Kworia News
Articles tagged cross-border
Belgium's €3 flat-rate duty on non-EU e-commerce shipments introduced in June 2026 has dramatically shifted customs declaration patterns within six weeks. H7 declarations fell 53% while H1 declarations surged 102%, with average declared values nearly doubling. The duty generated €223.7 million in revenue by mid-August.
Belgium launches 'Customs Attachés Contact Day 2026' to formalize customs diplomacy as an active export-support tool for businesses targeting Asian markets, providing direct advisory access on regulatory and compliance issues through eight regional posts.
Starting on 1 October 2026, the EU will require steel importers to declare and document the country where their steel was first melted and cast, aiming to improve supply chain traceability and address global overcapacity. Non-compliant shipments will face entry refusals.
The EU published its new Union Customs Code on 19 September 2026, creating the European Union Customs Authority (EUCA) and mandating a centralised EU Customs Data Hub. This represents the most significant overhaul of EU customs governance in decades, with direct implications for cross-border trade processing and VAT compliance.
Belgium's SPF Finances is implementing two critical NCTS changes on 30 September 2026: Transit Text Bureau (TXT) for exit office operations and strict UTC timezone validation. Traders must ensure advance customs notification before goods leave the EU and audit systems for compliant timestamp formatting.
Peppol Day Finland 2026 revealed how mandatory e-invoicing regimes boost cross-border digital trade volumes. Belgium's mandate increased transactions with Finnish companies dramatically, while a Japan–Finland initiative extended the OpenPeppol PINT model to Europe, highlighting global interoperability progress.
Belgium's customs administration will participate in the China-Belgium Customs Event 2026 on October 29, 2026 in Brussels, with customs attaché Emmanuel Geronnez presenting on sector challenges. The bilateral event will focus on customs policy developments, tariff procedures, and trade facilitation measures relevant to EU-China trade relations.
Belgium has delayed its VAT rules for temporary cross-border goods placements until July 1, 2028, offering businesses a two-year interim compliance window with simplified VAT registration requirements.
Belgium's Federal Finance Ministry has postponed its new AES amendment procedure from September 7, 2026, to mid-October 2026. The change shifts documentation submission from email to the MyMinfin portal. Exporters and customs agents should use the delay to adapt internal procedures and verify staff authorizations.
Belgium, Poland, and Germany have adopted divergent e-invoicing mandates for 2026-2028, with different timelines, turnover thresholds, and grace-period policies. Cross-border enterprises face substantial compliance challenges navigating three distinct regulatory frameworks simultaneously.
The Republic of Congo's new VAT regime for non-resident digital service providers, effective 1 July 2026, introduces stringent compliance obligations with no turnover threshold and broad service coverage, requiring immediate registration from the first taxable transaction.
