Saudi Arabia Joins Key Customs Pacts to Boost Trade

Saudi Arabia Joins Key Customs Pacts to Boost Trade

Saudi Arabia's accession to the World Customs Organization's Kyoto and Istanbul Conventions marks a significant step towards simplifying customs procedures and promoting trade facilitation. The Kyoto Convention focuses on standardizing modern customs procedures, while the Istanbul Convention facilitates the temporary import of goods. Both aim to reduce trade costs, improve efficiency, and foster global economic development. Saudi Arabia's membership is expected to accelerate global trade facilitation efforts.

12/30/2025 Customs Knowledge
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New HS Code Rules Affect Importers and Exporters of Key Food Products

New HS Code Rules Affect Importers and Exporters of Key Food Products

The Harmonized System Committee of the World Customs Organization has revised the correlation table of commodities under subheadings 1605.54 and 1605.59 in the 2012 and 2017 editions of the Harmonized System. Enterprises involved in the import and export of relevant aquatic invertebrate products should pay attention to and adjust their commodity code declarations to ensure trade compliance and avoid losses caused by incorrect coding.

01/07/2026 HS Code Query
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Iran Accelerates HS 2017 Translation to Facilitate Trade

Iran Accelerates HS 2017 Translation to Facilitate Trade

Iran Customs is translating the World Customs Organization's HS 2017 Explanatory Notes into Persian. This initiative aims to reduce trade barriers, improve customs clearance efficiency, and provide clearer commodity classification guidance for Iranian import and export businesses. The first two volumes have been released, and translation of the remaining chapters is underway. This effort will facilitate international trade, enhance Iran's trade participation, and revitalize economic development.

01/05/2026 Customs Knowledge
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Top 10 HTS Code Mistakes Importers Should Avoid

Top 10 HTS Code Mistakes Importers Should Avoid

Top 10 HTS coding errors commonly made by importers and recommendations for avoidance. It emphasizes the importance of accurate coding, highlighting the need to pay attention to ingredients, functions, and forms, avoiding subjective assumptions. It suggests understanding the rules, conducting regular reviews, and seeking professional assistance to ensure compliance and mitigate tariff risks. Accurate HTS classification is crucial for import compliance and avoiding penalties.

01/15/2026 Customs Knowledge
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US Container Imports Decline Amid Sluggish Consumer Demand

US Container Imports Decline Amid Sluggish Consumer Demand

S&P Global Market Intelligence data shows US import freight volumes fell 12% year-on-year in August, marking the 13th consecutive month of decline. Weak consumer demand is the primary driver, with significant drops in apparel, leisure goods, and electronics. Ongoing inventory reduction by businesses and a pessimistic manufacturing outlook suggest little improvement is expected in the fourth quarter. The future trajectory remains to be seen.

01/21/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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New Rules for Shipping Oversized Lithium Batteries to US Canada

New Rules for Shipping Oversized Lithium Batteries to US Canada

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the compliant transportation process for oversized lithium batteries (UN3480/UN3481) exported to the United States and Canada. It covers lithium battery classification and packaging standards, compliant document preparation, logistics service provider selection, US import requirements, and transportation safety precautions. The importance of collaborating with a professional dangerous goods freight forwarder is emphasized to ensure safe and efficient export.

01/19/2026 Logistics Encyclopedia
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US Container Imports Face Mixed Trends Amid Economic Shifts

US Container Imports Face Mixed Trends Amid Economic Shifts

U.S. container imports saw a slight month-over-month increase in June but declined year-over-year, indicating stabilization with ongoing pressure. China's import share continued to decrease, while Southeast Asia emerged as a new growth area. West Coast ports recovered, while the East Coast faced pressure. Businesses should pay attention to trade policy changes, promote supply chain diversification, optimize port selection, and make data-driven decisions.

01/15/2026 Logistics
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US Container Imports Drop Sharply Signaling Trade Slowdown

US Container Imports Drop Sharply Signaling Trade Slowdown

S&P Global data reveals a 3.4% year-over-year decline in US import container shipping volume for October, signaling potentially larger drops in the coming months. Key factors include inventory overhang, structural shifts in consumer demand, and trade policy uncertainty. Businesses should refine demand forecasting and optimize inventory management. Governments need to stabilize trade relations and improve the business environment to collectively navigate this trade downturn.

01/22/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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US Air Freight Costs Surge Amid Rising Demand Capacity Crunch

US Air Freight Costs Surge Amid Rising Demand Capacity Crunch

Multiple factors including the pandemic, geopolitics, and economics are causing volatile and high air freight rates for US imports. Imbalances in supply and demand, rising operating costs, tight capacity, and exchange rate fluctuations are all contributing to increased costs. High prices are expected to persist in the near future. Importers should also pay close attention to the US import customs clearance process to ensure compliance and efficiency.

01/26/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Classification of Whale Oil Customs Codes

Classification of Whale Oil Customs Codes

The classification of the customs code for whale oil is crucial, as it distinguishes between endangered and non-endangered species. According to the customs import-export tariff, whale oil is coded as 1504300010 (endangered marine mammals) or 1504300090 (non-endangered marine mammals). As whales are mammals, they cannot be classified as fish oil. Selecting the accurate code requires determining the whale species or consulting professionals to comply with customs regulations.

07/21/2025 Logistics Encyclopedia
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