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International eCommerce News

<p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" data-start="121" data-end="353">Stay up to date with the latest international eCommerce news from OCS Worldwide. Find practical updates on cross-border delivery, customs changes, tariffs, service disruption, returns and global shipping.</p> <p data-start="355" data-end="540">This is broad enough to cover the mix of regulatory updates, service alerts, destination guidance and company news currently published on the site.</p>

EU Regulatory Changes: Mandatory Product Identifiers (PIDs)

A package on a conveyor belt in a warehouse is being scanned by a hand scanner via the mandatory product identifier (PID) affixed to the box.

To ensure cross-border shipments continue to clear customs smoothly, we would like to inform you of new data requirements and regulatory changes within the EU. Mandatory EU Product Identifiers (PIDs) From 1 November 2026, it will be mandatory to provide Product Identifiers (PIDs) for all distance-sale goods imported into the EU. This requirement applies to EU Regulatory Changes: Mandatory Product Identifiers (PIDs)

Is your cross-border strategy ready for the “golden quarter”?

A teddy bear sitting on top of a great pile of Christmas presents. The text reads "Is your cross-border strategy ready? Planning for the "Golden Quarter"

We know it feels early to mention the ‘C’ word, but when it comes to peak season, planning starts straight after the season finishes. So, at OCS Worldwide, we’ve been talking about next Christmas since January! As a retailer shipping internationally, you already know how fast cross-border commerce evolves. But looking ahead to this year’s Is your cross-border strategy ready for the “golden quarter”?

EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR): A Strategic Guide for Cross-Border Retailers

A parcel on a delivery system conveyor belt with a large recycle symbol on the side. Text reads - A Strategic Guide: EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)

At OCS Worldwide, helping to keep our clients ahead of international trade compliance is a top priority. This is why we are alerting you to critical regulatory shifts under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) which officially comes into effect on 12 August 2026. This comprehensive framework overhauls requirements surrounding packaging design, waste EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR): A Strategic Guide for Cross-Border Retailers

Preparing for the 24 July US Customs Regulatory Changes

US Customs Regulatory Changes

Significant changes to the international shipping landscape are taking effect on 24 July 2026 – and retailers who export to the USA need to be ready.  For businesses shipping to the United States, these regulatory updates by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will alter how goods enter the country, affecting final consumer pricing and Preparing for the 24 July US Customs Regulatory Changes

Do you export to the USA? Are you ready for the upcoming regulatory changes?

USA Export Regulations Changes

Starting July 2026, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will require mandatory eFiling data for specific regulated products during the customs entry process. What is changing? The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has launched a new product registry for regulated items. This affects common exports, including: Children’s clothing and toys Kitchenware Drinking vessels and Do you export to the USA? Are you ready for the upcoming regulatory changes?

New Operations Manager at OCS Worldwide

Alex Movila shakes hands with Operations Director Roberto Cinti outside the offices of OCS Worldwide, Heathrow Building.

Many congratulations to Alex Movila who from today becomes the new Operations Manager at OCS Worldwide. Alex’s career is a testament to the value of internal growth within the OCS team, because he first joined us as a part-time mail sorter, when he was still studying for his degree! Here’s a quick run through of New Operations Manager at OCS Worldwide

Introducing FlightDeck – Your window into our world

Introducing FlightDeck

FlightDeck is OCS Worldwide’s Management Information (MI) portal, designed to give you accurate, real-time information on the status of all your deliveries. In FlightDeck what you see is what we see. It’s your window into the operational workings and service solutions of OCS Worldwide. Tracking; delivery metrics; service promise; average days to delivery – it’s Introducing FlightDeck – Your window into our world

How to be ‘Big in Japan’: Part 2 – Our Guide to eCommerce Success

How to be ‘big in Japan’: Part 2

We hope we’ve convinced you that Japan is a market worth aiming for, if you want to grow your retail business internationally. In this second post about trading in Japan, we look at: Tips for successful trading with Japan. Why OCS Worldwide are experts in shipping and delivery to Japan – it’s in our DNA! How to be ‘Big in Japan’: Part 2 – Our Guide to eCommerce Success

Strategic Collaboration: OCS Canada President Visits OCS in the UK

OCS Canada meets OCS UK

Shipping to Canada is a key part of our operations here at OCS, so we were delighted to welcome Makiba Tamai, President of OCS Canada, to our UK facilities this week. Makiba has led OCS operations in Canada for over 17 years and is a key figure in the wider OCS network. His visit provided Strategic Collaboration: OCS Canada President Visits OCS in the UK

How to be ‘Big in Japan’: Part 1 – the Potential for UK eCommerce Retailers

How to be ‘big in Japan’: Part 1

Ready to take your eCommerce business to Japan? Japan is the world’s fourth largest eCommerce market – trailing only China, the United States, and the UK – and is projected to exceed $200 billion in 2026. For UK exporters and Japanese businesses shipping home, the opportunity is massive – particularly for fashion and high-end luxury How to be ‘Big in Japan’: Part 1 – the Potential for UK eCommerce Retailers

The Era of EU Duty-Free Cheap Imports is Over

EU council greenlights €3 customs levy - "TARIFF" money bag and coins in the foreground, an out-of-focus EU flag in the background

EU council greenlights €3 customs levy per unique item or HS Code, starting July 2026. The “free ride” for low-value parcels entering the EU has officially hit a wall. Today, the Council of the European Union gave its final approval to a new €3 customs duty on cheap goods imported from outside the bloc. For The Era of EU Duty-Free Cheap Imports is Over

From career insights to changing tariffs: Paul Scratchley guests on Behind The Chain

Interview with Paul Scratchley

We were thrilled to be invited to take part in a leading industry podcast which takes a peek under the bonnet of the world of eCommerce, logistics and supply chain – Behind The Chain. Our Sales & Marketing Director, Paul Scratchley, guest starred in a recent episode, chatting about his career and looking at topics From career insights to changing tariffs: Paul Scratchley guests on Behind The Chain

USA Tariff Changes: Key Information for eCommerce Sellers

Rubber Stamp stamping "United States Tariff"

The US has announced that from 1st February 2026, an additional 10% tariff may be applied to goods where the country of origin is France, Germany, Finland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and the United Kingdom. This may rise to an additional 25% in June. Remember, the country of origin is generally the country of USA Tariff Changes: Key Information for eCommerce Sellers

Navigating the New US Trading Tariffs – Insights from Our Operations Director

Roberto Cinti

We’re now over a month away from the new US trading tariffs, and as our operations team has had a chance to draw a breath, we thought it would be great to sit down with our Operations Director, Roberto Cinti , and get his take on all things operations, change, eCommerce and, most importantly, OCS’s Navigating the New US Trading Tariffs – Insights from Our Operations Director

US De Minimus Update

USA De Minimis Update

US De Minimis Withdrawal and what it means for your business.

On July 30th The White House released a Presidential Executive Order announcing the withdrawal of the US duty De Minimis for ecommerce goods arriving at the US border with effect from August 29th 2025.

From this date all ecommerce parcels for US delivery will incur import duty, not just those which previously exceeded the De Minimis limit of $800.

All orders will incur duty regardless of how they enter the US.

For OCS US Priority and OCS US Standard Customs clearance into the US is commercial. Duty will be incurred according to the prevailing tariffs which are based on commodity country of origin. Please remember that tariffs “stack” so are the total of the commodity tariff, any historical additional tariffs include section 301, plus the new reciprocal “IEEPA” tariff.

Improvements to our Australia parcel delivery service

New collection and delivery locations for Australia Post Parcels

OCS Worldwide Express is proud to work with Australia Post for final mile deliveries and is excited to tell you that it has introduced a modernised post office format designed to make sending, collecting and returning parcels even faster and more convenient. The new stores, called Australia Post Parcels, are dedicated to parcels and facilitating Improvements to our Australia parcel delivery service

American eCommerce and the “Buying British” trend.

USA buys from the UK

✈️ Why do American shoppers ❤️ love British brands? 📫 From heritage to high fashion, and sustainability to style, UK goods continue to turn heads (and open wallets) across the Atlantic. Check out this deep dive on what’s driving demand and how eCommerce at OCS Worldwide is making seamless delivery to the USA, happen.  

Language Enhanced eCommerce

Japan

Bridging Language Gaps: OCS Worldwide Enhances eCommerce for Global Retailers In an increasingly interconnected world, seamless international trade relies heavily on overcoming language barriers. OCS Worldwide is stepping up to this challenge, particularly for retailers looking to expand their reach into Asian markets, with a unique solution that respects local heritage while streamlining global logistics. Language Enhanced eCommerce

A new digital experience for our customers and consumers

OCS Worldwide Website

OCS Worldwide unveils dynamic new website and powerful ‘Flight Deck’ customer portal LONDON, UK  OCS Worldwide, a leading global logistics provider of eCommerce delivery services, today announced the launch of its redesigned website and a groundbreaking new customer portal called ‘Flight Deck’. The intuitive new digital platform is designed to enhance customer experience by providing A new digital experience for our customers and consumers

US Tariff Update – US Federal Appeals Court overturns lower court decision on tariffs

USA Tariffs

Wednesday 28th May 2025, the US Court of International Trade stated that President Trump had overstepped his authority and the administrations tariffs were unlawful. (Cars, Steel and Aluminium were unaffected by this ruling)

Thursday 29th May 2025, the US Federal Appeals Court granted the Trump Administration a temporary suspension on the lower court’s ruling, meaning that the tariff policy was reinstated, albeit until 5th June 2025, the date of the next hearing.

Peter Navarro, one of the Presidents trade advisors, told reporters on Thursday 29th, “You can assume that even if we lose, we will do it another way.”

The president could also invoke Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which he invoked for his first-term tariffs on China.

A separate 1930 trade law, Section 338 of the Trade Act, which has not been used for decades, allows the president

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