In-depth guides on customs duties, landed cost, Incoterms, and international trade logistics.
2026 matrix of documents required at EU entry by product category: common base (commercial invoice, packing list, transport doc, customs declaration), origin proof (EUR.1, REX, supplier's declaration), and sectoral pieces (REACH, CE, CPNP, phytosanitary, CHED, EUDR, CBAM). Worked examples for UK textile and Indian chemical exporters.
Line-by-line 2026 landed cost calculation for a Chinese-made EV imported into the US, UK and EU: FOB, Ro-Ro freight, lithium battery surcharge, MFN duty, Section 301 100% tariff (US) vs UK 10% only vs EU anti-dumping by manufacturer. Three worked examples.
A line-by-line decode of a 2026 customs clearance quote: broker fees, VAT/duty advance, demurrage, exam fees, ISF charges. Inclusion/exclusion table, worked examples for the US, UK and India, plus the checklist to demand before you sign.
Sourcing from India: where it genuinely beats China (apparel, generics, leather, diamonds, auto parts), 2026 container costs from Nhava Sheva and Mundra, US and UK duty treatment after the 2025 UK-India FTA, and three worked examples.
The Bill of Lading is the single most important document in a container shipment. Its three legal functions, original B/L vs telex release vs sea waybill, the ten fields to check before departure, and the traps that strand containers at the port.
Wrong HS code, under-valued goods, mis-stated origin — what does an importer actually risk? 2026 customs penalty scale for the US, UK and India. Error severity tiers, aggravating factors, the power of prior disclosure, and three worked examples.
Import VAT — 20% UK, 7% to 25% across the EU, 18% IGST in India, 5% UAE, 15% Saudi Arabia. When is it deductible? Which document do you need to keep (C79, EAD, IGST e-payment)? Country-by-country guide for 2026 with three worked examples.
Complete map of HS codes for cosmetic imports in 2026: perfumes, makeup, hair care, oral hygiene, soaps. US HTSUS and EU TARIC reference table, classification pitfalls (Ch. 33 vs 34, wipes, nail products), and three worked examples for US/UK/India importers.
Practical guide to importing through Abidjan in 2026: when an import license is needed, ECOWAS CET duty bands plus the four stacked levies (RSP, PCC, PC UEMOA, 18% VAT), the GUCE-CI / BSC / inspection workflow, and the list of active freight forwarders at the Port of Abidjan. Full worked example.
Air or ocean: at what volume, transit time and cargo value does ocean become unbeatable? Break-even table for 2026 by corridor (China, India, Turkey to US/UK/EU), the actual formula, three worked examples and the four traps that distort 80% of decisions.
Country-by-country map of import licenses in 2026: US, UK, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, plus EU and African references. Tells importer registration apart from product-specific licenses (alcohol, pharma, weapons), real procedures and lead times, what happens if you ship without one, and three worked cases to qualify your flow before you sign a PO.
Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Wednesday, February 17. For an importer, that means 4 to 6 weeks of logistics disruption: factories shut, ports congested, freight rates spiking. Official calendar, last sailing dates for sea and air, and a six-step playbook to absorb the peak without running out of stock.