Customs workers strike at Liège Airport: Media sources reported on November 14 that customs workers plan a work-to-rule action at Liège Airport (IATA: LGG) in Liege, Belgium, on November 17. The action was called to protest against the planned changes to the customs workers’ schedules and is part of the work-to-rule actions carried out by customs officers in Antwerp. Disruptions to airport operations are likely.
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The European Union has formally approved the removal of the long-standing €150 customs duty exemption for e-commerce imports, with implementation scheduled for 2026.
This development marks one of the first major outcomes of the EU Customs Reform announced in 2023 and signals a significant shift in how low-value goods entering the EU will be treated.
The reform aims to address the rapid rise in direct-to-consumer e-commerce shipments and to create a more level playing field between traditional retailers and overseas sellers. With Member States pushing for earlier action, the collection of customs duty on all e-commerce imports will begin well before the rollout of the new EU Customs Agency and central EU Data Hub in 2028.
Key Changes Announced
End of the €150 duty exemption: All e-commerce goods imported into the EU will be subject to customs duty, regardless of value.
Interim simplified duty calculation: A temporary simplified method for duty assessment will operate until the EU Data Hub becomes fully functional in mid-2028.
New handling fee expected: The EU has indicated that a handling fee for e-commerce imports is likely to be introduced from late 2026.
Enhanced data and transparency requirements: Importers, carriers, and marketplaces will face stricter data obligations to improve risk management and customs oversight.
These changes will have wide-ranging implications for retailers, marketplaces, logistics providers, consolidators, carriers, and postal operators moving goods into the EU.
How UKP Worldwide Supports Your Business
At UKP Worldwide, we are closely monitoring the legislative process and preparing our customers for the transition.
As specialists in cross-border e-commerce, customs clearance, returns, duty reclaim, and final-mile delivery, we work proactively to help businesses understand and adapt to evolving regulatory requirements.
We will continue to share updates as further details emerge and support our clients in reviewing their logistics, customs, and compliance strategies to maintain efficiency and competitiveness in the changing European market.
If your business imports e-commerce goods into the EU and you need guidance on how these reforms may affect your operations, our team is ready to help.
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Technical glitch hits Indira Gandhi International Airport: Media sources on November 7 report that flight operations were disrupted at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IATA: DEL) in Delhi, India, at 15:00 local time on November 6, after a technical fault occurred in the Automatic Message Switching System supporting Air Traffic Control operations. The issue caused delays for major airlines including IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet. Sources indicate that around 200 flights were delayed, with an average delay of 55 minutes. Lingering disruptions are likely. |
The designated operator of Cuba, Correos de Cuba, wishes to inform Union member countries and their designated operators that, following Hurricane Melissa, which recently struck the eastern provinces of Cuba, there will be delays to services in the provinces of Las Tunas, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín and Guantánamo.
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Heavy rainfall causes flooding in Lisbon: Local media sources report on November 5 that the same day, heavy rainfall caused flooding in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, Portugal. Sources indicate that hundreds of flood occurrences along with tree falls and landslides were reported. Flooding also caused damages to the passport control area of Lisbon Airport; however, it is unclear if flights were disrupted due to the incident. |
On November 25th and 26th, Belgium’s national trade unions have announced a nationwide strike in the public sector in response to recent federal government measures. This action may have a direct impact on our operations.
Accident disrupts operations at Louisville International Airport: Media sources reported that a United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) cargo plane crashed at 17:15 local time on November 4, at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (IATA: SDF) in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. Following the crash, UPS halted parcel sorting operations at the airport on the night of November 4 and the morning of November 5. Flight operations have been facing a backlog of delayed flights after the airport was closed. Passenger flights have since resumed on one runway, although, the runway from which the affected plane took off is expected to remain closed for at least 10 days. Operational disruptions are likely to continue at the airport.
Typhoon Kalmaegi causes flooding: Media sources report on November 4 that at least 40 fatalities have been confirmed as a result of the passage of Typhoon Kalmaegi. Over 400,000 people have been displaced after the storm made landfall and swept across the Visayas region, parts of southern Luzon, and northern Mindanao, the Philippines, causing heavy rainfall and flooding. Logistical delays are to be expected in the affected areas.
LATAM Airlines pilots union warns of possible strike: Media sources on October 16 report that 464 pilots represented by the LATAM Pilots Union (SPL) in Chile will vote on November 3 on LATAM Airlines’ latest offer under the 2025 collective bargaining agreement. The union warns management may be pushing toward a strike that could disrupt national air travel. Pilots are demanding the restoration of pre-pandemic working conditions. Lingering logistics disruptions are likely.