Editors' note: Many economic operators in the EU and other UK trading partners are and will be affected by the ongoing customs changes in the UK. We start with a monthly overview of some important … news from the UK. Many thanks to Mark Rowbotham, who recently joined the CCRM Editorial Board, for preparing the updates on the Border Target Operating Model (that will be progressively introduced from the end of January 2024) and the Customs Declaration Service (from 30 March 2024, the CDS will be the UK’s single Customs platform). Related developments are also interesting to follow for those who are not directly involved in trade with the UK but are interested in effective border management as the UK aims to create the most effective border in the world.

Israel has been in a state of war for the past three months. This war has had an impact on international trade, particularly on customs valuation, including for importers in other countries such … as the EU, as explained in more detail in this article.

Note from the CCRM editors: The first part of the article provided an overview of the history, objectives and scope of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) introduced by the EU. It also … examined the issue of whether the Paris Agreement on climate change foresees border adjustment measures by countries with high climate ambitions, and posed the following question: Is the CBAM fair towards developing countries? In this second part, the author provides an overview of the provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which could justify the CBAM, his assessment of the CBAM Regulation, and shares a practical list of questions that companies can use in order to find out whether they are affected, and if so, how they can prepare to meet the CBAM requirements, in particular for the transitional period.

News in week 52: Changes to import duties on certain products from 2024.01.01; changes to tariff quotas (reduced import duties) from 2024.01.01; EU-UK trade - transitional rules of preferential … origin for electric accumulators and electrified vehicles; Anti-Coercion Instrument enters into force - possible new tariffs and trade restrictions in the EU; farewell event for WCO Secretary General Dr. Kunio Mikuriya.

The remaining electronic systems provided for in the Union Customs Code (UCC) will be implemented in 2024 and 2025. The introduction of a new customs system can have various implications for … a company, depending on its specific activity: time savings when paper documents become electronic (e.g. T2L), significant financial savings thanks to new simplification possibilities (e.g. centralised clearance), the need to adapt company processes and software to the transition to the new systems, or simply the potential for disruption during implementation (for example, the introduction of new services of the Intelligent Customs Declaration System (iMDAS) this month in Lithuania has led to a sad joke in business community that the only Christmas wish is a working iMDAS), etc. On 15 December, the European Commission adopted a new work programme to replace the previous one. Let's take a look at the updated implementation deadlines for the systems planned for the coming years. If you work with these systems, you should think about how they will or might affect your organisation and prepare accordingly.

The World Customs Organization has published a comprehensive study on the digitalisation of the Certificate of Origin (CO). This article provides a short summary of the existing CO issues and … suggests some solutions that could help achieve the long-term digitalisation goals – such as the framework for trusted digital signatures currently used in the EU.

Did you know that the EU imports around 26 kg of textiles per person per year? And around 11 kg are thrown away? That clothes are usually only worn 7 or 8 times? The EU is working on an EU strategy … for sustainable and circular textiles (see European Parliament resolution, published in the Official Journal on 21.12.2023), as textiles have the fourth highest negative impact on the climate and the environment, after food, housing and mobility. This article invites you to reflect on what can/ needs to be done in customs area to contribute to the EU's and global sustainability objectives. For example, whether customs tariffs or preferential rules of origin promote the circular economy, i.e. the import of used textiles for reuse or recycling and other sustainable options.

Editors’ note: In this second part of the article, the author highlights the similarities and differences between customs valuation and transfer pricing and emphasises that the requirements may … differ for the same goods. He also outlines the solutions used by customs in different countries. For example, the Canada Border Services Agency considers the transfer price to be the ‘uninfluenced’ price paid or payable for imported goods if a written transfer price agreement exists between a vendor and a related purchaser and is in effect at the time of importation.

Editors' note: In November, the European Commission published the news 'New transfer pricing rules to make life easier for businesses in the EU'. The new rules are necessary to address several … challenges, including the competing objectives of customs and tax authorities, which lead to double compliance requirements. The problem is global. According to the Corporate Tax Association of Australia (CTAA), 'it is unacceptable for a business to be required to satisfy two arms of the same government, one demanding a higher price and the other a lower price in respect of the same transaction'. In this first part of the article, the author provides an overview of the rules and methods of customs valuation and transfer pricing.