News & guides
News and guides
Practical guides and the latest shipping and customs news for businesses moving goods between Asia and the UK.
Customs & regulation
The UK–India trade agreement is now in force. What it means for UK businesses The UK–India trade agreement took effect on 15 July 2026. What changes for UK importers and exporters, and how to claim lower duty.
How-to guides
What is a freight forwarder, and do you need one? What freight forwarders do, how they differ from shipping lines and customs brokers, and how to choose a good one in the UK.
How-to guides
What are HS codes and how do you find the tariff rate? HS codes, commodity codes and tariff codes explained, how to find your code and duty rate on the UK Trade Tariff, and what to do if you're unsure.
How-to guides
What is import duty and import VAT? A plain-English guide The difference between UK import duty and import VAT, how each is calculated with worked examples, and how to reduce, defer or reclaim them.
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