HMRC together with other UK Government bodies (UK Border Force, DEFRA, DCMS, etc.) have a great interest in the movement of goods to and from the UK. This is in part due to the requirement to compile and monitor trade statistics and the balance between import and export, as well as ensuring that the correct import duties and taxes are paid. However, importantly, their interest also lies in the enforcement of strict policies surrounding the prohibition or restriction of goods and their flows.
Certain ‘non-standard’ goods or controlled goods have special requirements placed upon them, the terms for each goods or category of goods are laid out in the UK Trade Tariff. The tariff list all the product licensing, product regulation, certification, restrictions and prohibition data by import and export. For example: some dual-use goods are subject to licensing restrictions; some controlled drugs are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 whilst explosives, firearms, fireworks are subject to The Fireworks (Amendment) Regulations 2004.
Similar government bodies, regulations, customs processes, and border controls exist in all export markets too, and as either the ‘importer of record’ or the ‘exporter of record’ there is a level of regulator burden on you to ensure that you can legally import or export your goods.
We know from extensive work with UK clients across a wealth of business sectors, that the regulatory and legal framework surrounding the physical shipment of goods and the ability to ‘legally’ place them on the destination market is one of the most complex areas they face in global trade. Regulation can be difficult to navigate and expensive to get wrong.
Working with Global Trade Department helps to alleviate this burden for you. We undertake what we call regulatory/legal studies or assessments that essentially sees us analysing the regulation that applies to your goods in a certain market(s) and advising what needs to be in place to legally ship them and place them on the target market. This is often as part of a Global Market Research engagement, conversely one of our Global Trade Managers will conduct this as part of their other responsibilities, or it can even be a standalone project.
Are you ready to trade globally? Do you have the requisite skills, knowledge, resource, capacity? Are your product or service ready, can they be adapted to meet the demands of other markets? Are your global supply chains sustainable? These questions and more can be answered via a Global Trade Readiness Review, highlighting your strengths and limitations meaning you jump in optimally prepared.
Which market? When? To what scale? Your expansion overseas or global sourcing strategy should be given at least the same focus, time, and detailed planning as any new business venture, some would argue it warrants even more. Our strategy and planning sessions help you formalise your import/export plans, understanding which international markets to target, how to enter them, and to what scale.
Detailed market research is an essential component of a robust and successful, global strategy and plan. Via Global Trade Department, you have access to and can benefit from a broad range of methods to deliver comprehensive analysis of potential markets and their suitability for your business. We help ensure your decision making is well informed and can truly govern the direction you take.
The UK and overseas markets have bodies, regulations, customs processes, and border controls that place a level of regulatory burden on traders and mandate whether they can legally import or export certain goods. Via our Regulatory and Legal Studies, we investigate applicable regulation and customs clearance requirements and advise what needs to be in place to legally ship them and place them on the target market.
Most companies engaged in global trade will be required to establish and manage relationships with overseas entities, be they suppliers, distributers, fulfilment houses, etc. Global Trade Department has decades of experience sourcing and vetting suitable overseas partners, our clients benefit from this experience as we remove this time-consuming burden and lay the foundations of successful business relationships.
The nature of your product or service and its associated regulation will dictate the level of adaptation it requires before it can be legally placed on a market. However, even products in less regulation-intensive sectors benefit from adaptation to secure early market adoption and revenue growth. Working with Global Trade Department can help optimally prepare your product or service to guarantee quick wins.
An overseas market launch, even executed well, can be stressful and time consuming. There are always several concurrent activities underway, some strategic but many operational; these can quickly overwhelm teams, leaving them feeling like they’re making little progress. Global Trade Department works to boost your in-house efforts, whilst also ensuring we optimise knowledge transfer at every stage in the process.
Knowing your audience is key, as is knowing how they consume and value your product or service; this knowledge informs the kind of global marketing strategy you’ll need to adopt. Global Trade Department works with UK and local market specialists to develop global marketing strategies and in-market activity that best suits our clients’ brands and optimises their success in penetrating their target markets.
Obtain an impartial, outside-in assessment of your current global trading processes and practices, with practical recommendations of how you can incorporate sustainability values and targets to meet future regulatory requirements and drive long-term growth.
Company address: Global Trade Department Limited, Kingston House, Great Western Way, Swindon, Wilshire, SN5 8UB, United Kingdom
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