UK Customs Compliance News - Week of the 12th May - 18th May 2025
This Week in UK Customs Compliance: CDS Downtime, Tariff Shifts, Sanctions Heat, and Smuggled Parrots
From system outages and tariff hikes to sanctions enforcement and an unusual smuggling attempt involving parrots, the past week in UK customs compliance has been anything but dull. Here's your roundup of key developments affecting importers, exporters, and compliance professionals.
Scheduled CDS Downtime: Prepare for Delays
HMRC has confirmed that the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) will undergo scheduled maintenance from 9:30 p.m. on 31 May to 6:00 a.m. on 1 June. During this window, import and export declarations won’t be processed, and businesses using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) may face disruption.
To avoid shipment delays, HMRC advises traders to ensure that all relevant declarations are pre-lodged, GMRs are generated in advance, and export permissions, such as Permission to Progress (P2P), are in place.
This is a timely reminder of the value of automated customs compliance tools that can pre-check declarations, flag missing data, and manage high volumes of entries with minimal manual oversight.
New Anti-Dumping Tariffs on Chinese Machinery
As of 14 May 2025, the UK has imposed new anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of specific Chinese hydraulic excavators (commodity code 8429 521000). The Trade Remedies Authority found that these machines were being dumped at artificially low prices and recommended duties to support domestic manufacturers.
Importers of affected products should review their landed cost calculations and ensure they are correctly applying new duty rates. This is where customs valuation software and up-to-date tariff classification tools become vital in avoiding compliance breaches or incorrect declarations.
Tariff and Commodity Code Changes: What’s New?
On 16 May, HMRC released a set of tariff updates that could affect duty liability for a range of importers:
- Certain products previously eligible for reduced rates under Authorised Use have lost that relief.
- Adjustments have been made to Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) duty rates.
- Commodity codes are being aligned with the EU, meaning that some existing codes will be terminated on June 27 and replaced on June 28.
Businesses relying on accurate classification should ensure that their HS code classification software and internal systems are up to date. Customs IX simplifies this process with real-time customs risk reporting, helping avoid duty overpayments or misdeclarations.
Sanctions Enforcement: Tougher Times Ahead
A newly published review from the UK government outlines a more aggressive approach to sanctions enforcement. This includes:
- A £465,000 penalty by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI)
- Criminal convictions for breaches of Russia-related sanctions
- Six HMRC settlements totalling £1.36 million
The message is clear: sanctions compliance is no longer just a legal formality—it’s a frontline issue. With customs risk management tools, businesses can screen trading partners, monitor high-risk goods, and ensure they remain compliant with evolving sanctions laws.
Smugglers Gonna Smuggle: Parrots in Boots
In the US, customs agents at the California–Mexico border recently discovered six live parrots hidden in a traveller’s boots, with six more found in the car. While bizarre, this incident underscores the unpredictable nature of border enforcement and the need for vigilance across all sectors of trade.
While you (hopefully) won’t encounter avian contraband in your supply chain, this tale is a colourful reminder that customs compliance is never boring—and that surprises come in all shapes, sizes, and feathers.
Make Customs IX Your Compliance Edge
Whether you’re managing UK customs clearance, responding to tariff changes, or staying ahead of post-Brexit compliance challenges, Customs IX gives you the tools to:
- Automate declarations with AI customs software
- Audit data for errors and duty reclaim opportunities
- Update your internal processes with customs data integration
- Monitor and report risks in real time
- Maintain accuracy with customs declaration error detection
From downtime to duty changes, we help you stay prepared, informed, and in control.
