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The head of the Federal Customs Service arrived at the border with Kazakhstan — the SPOT will be launched on time

The head of the Federal Customs Service, Valery Pikalev, personally inspected the work of mobile groups of Samara customs at Mashtakovo checkpoint, the main automobile checkpoint on the Russian-Kazakh border. The visit took place three weeks before the start of the SPOT transition period and seven weeks before the mandatory launch of the system on July 1.

Customs and International Trade

Brazil has introduced a 60% tax on parcels cheaper than $50 — Shein and Temu are under attack

361 08.05

Brazil has imposed a 60% tax on all imported goods worth less than $50 coming through cross-border online trading channels. The measure actually doubled the purchase price for Brazilians on platforms such as Shein, Temu, Shopee and AliExpress. At the same time, the country is carrying out a large-scale tax reform, which is changing the entire taxation system for international sellers.

Economy

SPOT from July 1: cargo from the EAEU will not enter Russia without a QR code

1,359 06.05

From July 1, 2026, the import of goods from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan by road will be possible only if there is a QR code of the SPOT system. The test mode has been running since April 6. Violations are being recorded, but the shipments are still being allowed through. Since July 1, the cargo without a QR code has been deployed right at the border.

Customs and International Trade

Ozon and Wildberries stopped on Armenian goods — customs changed the rules

1,789 06.05

Since April 20, the rules of customs clearance for the import of goods from Armenia to Russia have been changed. Ozon hid the cards of Armenian sellers from Russian buyers, Wildberries demanded additional documents. Goods already stored in Russian warehouses are sold without restrictions — the problem concerns only new shipments across the border.

Marketplaces

The EEC has approved the form of correction of the declaration for e-commerce

1,148 30.04

The EEC Board approved the form for correcting the declaration for electronic commerce goods and the procedure for filling it out. The document completes the formation of the basic regulatory framework for customs clearance of cross-border online commerce in the EAEU. Market participants now have an official mechanism for correcting errors in declarations.

Customs and International Trade

Business against 22% VAT: the introduction will kill cross-border trade

662 27.04

The Association of e-commerce Participants opposed the immediate introduction of full VAT on cross-border e-commerce. According to business estimates, the one-time introduction of a 22% rate from 2027 will destroy the economics of the cross-border sales model and squeeze out a significant part of sellers of imported goods from the market.

Marketplaces

The Federal Customs Service softened the entry of businesses into the SPOT until June 1.

890 25.04

The FCS gave the business a transition corridor before launching the SPOT. From April 20 to May 31, 2026, companies will be able to complete deliveries from the EAEU countries that have already begun under a simplified procedure, eliminate violations and avoid sudden disruptions at the border.

Customs and International Trade

The Ministry of Energy requests VAT relief for social goods from abroad

1,926 22.04

The Ministry of Economic Development has proposed to ease the tax regime for socially important goods that Russians order on foreign online platforms. The initiative concerns VAT and may significantly affect prices, cross-border trade and the rules of operation of marketplaces with imported products.

Marketplaces

The EAEU has launched online control of carriers between the countries

1,909 22.04

The EAEU countries are moving to a new level of cargo transportation control. Digital data exchange between customs and transport services has already started working and is changing the very mechanics of border crossing.

Cargo transportation

The Federal Customs Service introduces regulations for the departure of goods abroad

380 22.04

The Federal Customs Service is strengthening control over the export of goods outside Russia. The new document has a direct impact on carriers and exporters: border crossings may be restricted without meeting certain requirements.

Customs and International Trade

Putin signed the law on SPOT: money in advance from June 1

2,039 21.04

The President signed a law on the SPOT system. Starting from June 1, importers from the EAEU countries are required to make a security payment before crossing the border. Cargo will not be allowed to enter Russia without a QR code. The business has less than a month and a half left to prepare.

Customs and International Trade

China launched the HH-200 flight: a cargo drone for frost and heat

1,333 20.04

In China, an HH-200 cargo drone was lifted into the air, designed to operate in the cold and heat. The device should cover delivery to hard-to-reach areas: mountains, islands, coastal and border destinations. The focus of the project is not record-breaking show flights, but a practical network of "small aircraft" for cargo.

Cargo transportation

Russia and China launch hydrogen corridor for trucks

365 20.04

Russia and China are entering into a practical hydrogen logistics project: a memorandum on the first cross-border "hydrogen corridor" for freight transport has been signed. The plan includes local hydrogen production facilities and a network of gas stations along key routes so that hydrogen trucks can cross the border on a regular basis.

Cargo transportation

Russia and Azerbaijan launch conditions for e-CMR in road transportation

1,361 17.04

Russia and Azerbaijan have agreed on steps to implement the e-CMR electronic international consignment note. The action plan should simplify the regime of international road transport and support digitalization at the border. At the same time, the parties discussed the development of checkpoints and the North—South corridor

EDI and IT in Logistics

The Ministry of Finance demands to stop the experiment on customs value

1,875 17.04

The foreign economic activity community is discussing a letter from the Ministry of Finance on the immediate termination of the experiment, where customs accepted the declared value according to the transaction method, and control was transferred to the stage after the release of goods. If the decision is officially confirmed, importers will have to rebuild the issuance, preparation of documents and financial reserves for the return of stricter control "at the border."

Customs and International Trade

They want to cross the border in 10 minutes by 2030: what is being changed at the checkpoint

742 09.04

Rosgranstroy presented a program for the digital transformation of checkpoints: automation, intelligent control and expanded preliminary information about cargo should reduce border crossing by trucks to 10 minutes by 2030. They plan to introduce an "intelligent pass" in priority areas, while maintaining the standard mode for those who are not ready for advanced data.

Warehouses and cargo terminals

Russia and China are preparing to launch cargo drones

1,028 07.04

Russia and China are testing a new format for cross-border logistics. The cargo drone project looks niche, but it is important for the market as a real step towards unmanned transportation in cross-border trade.

EDI and IT in Logistics

RWB strengthens Armenia with new logistics hub in Yerevan

2,118 02.04

RWB continues to expand its logistics infrastructure in Armenia. A new Wildberries complex has been launched in Yerevan, which should speed up delivery, expand the capabilities of local sellers and strengthen cross-border e-commerce in the region.

Marketplaces

Marketplaces will be responsible for marriage from abroad: they are preparing a mechanism

2,314 26.03

Buyers are increasingly faced with a situation where a dispute over the quality of goods rests on a foreign seller without a legal entity in Russia. The authorities are preparing a reversal of the rules: marketplaces plan to make participants responsible for low-quality goods from abroad. For the market, this changes the risk model of cross-border trade and the requirements for quality control in the showcase.

Marketplaces

South Africa tightened control: cargo with 671.5 kg of cannabis and 916 tires was detained at Oshoek

1,944 25.03

South Africa shows increased border control: a truck from Eswatini with cannabis and illegal goods was detained at the Oshoek checkpoint. For legal foreign trade logistics, this is an indicator of stricter inspections and increased compliance requirements at the border.

Customs and International Trade

Articles

Financial calculations in foreign economic activity: why the old rules no longer work and what replaced them

1,477 17.10

The usual methods of international settlements in foreign economic activity no longer work. SWIFT and the dollar are no longer reliable instruments, and payments get stuck for weeks. What replaced them? We're looking into why simple solutions like replacing the dollar with the yuan or switching to crypto haven't become a panacea, and what the new, flexible cross-border payment system that businesses will have to live with looks like.

Customs and International Trade