Global

We’re your gateway to international trade, providing a unique combination of expert knowledge, essential documentation and the business connections needed to capitalise on new market opportunities overseas and succeed in a global marketplace.

Our world is more connected than it’s ever been before. And as a business owner, I’m always conscious of the next opportunity for growth that these wider connections create for us all. However, failing to adapt your product or service marketing to different regions will impact your ability to grow your business. For instance, your website could have all the elements to be successful, a great design, well-written content, but if you’re only communicating in English, anyone who speaks another language won’t be able to find you. You’re missing out on a goldmine of potential customers, not only in Cambridgeshire but overseas as well. According to customer behaviour research, the majority of website visitors (87%) will not buy products from a website they cannot understand. We’ve found that non-English speaking visitors, whether in the UK or overseas, exited websites within seconds when presented with English-only content. So, if you want to be successful in engaging with and selling to international audiences – you need localisation services. But what is localisation? Localisation involves the process of text translation as well as any or all of the following: • Modifying your content to suit the tastes and habits of local markets

• Addressing economic, historical, and sometimes political references • Adjusting images, icons, colours to the local tastes and culture • Changing dates, addresses, phone numbers, etc. to fit a local format • Converting to local currencies and units of measure. Localisation isn’t just about getting your language, layout and graphics right though, it can also protect you from awkward situations. Without truly understanding the culture of the people who speak the language, it can be easy to unintentionally offend people. The team at PAB Languages Centre come from all over the world and understands all the elements and cultural references you’ll need to take account of when speaking to your audiences. Our creative linguists will use the right words, the right style, and tone to ensure you are communicating effectively with your international audience. Get in touch today on 07799 772 360 to discuss your project.

Since 1 January 2022 we have noticed that many EU imports/ exports are travelling across the borders under inventory linking, and many of these shipments are travelling overnight. Now that your goods have to be pre-lodged before arriving at the border, this means that if cargo inventory linking is required and the manifest is not raised until after 5.00pm, your goods will not be permitted to cross the border in the arriving country because we only usually operate a 9.00am-5.00pm service Monday-Friday. This may result in you incurring port charges and demurrage costs, particularly if goods are coming in over the weekend and will be held for more than a few hours. Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce have put in place procedures for us to ensure any shipments going out overnight or at the weekend are covered by us on an ‘Out of Hours Service’. The cost of this will be an additional £10.00 (plus VAT)*. As long as we are provided with the customs declaration instructions by 3.00pm on the day of shipment (or by 3.00pm Friday if a weekend shipment) we will be able to process the declaration and claim inventory out of hours, ensuring your goods can cross the borders smoothly. *additional costs may be applied if the information supplied to us for claiming inventory is incorrect, or other amendments are required to clear goods. To be able to do this, you must ensure that you are providing the relevant container number, shipping vessel details and where possible the bill of lading number. This information is required in addition to any other information you would normally provide us.

Challenges Facing Traders: Brexit, the pandemic, inflation, price hikes (fuel, steel, shipping containers) and skill shortages (e.g. drivers) are all challenges businesses continue to face. Trading businesses must now also be prepared with customs declarations and additional paperwork. From 1 January 2022 full customs controls were introduced at GB borders. All imports and exports will require full customs clearance and tariffs to be paid, without the option to delay these unless the goods are moving from NI to GB. Businesses tell us it feels daunting - and it’s complicated work. ChamberCustoms are experts in the complex nature of international import and export, with knowledgeable teams based across the UK. We are the only customs broker with connections to all land, air and sea clearance ports in the UK. Unlike other customs brokers, freight forwarders and agents - we don’t subcontract your declarations to offshore processors or to other brokers at port of entry or exit. You deal directly with our UK based team with direct access to HMRC and all port inventory systems. Email customsdeclarations@cambscci. co.uk or call 01223 237414 to see how we can help you.

On the second anniversary of Brexit, and with huge lorry queues being reported at Dover, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is calling for urgent action to improve trade with Europe. With well over half of UK exporters (60%) surveyed by the BCC in November 2021 reporting difficulties in trading with the EU, an increase from 49 per cent in January 2021, it is clear urgent action is needed. Pictures of lorries stacked up on the A20, waiting to get into the port of Dover, also offer a vivid illustration of the problems continuing to impact the operation of the trade deal between the UK and the EU. The BCC has set out five key issues, and the solutions needed, to improve EU trade. ISSUE: Export health certificates cost too much and take up too much time for SME food exporters. SOLUTION: We need a supplementary deal on this which either eliminates or greatly reduces the complexity of exporting food for SMEs. ISSUE: Some companies are being asked to register in multiple EU states for VAT in order to sell online to customers there. SOLUTION: We need a supplementary deal, similar to Norway’s with the EU. This exempts the smallest firms from the requirement to have a fiscal representative and incur these duplicate costs. ISSUE: As things stand CE marked industrial and electrical products will not be permitted for sale on the market in Great Britain from January 2023/4. The same is true for components and spares. SOLUTION: We need action from the Government to help businesses with these timelines. Many firms are far from convinced about a ban on CE marked goods in Great Britain. ISSUE: UK firms facing limitations on business travel and work activities in the EU. SOLUTION: Government needs to make side deals with the EU and member states to boost access in this area as a priority for 2022. ISSUE: Companies starting to be pursued in respect of import customs declarations deferred from last year. SOLUTION: We need a pragmatic approach to enforcement to ensure companies recovering from the pandemic do not face heavy-handed demands too quickly on import payments, or paperwork.