hours: ·       Monday to Friday:  10:00 am – 3:00 pm ·       Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays:  

Commodity codes, tariff codes, HS codes – are all essentially the same thing. It is a unique number that is used around the globe to classify goods. It identifies what your goods are and helps determine: ·       Duties that may be applicable to the goods ·       Whether the goods are subject to trade restrictions ·       Whether they qualify for preferential duty rates under trade agreements. In the UK commodity codes are 10 digits for exports and 8 digits for imports.  Unive

Infinity Blue Group accelerates ambitious brands into new markets and channels. We specialise in scaling across marketplaces, direct-to-consumer, retail (bricks & mortar), and content , building reach, streamlining operations, and driving growth. Our Four Pillars of Growth Marketplaces:  Full end-to-end launch and management on Amazon, Walmart, and TikTok Shop. We can support with compliance, operations, and optimisation so you can maximise sales. Digital Commerce : Smart tec

When applying for a UK EUR1 Certificate, there may be cases when the invoice/invoices contain goods of non-UK origin, or UK origin goods which are not of preferential origin. In these cases, only goods of UK preferential origin may be included in the EUR1 application. 1.       Identifying Non-Originating Goods Any goods which are non-originating or do not meet the preferential origin requirements must be clearly marked with an asterisk (*) on the invoice. 2.       Required St

In certain circumstances, a Certificate of Origin may be issued to cover only part of the goods that are listed in the invoice. In these cases, the following procedures must be observed when making these applications. 1.       Identifying the Goods in the Invoice Applicants must clearly indicate on the invoice which goods are to be covered by the Certificate of Origin. A symbol (such as an asterisk ‘*’) can be used to do this, however any symbol is acceptable as long as the g

Why “Going Global” is the smartest move for Greater Manchester businesses right now, a new opportunity has arrived for ambitious SMEs across Greater Manchester looking to take their business to the next level. In a powerful collaboration between the GM Business Growth Hub, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and the Department for Business and Trade, the International Scale Up Programme  has officially launched. This initiative is d

The EU and Indonesia have finalised negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and an Investment Protection Agreement (IPA), following the political agreement reached in July by President von der Leyen and President Prabowo Subianto. Talks were led for the EU by Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, currently in Indonesia to engage with businesses ahead of ratification. These agreements mark a major step in the EU’s diversification strategy, opening new expo

At Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, accuracy and constancy is critical when we process Export Documentation. It is a key part of...

When customers require for their UK EUR1 Certificate to be manually signed, we use pre-signed EUR1 forms. This means we have the...

UK manufacturing contracted at its fastest pace in five months in September 2025, with the S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)...

China is rapidly diverting a growing share of its clothing exports towards Europe, as trade tensions and tariffs in the United States...

The UK government has announced the return of International Trade Week 2025 , set to run from 3rd–7th November , with the aim of helping...

When you submit export documentation applications via eCert, there are three possible outcomes: 1. Approval If all requirements are met,...