UK Government to Scrap De Minimis Rule for Low-Value Imports
As part of the 2025 Autumn Budget, the Chancellor has announced that the government will remove the de minimis rule that currently exempts low-value goods entering the UK from customs duty. Under the existing framework, items priced below £135 can be imported without duty charges — a provision heavily relied upon by overseas e-commerce sellers […]
Port Congestion Remains A Persistent Threat To Supply Chains
As the logistics sector moves toward 2026, port congestion remains a persistent threat to global supply chains despite some recent dips in vessel waiting times at select ports. These recent improvements appear driven more by weakened market demand than by long-term enhancements in port efficiency. As a result, disruption continues to be both widespread and […]
EU Plans to Scrap Low-Value Custom Duty Exemption
The European Union is preparing to abolish its long-standing de minimis rule, a move that could significantly reshape the landscape of international e-commerce. At present, goods valued below €150 can enter the EU without incurring customs duties. That exemption is now set to disappear. The planned overhaul will take full effect once the EU launches […]
Billions on the Line as Trump Tariff Case Reaches Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court last week reviewed the Trump administration’s challenge to two lower-court decisions that struck down its expansive tariff policy. At the heart of the dispute are the “Liberation Day Tariffs,” a set of duties enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Citing a national emergency linked to the country’s trade […]
Breakthrough? One Carrier Directs Containerships Through Red Sea
In a major development for global ocean shipping, an Ultra Large Container Vessel (ULCV) has completed a Red Sea transit for the first time in almost two years. The 17,859 TEU CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is currently en route eastbound to Asia, after its westbound voyage travelled around the Cape of Good Hope Shortly after […]
US Agrees Trade Deals In Asia But Legal Case Threatens
President Trump’s trade policy gathered new momentum this week as the US agreed a series of trade frameworks with Asian nations and advanced negotiations toward a potential breakthrough with China. New agreements were finalised with Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia, marking a notable expansion of Washington’s economic ties in the region. Under the deal, Vietnam […]
The Long Way Around: Cape Route Likely To Stay For Now
Despite a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East, the prospect of reopening Asia–Europe shipping lanes through the Red Sea remains remote. Since Houthi forces began targeting commercial vessels in early 2024, ocean freight carriers have rerouted traffic around the Cape of Good Hope — a significantly longer but far safer alternative. The detour extends voyages […]
Strikes Deepens Port Congestion Across Northern Europe
Strikes across Northern Europe are causing severe freight disruptions and worsening congestion at three of the region’s busiest ports — Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Zeebrugge. In Belgium, nationwide protests over proposed pension reforms have brought both Antwerp and Zeebrugge to a halt. Port operations were suspended on the evening of October 13th and are expected to […]
Flight Delays Mount as US Government Shutdown Enters Second Week
The US government shutdown has now completed its first week, with airports nationwide experiencing increasing disruptions due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. The shutdown began on October 1st after Congress failed to pass a federal funding bill. Both major political parties continue to blame one another for the stalemate, which has resulted in […]
Typhoon Ragasa Disrupts Chinese Logistics Ahead of Golden Week
Logistics across Southern China is experiencing significant disruption following Super Typhoon Ragasa, which struck Guangdong province and the Pearl River Delta earlier this week with winds of up to 125 mph. The storm forced temporary closures at major seaports and airports, while many factories and businesses suspended operations for safety. The disruption comes at a […]