Cross-Border Shipping Rules and Regulations
You can find country-specific rules and regulations in our Import/Export tool. However, we have also outlined a few general guidelines for shipping into certain countries below.
Where Are You Exporting To?
New Tariff Impacts
An Executive Order was issued on 1 February 2025 which took effect starting 4 February 2025 imposing an additional 10% tariff on goods exported to the U.S. with a country of origin in China and Hong Kong SAR. This Executive Order also stated that U.S. de minimis treatment will no longer be available to impacted goods.
An amendment to the Executive Order issued on February 1st has taken effect that delays the suspension of de minimis treatment of goods originating in China, including Hong Kong SAR until notification by the Secretary of Commerce to the President that adequate systems are in place to fully and expediently process and collect tariff revenue. Additional details will be provided as they are made available.
Please be informed that non-de minimis shipments will be subjected to formal entry or informal entry depending on various circumstances.
- For formal entry, Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) and duties and taxes as imposed by the customs, as well as UPS customs brokerage fees will be billed to shipper or consignee depending on the shipment’s bill term.
- For informal entry, UPS customs brokerage fees and applicable duties and taxes will be billed to shipper or consignee depending on the shipment’s bill term.
- You may also visit here to identify the harmonized tariff code for your goods.
CUSMA / USMCA / T-MEC / Sec 321
Many goods produced or manufactured in Canada, the U.S. or Mexico qualify for preferential tariff treatment under Section 321 (Entry Type 86), the Canada, U.S. and Mexico (CUSMA / USMCA / T-MEC) Free Trade Agreement. If you are shipping goods that you think may qualify but need to know more, please refer to this page.
If you know your goods qualify for CUSMA / USMCA / T-MEC but are looking for a document to provide the necessary information, click here.
Vague Commodities Descriptions
Item descriptions must be specific and precise to be considered acceptable.
The best descriptions use the 3 W’s, supported by additional details:
- What is it?, What is it made out of?, What is it used for?
- Additional things relevant to the commodity. For example: gender for clothing, size for water bottle, etc.
CUSMA / USMCA / T-MEC
Many goods produced or manufactured in Canada, the U.S. or Mexico qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the Canada, U.S. and Mexico (CUSMA / USMCA / T-MEC) Free Trade Agreement. If you are shipping goods that you think may qualify but need to know more, please refer to this page.
If you know your goods qualify for CUSMA / USMCA / T-MEC but are looking for a document to provide the necessary information click here.
There are specific rules for shipping consumable goods to Mexico. Your recipient will need to obtain a pre-permit from the Health Ministry to receive items sent to Mexico for human consumption.
- Medicine: Mexican customs requires the receiver to obtain a permit from the Health Department for products regardless of whether they are shipped from a company or an individual. Such items are not authorized to be exported via UPS Worldwide Standard to Mexico
- Food: A permit is required to ship non-perishable foods to Mexico. Prior to shipping, the permit must be obtained by the receiver from the Department of Health in Mexico. Food sold as sweets have additional taxes imposed by the government
VAT
Familiarize yourself with VAT regulations and the required registration process to get to the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) platform for goods valued up to €150.
EORI Number
Europe-based businesses generally need to register for an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number. Private individuals don’t always have to.
When exporting to the EU, the shipper will need to provide either the receiver’s EORI number (if applicable) or tax ID number:
- Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Lithuania, Romania, and UK require shippers to provide the recipient’s EORI number
- Most EU countries that do not require the consumer to have an EORI number will request the recipient’s tax ID number instead
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ICS2
The EU has implemented a new release of the customs pre-arrival security and safety program, Import Control System 2 (ICS2). You can read more about ICS2 here.
To ensure compliance and a fast and efficient clearance process, it is recommended to provide:
- A 6-digit Harmonized System (HS) code for every item – we can help you determine your HS code
- Your EU receiver’s EORI number (if applicable)
- An accurate description of the goods you are shipping – This should answer what is the item you are shipping, what it is made of and what it is intended for.
All shipments of £600 GBP or more require an EORI number. For shipments valued less than £600 GBP, a temporary VAT number can be used.
Shippers do not need an EORI number if they are moving goods that are
- not controlled goods, AND
- for personal use only
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Returns: Goods returned to the UK within two years can be done without duty and VAT, provided the item is in the same state as at the time of export
ICS2
Recent changes to the European Union’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2) does not impact most of the U.K. (England, Scotland, and Wales). However, if shipping to Northern Ireland, then data must be submitted as if the goods were going to an EU member state. This is due to there not being any border or customs clearance between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which is an EU member.
Labeling Requirements for Shipments to Germany Starting January 1, 2025
Effective January 1, 2025, a new German postal law will require that parcels weighing between 10 and 20 kg, as well as those over 20 kg, display a clearly visible weight-class icon, for example, on the label.
To comply with this regulation, UPS shipping labels for parcels to Germany will be updated accordingly.
How to prepare:
- UPS Systems: Labels generated from UPS systems, such as UPS.com, CampusShip, WorldShip, and Ship API, will automatically include the required weight-class icon.
- WorldShip Users: Please ensure you are using the latest version, as only the most recent version will generate compliant labels.
- Custom Labels: Customers creating their own labels (e.g., Host to Host) will receive specific labeling requirements from UPS to comply with these new regulations.
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Correct weight-class indication is essential for compliant labeling. It is crucial that customers provide accurate weight information when submitting shipment details to UPS.
Customs Clearance Process
All shipments require an Importer/Exporter Customs Registration Code (a 10-digit customs code) except:
- documents
- personal effects
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It is especially important to have a detailed product description for shipments to China as China Customs has reinforced strict declaration.
Gifts
Gift exemptions are permitted on a case-by-case basis between individuals only. In order to clear customs, the shipper’s passport or the receiver’s China compulsory certificate (CCC) is required.
Gifts and Samples
- Samples must be below 10,000 INR in value to file for duty free clearance. The term “sample” must be mentioned in the invoice for shipment.
- All shipments of gifts are subject to duties and taxes.
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Shipping Medical Products
All medical products, devices, and supplies, including diagnostic kits, will require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Health Department.
Shipments of medicine and vitamins require a No-Objection Certificate from the Assistant Drug Controller. Nutritional supplements require a NOC issued by the Drug Controller.
Your International Shipping Guide
Everything you need to cross borders and reach new customers around the globe.