Ecommerce - USA to UK

[NineUSA]

Hello guys,

We're an e-commerce company with operations out of USA, and we're looking to add the UK as a market.

We sell products across different categories - Electronics, Home & Kitchen, Cosmetics, Toys etc. Once the customer places the order, the items will be sent from our USA warehouses in a single consolidated air shipment to a warehouse in the UK, from where it'll be send to the end customers.

Are there minimum thresholds for customs clearance requirements? eg. if we have 1 unit each of 30-40 different products, do the item-level requirements apply for clearance?

Is there typically a relaxation of rules for products coming from the US? What if they are branded?

Thank you

 

[Leo Salazar]

Your timing is precious. Heard of something called 'Brexit'?

Check back in a few weeks, chances are everything will be changed.

 

[Mr D]

Hello guys,

We're an e-commerce company with operations out of USA, and we're looking to add the UK as a market.

We sell products across different categories - Electronics, Home & Kitchen, Cosmetics, Toys etc. Once the customer places the order, the items will be sent from our USA warehouses in a single consolidated air shipment to a warehouse in the UK, from where it'll be send to the end customers.

Are there minimum thresholds for customs clearance requirements? eg. if we have 1 unit each of 30-40 different products, do the item-level requirements apply for clearance?

Is there typically a relaxation of rules for products coming from the US? What if they are branded?

Thank you

Don't think there is a minimum in item quantity.
You will have to register to collect VAT which is the UK sales tax included in the price you charge the buyer. No threshold applies.

 

[NineUSA]

Your timing is precious. Heard of something called 'Brexit'?

Check back in a few weeks, chances are everything will be changed.

How do you imagine Brexit will influence a US - UK trade routing?

 

[NineUSA]

Don't think there is a minimum in item quantity.
You will have to register to collect VAT which is the UK sales tax included in the price you charge the buyer. No threshold applies.

So let's say I import a consignment with:

10 different toys (ie. 1 unit each of 10 different toys), 10 electronic items, 10 home products - will i need individual certifications for each of the products?

 

[chalkie99]

We sell products across different categories - Electronics, Home & Kitchen, Cosmetics, Toys etc.

You do realise that our electrical goods operate on different voltages with different plug fittings?

 

[NineUSA]

You do realise that our electrical goods operate on different voltages with different plug fittings?

Yes - thanks for asking.

 

[Mr D]

So let's say I import a consignment with:

10 different toys (ie. 1 unit each of 10 different toys), 10 electronic items, 10 home products - will i need individual certifications for each of the products?

When I import from the US the customs document lists say 'clothing' and 10 as a quantity.
You will need to meet (currently) EU requirements regarding labelling, safety etc.
That may change but probably not at the end of this month.

 

[Leo Salazar]

How do you imagine Brexit will influence a US - UK trade routing?

The US has no trade agreements with the UK. All trade agreements are with the European Union and have been carefully negotiated over the past 26 years, ever since there has been an EU common market. Should the UK crash out of the EU without a deal (which, as of today, seems ever more likely), it will be left in a trade limbo and will have to start (start!!) negotiating trade agreements with individual countries. It has been said that if the UK leaves the EU without any alternative deal, the expectation is that trade will immediately revert to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. But this is speculation.

There are many questions that nobody seems able to answer. Any answers you get from this site are mostly likely based on the status quo. As I said, the status quo will most likely change in the coming weeks to months.

My advice: check back after Brexit happens (or not) and the dust has settled.

 

[Mr D]

The US has no trade agreements with the UK. All trade agreements are with the European Union and have been carefully negotiated over the past 26 years, ever since there has been an EU common market. Should the UK crash out of the EU without a deal (which, as of today, seems ever more likely), it will be left in a trade limbo and will have to start (start!!) negotiating trade agreements with individual countries. It has been said that if the UK leaves the EU without any alternative deal, the expectation is that trade will immediately revert to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. But this is speculation.

There are many questions that nobody seems able to answer. Any answers you get from this site are mostly likely based on the status quo. As I said, the status quo will most likely change in the coming weeks to months.

My advice: check back after Brexit happens (or not) and the dust has settled.

Friday week we'll find out. Late in the evening UK time.
Or earlier if someone pulls a hat out of a rabbit.

 

[DontAsk]

Yes - thanks for asking.

And that European CE testing fro EMC is far more stringent that FCC rules?

 

[Linna]

I think there is no problem to ship to UK, we have forward many parcels to UK.

 

[Ray272]

Small batches of goods from the USA are not going to be subject to seizure and demands from customs for CE etc. It is not in their interest but if it's a few pallets of the same item then it is,as this demonstrates a type of mass sale formula which needs to be inline with EU regs. Those criteria are not going to change 1 iota as a result of brexit. They will be mirrored.

From experience imports from USA have been friendly and fast. Had 1 issue in 50 imports from USA and it was just a labelling concern. We solved it but the cost for inspection and storage whilst investigation was underway was a shock. 8 days. 1 pallet. (Toy) £450