Trading with China, week after week
Tariffs, certifications, import rules: what changes for goods shipped from China, country by country, with the official sources.
93 news items
- Canada · Trade investigation into food packaging
Which Chinese paperboard cups fall within Canada’s trade investigation?
Canadian buyers comparing finished cups with die-cut blanks should check both offers. The investigation into certain paperboard containers originating in or exported from China may cover both forms of the product.
Read the article - European Union · Trade in technical textiles
Chinese PET spunbond: which anti-dumping duty applies to EU imports?
Since 31 October 2026, a definitive anti-dumping duty has applied to certain Chinese polyester nonwovens used, among other things, as carriers for waterproofing materials. To compare quotations, identify both the fabric and its producer.
Read the article - Chine · Canton Fair
Canton Fair: the 140th edition closed on 4 November 2026
The 140th Canton Fair took place at the Pazhou complex in Guangzhou from 15 October to 4 November 2026, in three phases.
Read the article - Pérou · Antidumping
Peru imposes definitive anti-dumping duties on Chinese ceramic toilets
Since 6 October 2026, Indecopi has applied definitive five-year anti-dumping duties on one-piece ceramic toilets originating in China, following a complaint from Peruvian manufacturers Trebol and Vainsa that established dumping margins of up to 45.2%. Smart toilets and those designed for recreational vehicles are not covered.
Read the article - Tanzanie · Ports et fret
Tanzania: the port of Dar es Salaam sharply cuts turnaround times and handles greater volume
According to figures released in early October 2026 by the Tanzania Ports Authority and terminal operator DP World, the time taken to unload a container ship at Dar es Salaam has fallen from more than 300 hours to under 28 hours since April 2024, while the volume handled has jumped from 23.7 to 33.7 million tonnes over the last three financial years.
Read the article - Union européenne · Commerce
European Union: Brussels negotiates with Beijing over electric vehicles and rare earths
The European Union's chief negotiator, Maros Sefcovic, travels to Beijing on 8 and 9 October 2026 to try to turn into an agreement the minimum export price commitments proposed by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, and to secure better access to rare earths restricted by China, while France and Germany push for a new rapid retaliation tool inspired by US trade law.
Read the article - Algérie · Transport maritime
Algeria: costs from shipping document errors no longer fall on the importer
In October 2026, the Directorate of Merchant Shipping and Ports, part of the Algerian Ministry of Transport, sent shipping agents a notice: additional costs caused by errors in the shipping documents of imported vehicles, particularly from China, must now be borne by the carrier or its agent, rather than the importer.
Read the article - Chine · Semaine d'or
Mid-Autumn Festival · National Day · 2026
These were two separate holiday periods. Mid-Autumn Festival : September 25 - 27, 2026. National Day : October 1 - 7, 2026.
Read the article - Fret maritime · Asie-Europe
Sea freight China-Europe: rates fall for a twelfth week, carriers attempt an increase
The Drewry World Container Index published on 1 October 2026 fell a further 1%, to 4,434 dollars per 40-foot container, dragged down by Asia-Europe: Shanghai-Rotterdam dropped 2%, to 3,399 dollars, and Shanghai-Genoa 3%, to 3,702 dollars, a twelfth consecutive week of decline. Carriers have announced increases for the second half of October, with no certainty that they will hold.
Read the article - Colombie · Conformité
Colombia bans imports of goods made with forced labour after a US tariff increase
Since 29 September 2026, a new Colombian decree has banned the import of goods produced through forced labour and tasked the national customs authority, the DIAN, with enforcing it. The text responds directly to the July 2026 increase in a US tariff from 10% to 12.5% imposed on Colombia for insufficient controls on this same issue.
Read the article - Inde · Enquêtes antidumping
India: DGTR opens seven new anti-dumping investigations targeting Chinese products
Between 23 and 28 September 2026, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the Indian Ministry of Commerce, published seven separate notifications, each opening an anti-dumping investigation into a different Chinese product, following complaints filed by Indian manufacturers.
Read the article - Togo · Logistique portuaire
Port of Lomé: checks tighten at entry and exit of berths 1 and 2
Since 28 September 2026, the general management of the Autonomous Port of Lomé has tightened security checks on conventional berths 1 and 2: systematic searches of vehicles and rolling equipment, physical checks of personnel, and refusal of quay access for any non-compliance.
Read the article - Israël · Fret maritime
Israel: Hapag-Lloyd's buyout of Zim now includes a direct line to the Far East
Under a revised offer of 4.2 billion dollars disclosed on 27 September 2026, German carrier Hapag-Lloyd, together with Israeli fund FIMI Opportunity Funds, proposes taking over carrier Zim while adding a weekly direct link with the Far East, which was absent from its initial offer.
Read the article - États-Unis · Droits de douane
US and China cut tariffs on $30 billion of goods
Following a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington on 26 September 2026, the two countries announced a mutual cut in tariffs on roughly $30 billion of trade. No detailed, line-by-line tariff schedule had been published as of that date.
Read the article - Chine · États-Unis · Droits de douane
China, United States: tariff truce extended until 10 January 2027
On 24 September 2026, during a state visit by Xi Jinping to Washington, the first by a Chinese leader to the United States in eleven years, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping extended until 10 January 2027 the trade truce agreed in Busan at the end of October 2025: US tariffs remain lowered and China is delaying its new rare earth export restrictions.
Read the article - Inde · Droits antidumping
India: DGTR recommends five more years of anti-dumping duties on Chinese aluminium foil
At the end of a sunset review opened in September 2025, India's DGTR recommended on 24 September 2026 extending for five years the anti-dumping duties on aluminium foil of 80 microns and below imported from China, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, pending final notification by the Ministry of Finance.
Read the article - Union européenne · Douane
European Union: the new customs code and the European Customs Authority are born
The European Parliament and the Council adopted a new Union customs code on 16 September 2026, published on 19 September in the Official Journal as Regulation (EU) 2026/2108, which entered into force the following day. It repeals the 2013 regulation, creates a European Union Customs Authority (EUCA) based in Lille, and prepares a single customs data platform for all importers, including those buying in China.
Read the article - Afrique du Sud · Droits antidumping
South Africa: timetable for duties on Chinese steel confirmed in the Government Gazette
SARS notices R.7937 to R.7941, published in Government Gazette 55424 of 18 September 2026, confirm the entry into force of anti-dumping duties on Chinese flat steel under a progressive schedule rising from 5.5% until June 2027 to 57.84% from June 2029, on top of a safeguard duty already active since June 2026.
Read the article - Afrique du Sud · Droits antidumping
South Africa: final anti-dumping duties on Chinese steel (up to 57.8%)
The International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) concluded its anti-dumping investigation on 18 September 2026 into corrosion-resistant steel coil imported from China, setting final duties ranging from 8.21% to 57.84% depending on the exporter. The measure follows a complaint by South African producers ArcelorMittal South Africa and SAFAL Steel.
Read the article - Corée du Sud · Droits antidumping
South Korea: anti-dumping duties on Chinese H-beams extended for five years
Meeting on 17 September 2026 for its 477th session, the Korea Trade Commission decided to extend for five years the anti-dumping duties on H-beams originating in China, kept at between 28.23% and 32.72% depending on the exporter.
Read the article - Fret maritime · Mer Rouge
Red Sea: Houthis take control of the Yemeni coastline, carriers remain cautious
On the weekend of 11 to 12 September 2026, Houthi forces took the port of Mokha and the strategic island of Mayyun, completing their control of the Yemeni coastline on the Red Sea, close to the Bab al-Mandeb strait, through which around 12% of world shipping trade passes. Several major carriers had, however, started since mid-September to route some lines back through the Suez Canal.
Read the article - Gabon · Douane
Gabon: the state suspends tax and customs exemptions granted by decision
On 8 September 2026, the Gabonese Ministry of Economy, Finance, Debt and Holdings announced the suspension of all tax and customs benefits granted by agreement or administrative decision, after a cumulative shortfall of more than 283 billion CFA francs for the state.
Read the article - Afrique du Sud · Droits antidumping
South Africa: definitive anti-dumping duties on Chinese windscreens, up to 129%
The South African Revenue Service inserted definitive anti-dumping duties on 7 September 2026 on front windscreens originating in China, ranging from 12.92% to 129.15% depending on the manufacturer, following an ITAC investigation that also identified circumvention via Malaysia.
Read the article - Libye · Réglementation import
Libya: commercial imports outside the official banking system have been banned since 30 September 2026
Under decision 449/2026 of 6 September 2026, the Libyan Ministry of Economy and Trade has banned, since 30 September 2026, any import of goods intended for trade that does not go through the official banking channels backed by the Central Bank of Libya.
Read the article - Kenya · Douane
Kenya: a formal certificate of origin is no longer required to clear an import
Since 1 September 2026, the Kenya Revenue Authority no longer systematically requires a formal certificate of origin on import: a simple export declaration from the supplier is now sufficient, unless the importer claims a preferential tariff. The Finance Act 2026 repeals the rule that came into force in July 2025.
Read the article - Suisse · Accord de libre-échange
Switzerland: negotiations to upgrade the free trade agreement with China are complete
On 20 August 2026 in Bern, Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelin and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao announced the completion of negotiations to upgrade the Switzerland-China free trade agreement, in force since 2014. The revised text still needs to undergo legal finalisation and be signed before it comes into force.
Read the article - Ghana · Normes
Ghana: pre-shipment inspection for used vehicles from October
From 1 October 2026, the Ghana Standards Authority is requiring a conformity certificate issued before shipment for every used vehicle imported. Vehicles older than 15 years will be refused entry, regardless of origin.
Read the article - Togo · Ghana · Bénin · Transit
Togo, Ghana, Benin: ECOWAS pushes for customs interconnection at the Noépé-Akanu border post
On 13 August 2026, at the joint border post of Noépé-Akanu between Togo and Ghana, authorities, hauliers, traders and customs brokers relaunched the roll-out of the Interconnected Transit Goods Management System (SIGMAT) to ease trade between Togo, Ghana and Benin.
Read the article - Mexique · Transbordement
Washington accuses Mexico of acting as a relay for the transhipment of Chinese goods
In mid-August 2026, a White House report ranked Mexico among the world's leading relays for the transhipment of Chinese goods into the United States, a practice that allows Chinese products to avoid US customs duties by changing their declared origin along the way. The country is now among the most closely monitored economies, just months ahead of the review of the North American trade agreement.
Read the article - Chili · Antidumping
Chile opens an anti-dumping investigation into steel wire rod from China
On 4 August 2026, Chile's National Commission for Price Distortions opened an anti-dumping investigation into steel wire rod originating in China, following a complaint from national steelmaker CAP Acero, which cites a dumping margin of 41.2%. Chile usually imports Chinese steel duty-free under its free trade agreement with China.
Read the article - Oman · Douane
Oman overhauls its customs regulations: duty-free allowances, temporary admission, fines
On 2 August 2026, the Royal Oman Police published Decision No. 110/2026 in the Official Gazette, amending the implementing regulations of the GCC common customs law: new duty-free allowances, a revised temporary admission period and an updated fines schedule, in force since 3 August 2026.
Read the article - Nigeria · Douane
Nigeria: customs rolls out its 2026 tariff reform, with revised lists and surtax
In late July 2026, the Nigeria Customs Service announced the implementation of the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures approved by President Bola Tinubu: revised import and export lists, an updated excise regime and a new green surtax on vehicles over 2,000cc.
Read the article - Turquie · Droits de douane
Turkey: WTO rules 40% tariff on Chinese vehicles unlawful
On 28 July 2026, a WTO dispute settlement panel ruled in China's favour against Turkey over its additional 40% tariff applied since July 2024 to vehicles imported from China. The ruling does not require Turkey to immediately withdraw the measure, which remains in force as of 27 September 2026.
Read the article - Pérou · Accord Chine
Peru ratifies upgrade of its free trade agreement with China
Lima completed its internal procedures in late July 2026 to ratify the protocol upgrading the Peru-China free trade agreement, signed in 2024. The text has yet to formally enter into force, but it already modernises the customs and digital framework between the two countries.
Read the article - États-Unis · Travail forcé
The United States adds a 12.5% tariff on Chinese goods over forced labour
Since 24 July 2026, Chinese goods entering the United States have borne an additional 12.5% duty under Section 301, after the USTR found that China, like 59 other trading partners, was not effectively preventing the entry of goods made with forced labour. This duty is added on top of the other duties already in force on Chinese products.
Read the article - Japon · Droits antidumping
Japan: provisional anti-dumping duties of 29.2% to 55.3% on Chinese and Korean galvanised steel
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of Finance issued a preliminary determination on 24 July 2026 finding dumping of hot-dip galvanised steel from China and South Korea, with provisional duties of 29.2% to 55.3% applied from 8 August to 7 December 2026.
Read the article - République dominicaine · Conformité
The Dominican Republic strengthens its customs controls against forced labour after a 12.5% US duty
A few hours before an additional 12.5% US customs duty took effect, the Dominican president signed a decree on 24 July 2026 giving national customs the power to investigate, hold and refuse entry to goods suspected of being produced through forced labour. A public register of banned products has been created.
Read the article - Royaume-Uni · Franchise douanière
United Kingdom: the £135 customs relief on small parcels will disappear by October 2028
On 13 July 2026, HM Revenue and Customs published its response to the consultation on customs reform for low-value imports, confirming the withdrawal of the customs duty relief granted to parcels worth less than £135, by October 2028 at the latest. This deadline, brought forward by six months from the original March 2029 timetable, had been announced on 23 June 2026 as part of a support package for British retail.
Read the article - France · Douane
France: the national €2 tax on small parcels suspended in favour of the European duty
Introduced on 1 March 2026 to target low-price parcels from China via Shein, Temu or AliExpress, the French tax of €2 per product category was widely circumvented, with around 90% of the volume diverted through other European countries; it was suspended on 1 July 2026, the day the European flat-rate duty of €3 came into effect.
Read the article - Union européenne · Petits colis
European Union: the €150 relief has gone, a flat-rate duty of €3 applies
Regulation (EU) 2026/382 of 11 February 2026 has, since 1 July 2026, abolished the customs relief that exempted parcels worth less than €150 from any duty. A transitional flat-rate duty of €3 per declared tariff heading now applies instead, until 1 July 2028, before a move to standard rates calculated automatically.
Read the article - Australie · Biosécurité
Australia raises import biosecurity charges from 1 July 2026
Since 1 July 2026, Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has raised the biosecurity cost recovery charges applied to each Full Import Declaration, to 48 Australian dollars for air freight and 71 Australian dollars for sea freight. Processing fees for the declaration itself are also increasing.
Read the article - Kazakhstan · Douane en ligne
Eurasian Union sets dedicated customs regime for e-commerce
The Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission has approved a new chapter of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Customs Code creating a specific regime for cross-border online trade, with entry into force announced for 1 July 2026. Kazakhstan, the last of the five member states to ratify the text, did so in December 2025, while Armenia, also a member of the union, will be subject to it on the same terms.
Read the article - Kenya · Droits de douane
Kenya raises EAC customs duties on furniture, nappies and bags
The East African Community Council of Ministers has raised, effective 1 July 2026, customs duties on several categories of consumer goods commonly imported from Asia into Kenya. Furniture rises from 35% to 45%, and baby nappies and handbags from 25% to 35%.
Read the article - Ouganda · Droits de douane
Uganda: new EAC duties on oils, biscuits, sausages and nappies
From 1 July 2026, Uganda is applying expanded customs duties, between 36% and 60%, on a wider list of products classified as sensitive, such as cooking oils, butter, biscuits and sausages. PVC items and baby nappies see their duty rise from 25% to 35%.
Read the article - Rwanda · Droits de douane
Rwanda exempts electric and hybrid buses from customs duty
Since 1 July 2026, Rwanda has applied a zero customs duty on electric and hybrid buses as well as on smart cards, as part of the EAC's annual revision of its common external tariff. Conversely, aluminium utensils see their customs duty rise from 25% to 35%.
Read the article - Tanzanie · Droits de douane
Tanzania: EAC tariff cut on African print fabric, buses exempted
Under the 2026/2027 revision of the EAC common external tariff, which took effect on 1 July 2026, Tanzania secured a cut in the customs duty on African print fabric, from 50% to 35%, and a suspension of duties on buses with more than 25 seats and on smart cards.
Read the article - Vietnam · Douane
Vietnam: new customs penalty regime takes effect 1 July 2026
Decree 169/2026/ND-CP, in force since 1 July 2026, replaces Vietnam's previous customs penalty regime and broadens the cases exempt from fines for declaration errors with no tax impact. It simultaneously tightens certain obligations, notably for Authorised Economic Operators.
Read the article - Arabie saoudite · Douane
Saudi Arabia: ZATCA raises customs duties on 51 agri-food tariff lines
Published and brought into force on 26 June 2026 in the Umm Al-Qura official gazette, a ZATCA amendment raises customs duties well above the standard 5% rate on 51 agricultural and food tariff lines, in order to protect local production as part of Vision 2030.
Read the article - Turquie · Antidumping
Turkey: five-year anti-dumping duties on Chinese aluminium frames for solar panels
On 24 June 2026, the Turkish Ministry of Trade published its final decision in the Official Gazette (Notice 2026/23), imposing anti-dumping duties for five years on aluminium frames for photovoltaic panels imported from China. A week earlier, on 19 June 2026, Ankara had also opened a separate investigation into solar glass imported from China, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Read the article - États-Unis · Douane
United States: the $800 de minimis exemption no longer applies to China
The $800 customs exemption that spared small shipments from duties and formal declaration was suspended for China and Hong Kong as early as May 2025, then for the rest of the world, before a rule of 24 June 2026 formalised an indefinite suspension for shipments arriving by any mode other than the international postal network. Every commercial shipment, regardless of value, must now be formally declared to customs and pay the normal duties.
Read the article - Chine · Contrôle des exportations
China tightens rare earth export controls targeting US companies
In June 2026, China added around ten US entities, including rare earth and magnet producers, to its export control list, banning, with immediate effect from 22 June 2026, Chinese exports of dual-use products to these entities. This measure adds to a licensing system in place since April 2025 that already restricts Chinese exports of seven rare earth elements.
Read the article - Moldavie · Adhésion à l'UE
Moldova: the customs code must be aligned with EU rules before the end of 2026
As part of its process of accession to the European Union, Moldova must complete the harmonisation of its customs code with European legislation before the end of 2026. A mission of Romanian customs experts visited Chisinau from 8 to 12 June 2026 to assess the compliance of the Moldovan text with the EU regulatory framework.
Read the article - Indonésie · Procédures douanières
Indonesia: Permendag 18/2026 revises surveyor reports and import approval
Enacted on 4 June 2026, regulation Permendag No. 18/2026 amends Indonesia's procedures for surveyor reports, import approval validation and the handling of port cargo holds, building on Permendag 16/2025 on import policy.
Read the article - Côte d'Ivoire · Logistique
Ivory Coast: OIC launches SYSANEV to forecast import costs
The Ivorian Shippers' Council brought into service, on 19 May 2026, a platform called SYSANEV that lets importers estimate their logistics costs before the goods arrive. The tool aims to give better visibility over actual transport and clearance costs.
Read the article - Bahreïn · Douane
Bahrain: parcels above 100 dinars are now taxed, DDP becomes the norm
Under a decision published on 18 May 2026 by Bahrain's General Directorate of Customs, any imported parcel with a declared value equal to or above 100 Bahraini dinars now falls within the scope of customs duty and VAT, and online sellers must switch to the DDP Incoterm.
Read the article - Eurasie · Transit douanier
Five Central Asian and Caucasus countries adopt a single road transit permit
On 15 May 2026 in Astana, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and Ukraine signed, under the TRACECA corridor, an agreement establishing a single road transit permit recognised by all five countries, removing the need for separate authorisations at each border crossed.
Read the article - Brésil · Fiscalité import
Brazil cuts tax on small imported parcels from May 2026
Since 12 May 2026, Brazil has applied new taxation rules for international parcels under the Remessa Conforme programme: purchases up to $50 are once again exempt from the federal import tax. Above that threshold, a 60% rate applies, with a more generous allowance than before for certified platforms.
Read the article - Madagascar · Commerce extérieur
Madagascar gets duty-free access to 100% of tariff lines into China
Since 1 May 2026, the Chinese customs exemption already applicable to almost all Malagasy products has become part of the new regime extended to 53 African countries, reported by the Malagasy press on 9 May 2026. Products of Malagasy origin can now access the Chinese market free of import duty, subject to compliance with rules of origin and Chinese standards.
Read the article - Zambie · Commerce extérieur
Zambia named among major beneficiaries of China's zero-tariff regime
Since 1 May 2026, China has applied a zero tariff on 100% of its tariff lines for goods imported from 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with it. The pan-African business press names Zambia among the main African exporting countries to China affected by this measure.
Read the article - Afrique du Sud · Accord commercial
South Africa: China opens its market, SARS issues origin certificates
Since 1 May 2026, China has applied a two-year zero-tariff regime on goods of South African origin entering its territory. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) put in place, from 1 June 2026, the certificate-of-origin scheme allowing South African exporters to benefit from it, including retroactively.
Read the article - Angola · Commerce extérieur
Angola: China scraps customs duties on Angolan products (May 2026)
Since 1 May 2026, China has applied a zero customs tariff on goods imported from the 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, including Angola. Only Eswatini, which diplomatically recognises Taiwan, is excluded from this measure.
Read the article - Caucase · Transit routier
Azerbaijan and Georgia digitise international transport permits on the Middle Corridor
Following an agreement reached in Baku on 8 and 9 April 2026, Azerbaijan and Georgia now route their international road transport permits through a shared electronic system. A first batch of 3,000 permits, bilateral, transit and third-country, was exchanged after a pilot phase, on a corridor increasingly used by containerised freight between China and Europe.
Read the article - Émirats arabes unis · Ports
Dubai allows container transit via Khorfakkan and Fujairah without local clearance
Through Customs Notice No. 03/2026, Dubai Customs has introduced a facilitation allowing containers destined for Jebel Ali or its free zones to be landed at Khorfakkan or Fujairah, then transferred without local clearance, in order to safeguard the flow of goods when Jebel Ali is at capacity.
Read the article - Nouvelle-Zélande · Douane colis
New Zealand: a per-parcel levy now applies to all low-value shipments
Since 1 April 2026, the New Zealand Customs Service and the Ministry for Primary Industries have applied a new flat-rate levy per shipment, the Low-Value Goods levy, on every parcel with a customs value of NZ$1,000 or less, on top of the VAT already due.
Read the article - Chine · Remboursement de TVA à l'export
China ends export VAT rebate on solar, batteries to follow in 2027
Since 1 April 2026, China no longer refunds export VAT on photovoltaic products (wafers, cells, modules and several raw materials). For batteries, the rate has fallen from 9% to 6% until 31 December 2026, before being removed entirely from 1 January 2027.
Read the article - Chine · Fiscalité export
China: export VAT rebate scrapped for 271 product categories
Since 1 April 2026, China has removed the export VAT rebate for 249 product categories and cut the battery rebate from 9% to 6%. The measure hits PVC, glass, ceramics, photovoltaic cells and e-cigarettes in particular, and mechanically raises the ex-factory price for any buyer, in Asia-Pacific as elsewhere.
Read the article - Cameroun · Douane numérique
Cameroon: a bank card to pay customs duties through the GUCE
On 31 March 2026 in Douala, Visa, the Single Window for Foreign Trade Operations (GUCE), BGFIBank Cameroon and the fintech TrustPayWay officially launched a bank card dedicated to paying customs duties, integrated with GUCE systems to speed up the digitisation of customs clearance.
Read the article - Mozambique · Commerce extérieur
Mozambique saved 140 million yuan in 2025 under China's zero-tariff regime
China's ambassador to Mozambique, Zheng Xuan, said on 31 March 2026 that China's zero-tariff regime, applicable to Mozambique since December 2024, had allowed the country to save around 140 million yuan (about $20 million) on its exports to China in 2025. This regime has since been extended, from 1 May 2026, to a total of 53 African countries.
Read the article - Djibouti · Zone franche
Djibouti's international free trade zone hosts 513 firms in 2026
In the first quarter of 2026, Djibouti's international free trade zone (DIFTZ) had 513 companies established, up 22% year on year, with a land occupancy rate of 70%. Chinese companies hold 356,000 m² of long-term leased land there, or 36% of the total.
Read the article - Nigeria · Douane
Nigeria moves SONCAP and import permits onto single window
Since 27 March 2026, Nigeria's SONCAP and import permits can only be processed through the National Single Window (NSW) platform. The change aims for 24-hour clearance and removes the separate channels accredited bodies previously used.
Read the article - Union européenne · Antidumping
European Union: 122.8% anti-dumping duty on Chinese phosphorous acid
The European Commission imposed, through an Implementing Regulation of 17 March 2026, a definitive anti-dumping duty of up to 122.8% on imports of phosphorous acid (CN code 2811 19 80) originating in China, with definitive collection of the provisional amounts already secured by importers.
Read the article - Colombie · Droits de douane
Colombia raises customs duty on Chinese steel to 35%
Since March 2026, Colombia has applied a 35% customs duty on fourteen steel and metal-mechanical product subheadings originating from countries with no trade agreement with it, including China. Bogota justifies the measure as protecting its steel industry, prompting a formal protest from the Chinese embassy.
Read the article - RDC · Douane numérique
DR Congo: electronic document bundle now mandatory nationwide
An inter-ministerial circular of 17 December 2025 requires the foreign trade document bundle to be transmitted exclusively electronically, from the fully integrated single window (GUICE) to customs (DGDA). Rollout, which began in Kinshasa, is to be extended across the whole of Congolese territory by 18 February 2026.
Read the article - Bénin · Niger · Transit
Benin-Niger: border still shut, freight rerouted via Kamba corridor
The direct border between Benin and Niger, closed since 2023, still has no confirmed reopening date as of 27 September 2026. An alternative corridor via Nigeria, reopened on 9 February 2026 to clear around 1,600 stranded trucks, remains the workaround route used for freight between the two countries.
Read the article - Ouzbékistan · Modernisation douanière
Uzbekistan: new parcel-receipt rules and customs reform under way in 2026
Since 8 February 2026, parcels addressed to individuals in Uzbekistan are automatically notified via personal EPIGU accounts and the E-TIJORAT app, with ten days to confirm or decline receipt. This change is part of the "Customs of New Uzbekistan 2030" strategy, which provides for a new VAT offsetting measure for low-risk operators from 1 October 2026.
Read the article - Irak · Douane
Iraq: the new line-by-line customs tariff remains contested before Parliament
Applied since early 2026 under Cabinet Decision No. 957, approved in late October 2025, the replacement of the old flat fees with a line-by-line ad valorem calculation of the Iraqi customs tariff is still, in 2026, the subject of a legal challenge brought by MPs and traders.
Read the article - Turquie · E-commerce
Turkey ends fast-track clearance for small parcels from China
Since 1 February 2026, e-commerce parcels from China no longer benefit from the accelerated customs regime, regardless of their value. Turkey's Ministry of Trade announced the measure on 7 January 2026, following the rise of direct-to-consumer platforms such as AliExpress and Temu.
Read the article - Éthiopie · Douane et devises
Ethiopia makes indicative customs prices mandatory for letters of credit
Since 27 January 2026, Ethiopian banks must use the Customs Commission's indicative prices to open a letter of credit or issue an import permit. The measure is part of the exchange-rate reform begun in July 2024 and of Ethiopia's WTO accession negotiations, which entered a phase seen as decisive in late April 2026.
Read the article - Canada · Droits de douane
Canada cuts tariff on Chinese electric vehicles to 6.1% under quota
On 16 January 2026, Canada announced a deal with China bringing its 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles down to the most-favoured-nation rate of 6.1%, within an annual quota. In return, China is cutting its duties on several Canadian agricultural products.
Read the article - Cameroun · Douane
Cameroon: ECCAS's new common external tariff has applied since January
Since 1 January 2026, Cameroon has applied the new common external tariff approved by the eleven member states of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), with rates ranging from 0 to 40% depending on the product category, gradually replacing the former CEMAC tariff.
Read the article - Thaïlande · Douane colis
Thailand: the de minimis relief has gone, every parcel is taxed from the first baht
Since 1 January 2026, Thailand has abolished, through customs notification No. 219/2568, the relief that exempted parcels worth up to 1,500 baht from tax: every imported parcel, whatever its value, must now pay VAT and, for shipments under the former threshold, a flat 10% customs duty.
Read the article - Union européenne · Frontière carbone
European Union: the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has entered its definitive phase
Since 1 January 2026, the European CBAM has moved from a purely reporting regime to a financial obligation: importers of cement, iron, steel, aluminium, fertilisers, hydrogen and electricity above 50 tonnes a year must declare the emissions embedded in their goods and buy CBAM certificates to cover them, with a first payment deadline of 30 September 2027.
Read the article - Mexique · Droits de douane
Mexico: customs duties up to 50% on Chinese products from January 2026
A decree published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on 29 December 2025 raises, from 1 January 2026, customs duties on around 1,463 tariff lines imported from countries with no free trade agreement with Mexico, including China, with rates ranging from 5% to 50% depending on the product.
Read the article - Algérie · Réglementation import
Algeria requires prior authorisation for importing services and goods
Since 1 January 2026, any standalone import of services into Algeria must obtain prior authorisation from the Ministry of Foreign Trade even before bank domiciliation. This rule adds to an import declaration system already tightened since July 2025.
Read the article - Arabie saoudite · Certification
Saudi Arabia updates SABER tariff codes from 1 January 2026
SASO notified on 18 November 2025 an update to the tariff codes used in SABER, the mandatory conformity certification platform for importing into Saudi Arabia. The change has been effective since 1 January 2026.
Read the article - Égypte · Douane
Egypt makes electronic ACI registration mandatory for air freight
Since 1 January 2026, every air shipment to Egypt must go through the ACI system and receive an ACID number before reaching the border. This requirement, already applied to sea freight since 2021, had been postponed several times.
Read the article - Équateur · Accord Chine
Ecuador applies a fresh cut in customs duties on Chinese products
Since 1 January 2026, a new phase in the tariff dismantling under the Ecuador-China free trade agreement, in force since May 2024, has cut customs duties on dozens of categories of Chinese products, from toys to machinery, steel and plastics. The agreement provides for the gradual removal of duties on 99.6% of tariff lines, over periods of up to twenty years for sensitive products.
Read the article - Indonésie · Import
Indonesia issues new list of prohibited imports from 1 January 2026
Regulation Permendag No. 47/2025, in force since 1 January 2026, repeals Indonesia's previous rules on prohibited imports and replaces them with a more explicit list. No exemption is provided for a newly established company.
Read the article - Fret mondial · Frais portuaires
United States: port fees on China-linked vessels remain suspended until 9 November
US port fees targeting Chinese or China-built vessels, decided in April 2025 and in force from 14 October 2025, have been suspended at zero dollars since 10 November 2025 and until 9 November 2026, following the Busan trade agreement. No official source had confirmed, as at 7 October 2026, an extension beyond that date.
Read the article - Mali · Burkina Faso · Niger · Douane
Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger: AES common customs levy stays in force
Since late March 2025, and still as of 27 September 2026, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger apply a common customs levy of 0.5% on goods imported from countries outside their alliance. This levy is added on top of existing national customs duties and funds the operations of their confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Read the article - Panama · Relations Chine
Panama does not renew its Chinese Belt and Road deal in 2026
Panama formally notified its withdrawal from China's Belt and Road Initiative in 2025, an agreement signed in 2017 for a term automatically renewable every three years. The agreement was up for renewal in 2026 and was not renewed, against a backdrop of US pressure over the Panama Canal.
Read the article - Royaume-Uni · Frontière carbone
UK confirms carbon border mechanism (CBAM) for January 2027
On 30 October 2024, HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Treasury published the government's response to the consultation on the future UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), confirming it will take effect on 1 January 2027 for aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen, iron and steel. As of 27 September 2026, this date has not been postponed, and the current year is one of preparation for any UK importer of these products, including of Chinese origin.
Read the article - Suisse · Douane et numérisation
Switzerland: customs law overhaul adopted, in force expected 2027-2028
The Swiss National Council adopted on 6 March 2024 a full revision of the Customs Act, splitting it into a Customs Duty Act and a new act on enforcement and assessment by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS). The referendum deadline ran until October 2025 without leading to a vote, but practitioners in the Swiss customs sector no longer expect the new text to take effect before 2027 or 2028.
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