Why payment friction is more than a back-office issue For manufacturing CFOs, global expansion should deliver scale, reach, and resilience. But beneath the surface, cross-border payments are quietly eroding margins, locking up liquidity, and exposing supply chains to avoidable risk. The challenge isn’t just complexity, but fragmentation too. Multiple banking partners, manual reconciliation, and currency mismatches are turning growth into a financial drag. And the cost is r

When applying for an ATA Carnet, timing is often critical - particularly if you are travelling with goods for an exhibition, trade fair or overseas project. One of the most common (and preventable) causes of delay is a mismatch in company details. To avoid your application being placed on hold, the company name registered on your eCert account must match exactly the name recorded at Companies House. Why Is This Important? An ATA Carnet is issued under strict financial lia

A UK EUR1 certificate is a document that can be used to help benefit from a reduced or nil duty rate when exporting to certain countries. Here are 3 top tips to ensure your application is completed correctly and to avoid delays: 1. If your invoice contains goods of UK preferential origin and goods of non-UK preferential origin you will need to do a Mixed Consignment application. This is when only the goods of UK preferential origin would be included in the EUR1 application. P

There is a major update for businesses trading internationally. Five of the UK’s largest banks - NatWest, HSBC UK, Barclays, Lloyds, and Santander - have pledged £11 billion to support British exporters. Working with UK Export Finance (UKEF) , this move is designed to make it easier for companies to get the loans and insurance they need to win bigger contracts and grow abroad. The Roundtable: What’s in it for you? To help local firms understand these changes, the Greate

It has been reported by the Guardian that a government-issued export licence, granted to send dual-use carbon fibre manufacturing equipment to an Armenian company set up in 2024, could be being used as a military supplier in Russia. The manufacturer said it conducted detailed end-user checks before receiving the export licence. This follows specific guidance that was released at the end of 2025 by Department for Business and Trade for the freight-forwarding, shipping and

Expanding into the U.S. market presents major growth opportunities for UK scaleups, but structural missteps around entity formation, tax exposure, IP protection and employment law can create costly challenges if not addressed early. Greater Manchester Chamber member Allentra is hosting a half day U.S. Expansion Clinic in Manchester designed for founders, CEOs and senior leaders responsible for U.S. market entry and growth. The session brings together U.S. based legal, tax an

Duo Consulting is a Manchester-based PR and communications consultancy for businesses scaling in the UK. The team works with internationally headquartered businesses that are landing, expanding and growing their presence in the UK, as well as across other European markets. With its consultancy-led model and experienced team, Duo helps clients build their reputation locally and accelerate growth. As a winner at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Excellence Awards

On 1 June 2026, the UK, EU, Norway, and Switzerland will officially launch digital ATA Carnets , marking a major step in modernising international trade. During the transition, paper and digital Carnets will coexist until all customs authorities are ready to handle digital formats. This initiative is led globally by the ICC and WCO, with UKNATACO and HMRC at the forefront in the UK. Why It Matters? Digital Carnets will help businesses: Save time and reduce administrative burd

Pakistan Britain Business Council (PBBC) invites UK companies to join an exclusive Trade Mission to Pakistan , featuring participation in the UK Pavilion at Pakistan Travel Mart (PTM) 2026 . 📍 EVENT OVERVIEW Pakistan Travel Mart (PTM) 20263–5 April 2026 | Karachi PTM Roadshow: 6–7 April 2026 | Lahore 🔗 https://pakistantravelmart.com/ Founded in 2017, PTM is Pakistan’s first and largest international travel trade exhibition and has rapidly evolved into South Asia’s leading

When applying for a UK Certificate of Origin (COO), EUR1 Movement Certificate, and other trade documents on behalf of an exporter, it is essential that agents follow the correct documentation procedures to avoid delays or rejection of applications. We would like to remind all agents that a valid Letter of Authorisation (LOA) must be uploaded each time an application is submitted. This requirement applies not only to UK Certificates of Origin and EUR1 but also when agents req

We are aware that several Chambers have been asked to enter “Revised Rules” text into Box 7 of a UK EUR1 by various Customs authorities following notices issued by Moroccan and Egyptian customs authorities. These notices refer to EU EUR1’s and not to UK EUR1’s issued by the UK Chamber Issuing Network. This has been confirmed by HMRC and Issuing Bodies are not to put “Revised Rules” into Box 7 if requested. The requirement to add “Revised Rules” relates to changes in the Pan..

HMRC has opened registration for UK exporters planning to self-certify origin under the UK-India Free Trade Agreement. If you intend to use preferential tariffs, you need to register before sending origin declarations to Indian Customs. Who should register UK producers or exporters sending UK-origin goods to India and planning to complete origin declarations. What you need ▪️ EORI number ▪️ Business or trading name ▪️ One primary email, plus up to 10 additional emails fo

Responding to news that the US plans to introduce fresh 10% tariffs on UK goods, from next month, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “New tariffs on goods exported to the US will be more bad news for UK exporters, already struggling with the tariffs levied last year. “We know trade is one way to boost the economy and the success of transatlantic trade depends on reducing, not raising, tariffs. “The Government must prioritise the i

Meet new potential customers and international distributors with a personalized specific buyer agenda at major fairs, scheduled in advance - FAIR SCOUTING SERVICE – KEY BUYER AGENDA Trade fairs continue to be important venues for meeting customers and partners. In Europe, the largest ones take place in Germany, in cities such Duesseldorf, Cologne, and Munich. Events in these cities, have a long history and are the essential meeting places for entire sectors. Trade fairs c

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce that two of our core international trade training courses: Export Documentation and UK Certificates of Origin & EUR1 Movement Certificates: Step-by-Step Workshop have now been officially CPD accredited. This achievement reinforces GMCC’s commitment to providing high-quality, practical training that supports businesses in trading compliantly and confidently in UK and global markets. Delegates attending either co

PEM Convention introduces new cumulation The Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention is an agreement among 25 parties in the European region, Middle East and Africa. Its aim is to increase trade by establishing common rules of origin. As of 1 st January, there are some revised rules to help assist companies. Although the UK is not currently part of PEM this could be useful for manufacturers who have factories in the EU/PEM countries. Further details on the list of countries and ru

From January 2026, the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will move from its transitional reporting phase into its definitive regime. This marks a significant change for UK businesses trading with the EU, particularly those dealing in carbon-intensive goods. While CBAM has been on the horizon for some time, the shift to full implementation means financial liabilities, stricter controls, and higher compliance expectations. UK exporters and EU importers

The United Kingdom has submitted a formal notification to the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), confirming that we will be ready to implement Digital ATA Carnets from 1 April 2026 . The European Union and Norway have also submitted their notifications, with Switzerland expected to confirm shortly . This marks a major milestone and clears the path for the first group of Digital ATA Carnet countries to go live in Q2 2026 . The ex