Help and support if your business trades with the EU
Learn more about trading with the EU from 1 January 2020.
From 1 January the way we trade with the EU will change. To buy or sell from the EU you will need to follow new customs rules or you will not be able to continue to trade. These important actions are required regardless of the outcome of negotiations with the EU and whether or not the government secures a Free Trade Agreement.
Find out what you need to do to:
- export goods to the EU
- import goods from the EU
- prepare your business to continue to move people, data and services between the UK and the EU
Sign up for webinars and watch videos on this page to learn more about the support available to help you continue to trade with the EU.
Webinars for exporters of animals and products of animal origin to the EU
Find out more about the new processes and actions that your business can take to ensure that you are ready to continue exporting live animals, fish and products of animal origin to the EU from 1 January 2021, by registering to attend Defra’s new webinar series.
Webinars for businesses by sector
Find out what actions you can take to ensure your business is ready for January 2021 by registering to attend BEIS’s new webinar series.
These webinars are tailored to different sectors, including:
- life sciences
- aerospace
- construction
- consumer goods
- metals and other materials
- retail
- automotive
- electronics and materials
Exporting and sending goods outside of the UK
how to send goods outside the UK, including to the EU
This video takes you through:
- how to sell products overseas
- the decisions and processes you need to consider to export to other countries
Importing and bringing goods into the UK
Importing and bringing goods into the UK
This video takes you through:
- how you can bring goods from overseas into the UK to sell or use in your business
- the decisions and processes you need to consider to import into the UK
The customs clearance process
This video takes you through:
- the customs process you will need to go through if you are bringing in goods from overseas
What are commodity codes?
This video takes you through:
- how to find out the commodity code classification for your goods
- why you need to use a commodity code
What are controlled goods?
This video takes you through:
- the types of goods that are classed as controlled
- what you need to do if you import or export controlled goods
Related content
Prepare to import goods from the EU to Great Britain from 1 January 2021
Prepare to export goods from Great Britain to the EU from 1 January 2021
How to import and export goods between Great Britain and the EU from 1 January 2021
Contact us
Detailed information about changes to the border at the end of the transition period can be found on gov.uk and in the Border Operating Model.
If you have any questions relating to how customs, excise, VAT and other tax related issues will operate, you can contact HMRC via their online customer forum.
We will be opening a forum to cover questions relating to other areas and will announce details shortly. In the meantime if you have questions that are not covered by HMRC and not available in the online guidance please contact us.
Speak to an adviser about more specific queries
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Business support lines:
- Scotland - 0300 303 0660
- England - 0800 998 1098
- Wales - 0300 060 3000
- Northern Ireland - 0800 181 4422
Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs
- The Animal and Plant Health Agency for DEFRA - 0300 020 0301
Department for International Trade
- enquiries line - 020 7215 5000
HM Revenue & Customs
- import/export general enquiries - 0300 200 3700
- speak to an adviser online about general import and export queries
- send a question about imports, exports and customs reliefs
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
- vehicle operator licensing enquiries - 0300 123 9000
Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency
- contact centre vehicle licensing and registration - 0300 790 6802
Last updated 15 October 2020 + show all updates
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Links added to webinars for businesses by sector.
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Addition of link to webinars for exporters of animals and products of animal origin to the EU.
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First published.