What Changed in Trade & Customs in 2025 – And What to Watch Next

2025 was a pivotal year for customs, trade compliance and cross-border logistics. Long-anticipated regulatory changes finally came into force, major systems reached critical implementation stages, and global trade policy shifted sharply – particularly in the United States.

Here’s a concise overview of the most important developments, with a link to download our full in-depth article.

Key Developments in 2025
‍

• UK Safety & Security Declarations – The UK introduced the long-delayed requirement for Safety & Security (S&S) declarations on EU imports into Great Britain, closing a major post-Brexit compliance gap and giving HMRC enhanced border control visibility.
• Customs & Transit Systems Modernisation – Progress continued on the upgraded New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) and the EU’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2), improving digital processing, enabling combined transit and safety declarations, and reducing reliance on paper documentation.
• The Windsor Framework – The final elements of the Windsor Framework were implemented, refining the rules for movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and enabling trusted trader schemes. This coincided with renewed UK-EU dialogue on closer regulatory cooperation.
• US Trade Measures – Aggressive US tariff policy reshaped global trade dynamics, increasing uncertainty and impacting supply chains worldwide. The suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment had a particularly strong effect on e-commerce.

Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond

The coming years will bring further structural change, including:

• Free access to HMRC customs data via CDS/TRES
• Planned removal of UK and EU low-value import reliefs
• The rollout of UK and EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM)
• New and evolving trade agreements (UK-India, UK-USA, EU-Mercosur and others)
• Full implementation of ICS2 for road and rail movements
• Increasing focus on sustainability measures such as the EU Deforestation Regulation and Digital Product Passports

Download the Full Article

This blog provides only a high-level snapshot. Our full article explores each development in detail, explains the compliance implications for traders and logistics providers, and highlights where businesses should focus their preparation.

Download Today:

‍‍This article was written by Christopher Starns, Customs & Trade Advisor (BKR Consultants Limited).