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The United Kingdom and European Union have agreed an extension to Article 50 to delay Brexit

by | Mar 28, 2019 | Customer Help, Government News

International Freight Solutions IFS guidance for BrexitThe UK was scheduled to leave the EU at 11pm on 12 April 2019. However, a further extension to Article 50 has now been agreed to allow more time to conclude a Brexit deal with the EU. This extension will last until 31 October, unless a deal is agreed earlier.

For the duration of the extension, the UK will remain within the EU Single Market and imports and exports will continue to be subject to EU rules.

Until a Withdrawal Agreement is passed by the UK parliament, the legal default position for the UK remains exiting the EU without a deal. It is therefore essential that businesses prepare for all possible outcomes, including a possible No Deal Brexit. In this scenario your packages could face delays if you don’t put the right preparations in place.

In readiness for a possible Hard Brexit scenario, here are some steps you can take:

  • Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number: If you do not have an active EORI this will be needed for Customs Clearance, it’s free to apply and currently takes just a few days. You can apply here > Get a UK EORI number to trade within the EU
  • Commercial invoice: This should include; goods description / tariff number / value & currency / packaging details / weight / origin / EORI number / Commodity code. Invoice Template attached.
  • Know the commodity code of your goods: Commodity codes classify goods so you can fill in export declarations. You can look these up here > Trade Tariff Look Up
  • Record keeping: You’re required to keep records for all traded goods you declare to HMRC for 6 years. The reason for this is for duty and tax purposes, and for government statistics.

We also recommend that you keep up to date on finer details which may be relevant to your business at  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exporting-and-importing-goods-if-the-uk-leaves-the-eu-with-no-deal and also https://www.gov.uk.

Download > commercial-invoice-template-230kb

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us should you require any further advice.

Global exporting checklist

by | Mar 26, 2019 | Global News, Partner News

With e-commerce sales showing no sign of slowing down, now is the time to start accepting orders from all over the globe. While it’s easy to configure your website to start delivering internationally, a robust global strategy is required for the longer term. It’s important to consider key questions such as your business’ priorities and the cost and speed of delivery.

Many UK regions are working to provide further opportunities for businesses to engage in international trade, it’s becoming simpler for small and medium-sized businesses to go global so be sure to reach out for support. Read more >

Last Mile Delivery: business solutions for you

by | Mar 18, 2019 | Global News, Partner News

Last Mile Delivery - Solutions for your businessLast mile delivery is the movement of goods from a transportation hub to their final destination and demands up to 53 per cent of total shipping costs. With e-commerce sales totalling $2.3 trillion worldwide, consumer demand for online purchases are driving growth forward.

Despite the challenges, even the smallest of retailers must compete with the high standards set by global companies, who have made next-day delivery the norm. When it comes to last-mile solutions, and which could be right for your business, there are many options to consider. Read more >

Exports across the UK rise

by | Mar 8, 2019 | Government News

UK mapExports continue to rise across the UK

According to new figures, the number of UK businesses exporting goods has increased by over 1,000 since this time last year, bringing the number to 110,800. More appetite from non-EU countries for UK goods has been seen, with the number of businesses exporting to these countries rising by 1.3 per cent in the last three months.

International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox said these figures highlight the exporting power across all UK regions. “This is fantastic news for British businesses, who should be encouraged by these figures to take advantage of the clear opportunities available for growing their business overseas.” Read more >