The launch of a new US federal portal for tariff refunds marks a significant development for global trade, offering a long-awaited route for importers to recover costs incurred during a turbulent period of trade policy. Introduced by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the system, known as the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE), went live in April 2026 and enables eligible businesses to submit claims for duties paid under tariffs that were later

Following the US Supreme Court ruling in February 2026 that the tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unlawful, there has been discussions around whether these duties should be repaid to companies. Courts have determined that companies who paid these tariffs are entitled to refunds, potentially totalling between $100 billion and $166 billion. On Monday 20 th April, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will launch a system to p

We’re pleased to let you know that an update to the Exporter eCERT platform will be rolled out shortly, moving from Version 7 to Version 8. This forms part of our ongoing commitment to provide a more secure, modern, and user-friendly system. The update is scheduled for the evening of Monday 27th April , and importantly, there will be no downtime to the eCERT service. What to expect Version 8 has been designed to feel familiar, so your day-to-day use of eCERT should remai

As of 31 March 2026, HMRC has changed how British businesses track their imports and exports. The old system of paying for "MSS" or "CDS" data reports is gone. Now, every trader can access their full declaration history for free through the Government Gateway. While saving money on subscription fees is a win, this change comes with a clear message: HMRC expects you to be watching your own data. What has changed? The new service, "Get customs data for import and export dec

The Obligatory Logistics Envelope (ELO) was introduced in April 2025 but was made mandatory by France on 20 th April 2026. This will be mandatory RoRo (roll on/roll off) freight travelling between Greater Britain and France, including full and empty vehicles. What is the ELO? The ELO is a digital port pass that brings together all customs and safety/security data for your shipment into one single reference. It is France’s equivalent of the GMR system in the UK. It sh

A significant gap in awareness is emerging among UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) moves toward mandatory e-invoicing raising concerns about business readiness ahead of a major digital tax transformation. Recent findings reveal that 91% of SMEs are unaware of HMRC communications regarding e-invoicing changes, despite early policy signals and consultation efforts. This highlights a disconnect between policymakers and the businesses mo

The UK government has announced a major breakthrough for British food producers, opening the door to Japan’s fast-growing £1.4 billion organic market. The new agreement, which came into effect on 1 April 2026, is expected to significantly boost export opportunities while cutting red tape for UK businesses. A Simpler Path to Export At the heart of the deal is the mutual recognition of organic livestock standards between the UK and Japan. This means British exporters can now us

Please be advised of recent changes to the parking arrangements for members attending the Border Force public counter at Manchester Airport. Manchester Airport has introduced a full ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) system with barrierless entry and exit. While short visits to the Border Force office remain free of charge for a limited period, it is essential that the following process is followed: Park in the T2 West Multi-Storey Car Park (P3), on Level 1 or above.

Congratulations to our Export Documentation team at GM Chamber following their recent successful audit of certification procedures and documentation accuracy. The audit outcome is a strong reflection of the team’s ongoing commitment to excellence. Inspectors highlighted the high standard of processes and procedures in place, as well as the consistent focus on delivering a reliable and quality-driven service to our customers. Particular recognition was given to the team’s at

From April (Date to be confirmed), exporters will see a slight increase in pricing for export documentation services. As these changes come into effect, it’s important to keep a close eye on your Chamber’s eCert portal for the latest updates, guidance, and fee structures to avoid any disruption to your export processes. The eCert system continues to offer a fast and efficient way to manage documentation, so ensuring you’re up to date will help keep shipments moving smoothly.

After years of negotiation, the UK–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has finally reached the moment that matters: delivery. As of March 2026, the deal is no longer about headlines or political symbolism—it is about whether it actually works. Signed in mid-2025 after protracted talks, the agreement is now in its final ratification stage. Both the UK and India are moving through the last legal steps, with expectations that it could come into force as early as April. That would

We’ve been delighted to partner with the International Trade Centre over the past few months, welcoming over 40 women-led businesses from Asia and Africa. These businesses represented a diverse range of sectors, including food and drink, fashion and beauty. The ITC SheTrades Initiative works to remove barriers to women’s participation in trade by strengthening the competitiveness of women-owned businesses, promoting inclusive policies, and fostering connections with global

In the last couple of months, we have had multiple queries and requests for “Revised Rules” to be added to the remarks section of our UK EUR1 applications and have rejected many application that have added them. The addition of “Revised Rules” text into Box 7 of an EUR1 relates to updates in the Pan European-Mediterranean (PEM) agreement, which refers to EU EUR1’s rather than UK EUR1’s. In instances where you are being asked for this to be added to UK EUR1 applications, those

When getting your application accepted by us here at the Chamber, you will get a notification Via email to say it is ready, when you receive this; here are a few steps to make this easier so you are not getting draft copy down the middle Go to your applications – the application you are ready to print – you do not need to open it up Next to the application You will have a small printer button that you need to press it will look like this If you click this, it will then show o

The Customs Declaration Service will be unavailable on 28 th March from 8pm due to scheduled maintenance. This means customs declarations will be unable to be processed until the service resumes on 29 th March. GMRs may also be impacted. You can view the service availability and issues here . The updates to CDS include: Important Update for Cooking Sauces (Tariff Code 2103909089) where an excise code will be now mandatory Excise Duty Updates for Cooking Alcohols Both

The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is shifting gears. From January 2026, we move from the "transitional" reporting phase into the definitive phase. For UK exporters, this is no longer just a compliance box to tick - it is a commercial turning point. Emissions data will now directly determine the financial levies paid by your EU customers, influencing your pricing, competitiveness, and supplier status. What is changing? Until now, CBAM has been about gather

In today’s fast-paced global economy, having a solid understanding of international trade is more important than ever. The Foundation Award, a nationally recognised Certificate in International Trade accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), offers professionals the opportunity to build essential knowledge and practical skills across key areas of global commerce. Our Express International Trade Certificate programme takes this one step further condensing six accre

Businesses are kindly advised that several offices and government departments may observe closures during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday period this week when looking for Arab Documentation. Businesses planning documentation, certification, or other administrative procedures are encouraged to plan their submissions in advance to avoid potential delays during this time. Please note that some closure dates may still be subject to official confirmation. UK Exporters are theref

When applying for a UK Certificate of Origin, it is important to ensure that the person submitting the application is the same individual whose signature appears in Box 8 of the Certificate of Origin. This requirement is in place to maintain the integrity of the document and to ensure that the declaration made on the certificate is completed by an authorised signatory of the exporting company. Why Does This Matter? Box 8 of the Certificate of Origin contains the exporter’

Jointine Products (Lincoln) Limited has seen their international trade with Boex cut trade document processing from hours to minutes. Digital trade execution is changing the pace of cross-border business. Cut Trade Paperwork by Nearly 60% Managing international trade documentation is complex. For UK SMEs trading with the EU, it can be particularly frustrating—emails, PDFs, manual signatures and repeated data entry slow down what should be straightforward transactions. Boe