Focus On: Understanding Free Trade Agreements

This workshop is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to complete import Customs entries in the UK. It provides delegates with an understanding of how to build the data entry information, which data elements are essential, and how to declare payment methods. By the end of the session, you will have the knowledge to complete a basic import Customs entry and the confidence to build on this to submit more complicated entries. This is important whether you are an agent or importer.

This course is designed for those handling temporary movements of goods, whether for demonstrations, exhibitions, testing, or repairs. Participants will learn the customs and commercial processes required to manage these movements, ensure compliance, and minimise unnecessary costs. Whether goods are hand-carried or sent as unaccompanied freight, the course covers the necessary export and import declarations to manage temporary shipments and avoid customs delays effectively.

Since the UK left the customs union of the EU, there has been an increased need for companies to use transit to move goods into or through the EU Member States. This workshop takes you from a basic review of what transit / NCTS are to the application process to become an authorised consignee/ consignor. It also illustrates how to apply for and use a transit guarantee. With tips on making transit declarations, the role of the Transit Accompanying Document (TAD) and discharging a transit movement.

This interactive workshop clarifies the difference between origin and preferential origin, emphasising their role in trade compliance. Through case studies and exercises, participants will learn about essential documentation, declarations, and compliance verification for preferential rules in trade agreements. With the increase in HMRC audits, this session equips businesses with the skills to confidently manage origin determination and ensure compliance in both import and export activities.

Following on from the Beginners Guide to Exporting and Importing, this interactive session covers the critical areas of exporting goods. It covers essential details about the Incoterms® rules, export documentation, and working with freight forwarders to ensure goods are correctly declared. It is ideal for anyone whose job has an export connection, whether in sales, contracts, finance, shipping, or for a managerial overview.

This presentation focusses on what the HMRC Authorised Economic Operator Status accreditation is, but more importantly, examines whether being an AEO will benefit your own organisation or if staying outside the AEO system will have a detrimental effect on your business. AEO status was introduced in the EU in 2008 and is now part of UK legislation and will be linked to the new border management system coming into force the Trusted Trader Scheme.

Whether at the start of your learning pathway or as a standalone training session, this course will equip you with the necessary knowledge to understand export licensing controls and how they work. Covering essential elements provides a solid foundation for understanding what goods, technology or software could be controlled and reviewing business-relevant areas in more detail.

This session provides essential guidance on managing VAT in international trade. Participants will learn about UK VAT zero-rating for export supplies, required evidence, VAT obligations for receiving supplies, handling import VAT, and postponed VAT accounting (PVA). The course also covers reclaiming import VAT and when a UK business needs VAT registration in foreign markets, including the EU. Gain practical knowledge to ensure compliance and streamline your VAT processes.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of Inward Processing (IP) and Outward Processing (OP), essential customs procedures that allow businesses to bring goods into the UK for processing, repair, or service without incurring unnecessary duties or VAT, especially when the ownership of goods being returned for repair, service or calibration are not yours. By using these special procedures correctly, businesses can significantly reduce costs and improve efficiency.

This course is designed to help traders prepare for HMRC audits, ensuring their understanding and compliance with customs regulations. It will cover essential procedural requirements and key areas of focus in audits, such as valuation, origin preference, VAT, evidence of export, the use of special procedures (IP/OP), and Returned Goods Relief (RGR). Delegates will leave with a practical checklist to support thorough preparation for HMRC’s customs audits.

With the changes brought about by the UK's exit from the EU, more companies are turning to customs warehouses as a crucial tool for maintaining an efficient supply chain. This workshop provides a comprehensive guide to setting up a customs-bonded warehouse facility in the UK. You will learn how to improve cash flow, navigate new customs regimes and trade agreements, and save money using Simplified Procedures, all while ensuring compliance with post-Brexit customs requirements.

This engaging and informative one-day course will introduce you to the world of exporting and importing and focus on the terms and practices used through interactive exercises and activities. This will give you an insight into how goods are bought and sold worldwide.

This advanced workshop will not only teach you how to create an export declaration on the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), but also provide you with the confidence to do so effectively. Each data element group will be thoroughly explained, with illustrative examples provided. Our technical advisors, with their extensive experience in multiple software solutions for CDS entries, will equip you with the practical knowledge to complete Customs export declarations.

This advanced workshop will not only teach you how to create an import declaration on the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), but also provide you with the confidence to do so effectively. Each data element group will be thoroughly explained, with illustrative examples provided. Our technical advisors, with their extensive experience in multiple software solutions for CDS entries, will equip you with the practical knowledge to complete Customs import declarations.

This core S&H training course is an excellent way to learn about importing. It is designed to provide participants with a practical understanding of essential topics, such as Customs procedures and the UK Trade Tariff, as well as implications for choosing the correct shipping term, paying duties and managing the logistics. The aim is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to streamline import operations and work effectively with internal departments and freight forwarders.

In this workshop, participants will learn why the tariff is essential for accurate commodity code classification and its connections to other vital trade measures. The course explores the structure of the Harmonised System (HS) and includes interactive sessions to help you master the classification of your goods. You’ll gain an understanding of section and chapter notes, as well as when and how to apply the General Interpretative Rules (GIRs), ensuring confidence and accuracy in tariff classification.

This workshop is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to complete export Customs entries in the UK. It provides delegates with an understanding of how to build the data entry information, which data elements are essential, and how to declare license information. By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge to complete a basic export Customs entry and the confidence to build on this to submit more complicated entries. This is important whether you are an agent or an exporter.

Engaging in global trade can expose companies to increased risks and costs, such as lost goods, unnecessary delays, and disputes. Clearly defining responsibilities within the supply chain can mitigate these issues, which is the purpose of the Incoterms® Rules that have been in place since 1936. However, Incoterms® are often misunderstood and misapplied. Ensure you are utilising them correctly by participating in our full-day interactive course.

This full-day session focuses on dual-use regulations, a topic relevant to many industry sectors. With licences required for dual-use items moving between the UK and EU, the need to understand this topic has grown significantly. The controls are based on an item’s inherent capability, type of materials, or technical ability, affecting many industry sectors.

This essential training course is designed for all exporters and importers who work with Letters of Credit (LC). Through practical exercises, participants will learn to handle this payment method effectively while reviewing alternative payment terms. The course focuses on managing bank requirements and preparing accurate documentation on time, helping businesses avoid costly delays and errors.

This course focuses on the practical aspects of UK Customs procedures. It covers the crucial areas of Customs compliance and provides a comprehensive overview of the Customs Special Procedures that exporters and importers can utilise to save import duties and taxes. In the post-Brexit era, organisations are under increased pressure to demonstrate their understanding of Customs procedures to HMRC, and this course equips you with the knowledge and skills to do just that.

This practical session provides the necessary information for applying for individual licences and helps you determine when an open licence is suitable for specific movements or transfers of controlled items. The workshop is designed to instruct participants on using the UK export licensing system.

This interactive training course is designed for companies in the Defence, High Technology, and Military sectors, focusing on navigating the complex US export controls. Participants will learn about the regulations under the EAR and ITAR, addressing compliance requirements for UK exporters. The course covers the necessary internal procedures to follow when exporting US-controlled goods, helping to avoid potential fines, penalties, and the risk of being denied the right to trade with the USA.

The course aims to guide you to a higher standard of compliance with import and export legislation. After attending, delegates will leave with greater confidence in updating/reviewing existing procedures, talking to logistics providers, and explaining complicated issues in a simple way to other business areas.

This hands-on course covers essential customs valuation principles, focusing on the WTO Valuation Agreement and its application under UK law. Participants will learn the differences between intercompany pricing and customs valuation and how to calculate import values, including required cost additions and exclusions. Through practical exercises, attendees gain insights to ensure compliance and accuracy in valuing goods for customs, whether for sales, returns, temporary movements, or free-of-charge items.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of export control compliance for businesses requiring export licenses. It prepares UK exporters for regular audits by the ECJU, ensuring they can demonstrate compliance with their licenses. The course covers the requirements and considerations for audit preparation and ongoing self-audits.

Since the UK departed from the EU, there has been a growing need to manage temporary movements of goods. If you're involved in sending or receiving items for purposes such as demonstration, exhibition, testing, or using professional equipment, the Passport for Goods may be worth considering. This half-day session will introduce you to the ATA Carnet Scheme, an international system designed for the temporary movement of goods.

This newly launched course is designed to meet the rising demand for specialised training in the export processes specific to food and drink products. It offers comprehensive guidance on navigating the complex regulatory landscape, including an in-depth look at the key regulatory bodies involved in the export process, their functions, and the specific requirements they impose on exporters in the food and drink sector.

Importing food, drink, plant health products, POAO, and composite goods into the UK requires an awareness of the phytosanitary and pre-registration requirements. This full-day session will focus on what a trader needs to know to bring goods through customs and port health and meet other government department regulations, e.g., DEFRA. It will also demonstrate the pre-notification process on IPAFFS.

Designed for anyone involved in classifying food products whether for Imports or Exports. This one-day workshop has been introduced to meet growing demand for specialist training in the Tariff Classification of food products in chapters 1-24 of the Integrated tariff of the UK that apply to importing Food and drink products.

This popular workshop is aimed at anyone involved in international trade and customs compliance within a business. Whether from a management or administrative point of view, this course will illustrate how to promote a strong "compliance culture" throughout an organisation. It assists in understanding international regulations and how to establish performance metrics (KPIs). It covers classification, valuation, origin, duty minimisation schemes, licences, AEO, and audits.

This two-day course is an ideal progression for those who have completed Export Essentials, the Export/Import Practitioner Learning Pathway, or individuals with experience in export operations. It provides a clear, practical, and thorough exploration of the core aspects of export procedures tailored to today’s trade environment.

This highly popular two-day workshop, a practical follow-up to Import Essentials, focuses on applying customs procedures in real-world scenarios. Participants are encouraged to bring samples of their own import documentation, allowing hands-on exercises to turn theoretical knowledge into practical skills. Through these interactive sessions, delegates will gain a deeper understanding of customs rules and receive clear, actionable guidance on import regulations.

This engaging and informative one-day course will introduce you to the world of exporting and importing and focus on the terms and practices used through interactive exercises and activities. This will give you an insight into how goods are bought and sold worldwide.

Moving goods for process or repair / bringing them in for service, repair or process can mean incurring unnecessary and unrecoverable costs unless you use the correct customs special procedures. Operating IP, and utilising OP, can save a lot of money but it needs to be set up and managed correctly. This workshop examines when to use these procedures, how to apply and how to maintain compliance. Ideal for anyone currently using IP/OP or just wanting to know more.

Following on from the Beginners Guide to Exporting and Importing, this interactive session covers the critical areas of exporting goods. It covers essential details about the Incoterms® rules, export documentation, and working with freight forwarders to ensure goods are correctly declared. It is ideal for anyone whose job has an export connection, whether in sales, contracts, finance, shipping, or for a managerial overview.

This core S&H training course is an excellent way to learn about importing. It is designed to provide participants with a practical understanding of essential topics, such as Customs procedures and the UK Trade Tariff, as well as implications for choosing the correct shipping term, paying duties and managing the logistics. The aim is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to streamline import operations and work effectively with internal departments and freight forwarders.

In this workshop learner will find out why the tariff is so important, not only because it contains the commodity codes classifications but because of it's link to other trade measures. It looks at the structure of the Harmonised System (HS) and uses interactive session to help you understand how to classify your goods, the importance of section and chapter notes and how and when to use the General Interpretative Rules (GIRs).

More companies than ever before are now considering a customs warehouse as vital to an efficient supply chain. This workshop explaining how to set up a customs-bonded warehouse facility in the UK will show you how to improve your cash flow, support customs regimes and trade agreements while goods are under customs supervision, and save money by using Simplified Procedures.

IPAFFS (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed Systems) is a web-based service for applying for Common Health Entry Documents (CHEDs) for imports into the UK. Applicable to live animals, POAO, HRFNAO and composite goods, understanding how to use this system is vital for many business sectors. Join us in reviewing how to access IPAFFS, complete an IPAFFS notification and process the import.

All goods need to be valued correctly for customs purposes, whether a sales, returns, temporary movements or free of charge. The clear rules laid down in the WTO Valuation Agreement and adopted into UK law, will be explained during this practical workshop session as will the difference between intercompany pricing and customs valuation. It will illustrate how to build a price for import customs purposes and the costs that must be included and those that can be removed.

The Customs Declaration Service (CDS) is an advanced system designed to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of import and export entries. This new platform mandates that businesses provide additional and more detailed data for their transactions. The need for comprehensive information extends to all enterprises involved in international trade, ensuring that Customs processes are streamlined and compliant with current regulations.

This workshop is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to complete export Customs entries in the UK. It provides delegates with an understanding of how to build the data entry information, which data elements are essential, and how to declare license information. By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge to complete a basic export Customs entry and the confidence to build on this to submit more complicated entries. This is important whether you are an agent or an exporter.

This session will focus on the role of public health inspectors in evaluating activities in and around air / seaports. Critical in controlling the spread of foodborne diseases, vector control and human contamination the rules can still prove puzzling to importers. The aim is that delegates will leave this session with a clearer understanding of the procedures and practical tips for when goods are selected for port health inspection

Also called drop shipping, cross-border deliveries or 3rd country supplies, instructing suppliers to ship directly to your customers without the goods being delivered to you first is becoming more common and requires careful planning.

The Advanced Food Tariff Classification course is a significant step in enhancing your professional skills and understanding the complexities involved in classifying food products. It aims to build on the foundation of knowledge gained from either the Tariff Classification Explained course or the Focus on Food Tariff Classification course to give the learner a deeper understanding of the topic.