For any questions on recent announcements, please contact:
InXpress Collins St (Australia) - Melvin (+61 3 7065 4116) / Naori (+61 3 7065 4117)
InXpress Tauranga (New Zealand) - Nico (+64 7 960 2888)
Not an InXpress customer?
Click here Australia / New Zealand
Please see the below update from UPS regarding changes to the U.S. Import Rules.
''We are writing to inform you of a significant change to the United States (U.S.) trade policy that may affect your shipments.
On July 30, President Trump signed an executive order suspending the de minimis exemption for low-value shipments (under US $800) to the U.S.. This change takes effect on and from August 29, 2025.
Key Changes:
All imports into the U.S., regardless of value, origin, mode of entry, or how they are routed into the country, will now be subject to applicable U.S. duties and taxes and import regulatory requirement. This may result in additional shipping costs and clearance requirements.
Recommended Actions to Minimise Potential Delays:
1. Provide complete and accurate information on commercial invoices and submit customs forms digitally with UPS Paperless® Invoice to eliminate the need to attach multiple paper copies to a shipment
2. Include the recipient’s email and contact information to ensure UPS can contact the recipient for collection of duty and taxes or additional information for customs clearance if necessary
3. Eliminate surprise customs-related charges by offering your customers a guaranteed landed cost using UPS® Global Checkout
4. Consolidate clearance and reduce costs if shipping to multiple consignees in a single country with the World Ease® service
5. Reach out to your UPS Account Manager, if applicable, or contact your local UPS Customer Service hotline to explore how we can support your business with smoother customs clearance, standardised processing across multiple transportation modes, duty optimisation, navigating global regulations, and more.
UPS is here to help you navigate shifts in global trade and minimise any disruption to your business. Our team can work with you to evaluate your needs, adjust your supply chains, and implement tailored solutions—including small package, consolidated freight, warehousing, and customs brokerage services—to help you ship compliantly to the U.S. and avoid potential backlogs.
For more details on these changes, including tariff updates and frequently asked questions, please visit here.''
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to your dedicated freight consultant.
Australia Post has temporarily paused most parcels to the United States (and Puerto Rico) due to sudden US customs/tariff changes. Letters and documents are still moving, but business parcels are affected until further notice.
We don’t want your orders stuck or returned so should you need a contingency solution, we’ve got Express carrier solutions with DHL and FedEx in WebShip to keep you shipping normally to the US.
What’s changing:
Need help switching? Reply to this email or contact your dedicated freight consultant, and we’ll show how you can use DHL and FedEx for your US orders.
Typical Express timeframes with Express:
Please see the below update from FedEx regarding updates on the regulatory changes in the United States.
''Effective August 29, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT, the duty-free de minimis treatment will be removed regardless of the country of origins of the products. The de minimis treatment has been removed for products of China and Hong Kong SAR China since May 2, 2025.
Effective August 7, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT, the reciprocal tariffs will change from 10% to higher rate for some countries/territories as follows:
Since the situation is fluid, please stay tuned for updates at fedex.com. Visit our U.S. Tariff Information Hub to get essential tips of shipping to the U.S.''
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to your dedicated freight consultant.
Please see the below update from UPS regarding Thailand Import Licence Requirements for Personal Use Shipments and Non-Commercial Industrial Products.
We are writing to remind you that in compliance with the regulations enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), importers of food, cosmetics and medical devices for personal use and non-commercial industrial products based in Thailand must obtain import licences from either FDA and/or TISI respectively:
Shipments that arrive in Thailand without the required import licences are at risk of being held, returned or abandoned by local authorities. In cases where shipments are abandoned, a Formal Access Long (Abandon Fee) of [Insert local currency] may be applicable and charged back to the shipper. This includes, but is not limited to, customs penalties, storage and disposal fees. Please note that the final amount is billed in local currency and is subjected to the prevailing foreign exchange rate.
Please see the below update from DHL regarding US Tariffs and Trade Policies.
We’d like to update you on recent developments regarding U.S. tariffs (Valid as of 11 August 2025 — all U.S. tariff changes and related policies are subject to change)
Between April and August 2025, new customs and tariff rules will come into effect.
Our global team is actively monitoring these updates, and we’ll share more details with you as soon as they’re confirmed.
In the meantime, here are the key changes you should know so your shipments continue to move without delays. If you’d like more details on these changes, please also visit our One Pager on US tariffs updates.
What’s Changing
Key Dates
5 April 2025
2 May 2025
7 August 2025
29 August 2025
Tip: A simple way to prepare is to check the actual country of origin for your products and keep your invoices detailed and accurate.
How We Can Help
Please rest assured that DHL is well-prepared to navigate these changes and is committed to assisting you during this transition.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to your dedicated freight consultant.
UPS has been informed that effective August 15, 2025, new tariff provisions applicable to imports into Mexico will come into force, as published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on July 28, 2025. These modifications include adjustments to tariff rates for clearance under simplified procedure.
Please see below for more information:
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to your dedicated freight consultant.
For many years, TNT and Startrack have been charging Manual Handling Fees to parcels that cannot freely move through conveyor systems.
IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY of depot staff, sorting equipment, and other shipments, such parcels are manually handled in depots. Here’s a quick guide on Manual Handling Fees.
Common QUALITATIVE Reasons
1. Shipments that are not in a rectangular cardboard carton boxes with even sides – such as plastic bags, envelopes, sacks, drums, cylinders, uneven sided cartons, plastic cartons, cartons wrapped in plastic, cartons wrapped in tape, cartons with straps – anything that could stick on conveyor systems and cause damage to other shipments and to the conveyor system itself.
2. Shipments with fragile, delicate, ‘this side up’, ‘handle with care’ stickers – depot staff wouldn’t want to damage your goods. If they see these stickers, they wouldn’t let your shipment travel on conveyor systems fearing that they tumble and break, and will manually handle them instead.
3. Shipments without fragile markings but contain fragile goods like glassware – based on declared description of goods, depot staff will not allow fragile goods on conveyor systems and manually handle them to avoid possible breakage.
4. Shipments that contain liquid, nails, magnets or any dangerous / hazardous substances – such goods may leak or spill then damage conveyor systems, other shipments and risk health and safety of depot staff.
Common QUANTITATIVE Reasons
1. Exceeding TNT weight and dimensions thresholds
2. Exceeding Startrack weight and dimensions thresholds
How do I ensure that Manual Handling Fees are reflected in my quotes in Webship?
Manual Handling Fees are automatically added to your quotes as you enter your shipment’s dimensions and weights in Webship. Never under-declare your measurements because carriers reweigh and remeasure your goods twice at both origin and destination depots and use those measurements to bill you. You will not save money by under-declaring measurements…not at all!
On the other hand, even if your shipment is within carrier thresholds but your shipment possess Manual Handling qualities, tick the “Manual Handling Fees” checkbox in Webship and enter the number of items that applies. Manual Handling Fees are charged by item, so make sure that you accurately declare this.
This is a special feature that is only available to Australian Webship users.
Can I dispute Manual Handling Fees?
Yes. If you think that you got wrongly charged by the carrier with Manual Handling Fees, please provide the following supporting evidence to your Dedicated Freight Consultant, which the carrier will require prior processing.
My non-fragile shipment in a cardboard carton is within size thresholds but still incurred Manual Handling Fees, why?Your carton may be within thresholds…when it is empty. Avoid overfilling your cartons to a point that parts of it bulge. Carriers, using RFID measuring equipment, measure the longest length, longest width, and longest height of parcels, and when a carton bulges, the bulging part becomes the basis of reading.
Avoid flaps on cartons’ edges as well by neatly packing and taping your parcels. Flaps would also unnecessarily increase your dimensions and RFID measuring equipment will capture them.
I sent unsortable items before, but did not have to pay Manual Handling Fees, why?
Manual Handling Fees due to the qualities of a shipment are lodged by depot staff manually; inspection is purely ocular. TNT and Startrack process thousands of shipments a day and depot staff may not capture every single shipment that warrants the fee.
Should you require clarifications on this, do not hesitate to reach out to your Freight Consultant or Account Manager for further guidance. Thank you.
Please note that, effective immediately, all Document (DOX) shipments to Saudi Arabia will incur a charge imposed by Saudi Customs and will require formal clearance.
On Thursday, July 17th, the Saudi Customs authorities implemented a requirement for all documents to be formally cleared at all entry points in Saudi Arabia, without exception, and all integrators were required to comply. As a result, and with immediate effect, all DOX shipments destined for Saudi Arabia require formal clearance to comply with the newly imposed regulation.
The following customs charges will apply per document shipment clearance:
SAR 15.00 Customs declaration fee (equivalent to USD 4.00) + 15% VAT = SAR 17.25. [Approximately AUD 7.05 per shipment]
This customs clearance charge will be collected from consignees at the time of shipment delivery as per the service update below.
You would have received our email last week regarding an upcoming feature in Webship called Webship Freight.
Webship Freight is an add-on to your existing Webship access that would let you use over 10 additional transport providers for bulky & pallet freight, with just one single click of a button.
The add-on has been extensively tested & we are ready to enable it to customers that wish to try it before its official launch on 11th August 2025.
If you wish to gain early access to Webship Freight, please reach out to your Dedicated Freight Consultant or Account Manager & we will enable the new add-on to your account. Thank you!
Are you an existing MACHSHIP user?
Your shipping experience with InXpress Webship is about to get even better!
This August, we're launching Webship Freight - a powerful add-on to your existing Webship booking platform for pallets and bulky freight shipping with 15 additional transport providers, giving you more flexibility & control over your freight needs.
Here's what you can look forward to:
No action is required from you. Your account will be upgraded automatically, and we're here to support you every step of the way.
Are you an existing MACHSHIP user?
If you have any questions or would like a quick walk-through of the new features, feel free to reach out to your freight consultant and account manager.
Thank you for choosing InXpress - we're excited to continue growing with you!
Please see key updates on international shipping this week.
Australia
Change to Import Processing Charge (IPC)
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF) have communicated a change to the Import Processing Charge (IPC) effective from 1st July 2025.
Formal Entry Fees will change to the rates below:
The IPC is part of import entry cost recovery measures, implemented jointly by the Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry. These fees are levied across all imports above the relevant formal entry threshold, and is charged irrespective of the amount of intervention by either department.
Shipments under this threshold generally don’t draw the FID or Duties & Taxes unless it is a specific commodity such as tobacco, alcohol etc.
For further guidance on this change, please refer to the links below:
United Arab Emirates
Effective April 1st, 2025, The National Advance Information Center (NAIC) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will implement Federal Decree Law No. 22 of 2018 related to the advance collection of passenger, luggage, cargo and conveyance information through a Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) program.
The purpose of PLACI is to raise the level of security & enhance the safety of shipments originating from, destined for and transiting the UAE through the submission of security filings for all shipments at the “pre- loading” stage. For more information, click to view this link for details on these regulatory changes required by the UAE.
Canada (announcement from DHL)
DHL is pleased to announce that Express has restored all services to and from Canada, and all operations has resumed.
As you may know, DHL Express shipping operations in Canada were suspended on Friday, June 20, 2025, due to ongoing labour actions and the implementation of a new legislation, which restricted our ability to deploy contingency solutions. This led to a pause on the collection of shipments destined for or dispatched from Canada as of Wednesday, June 18.
After nearly a year of discussions with Unifor's trade union bargaining committee, which represents a significant proportion of our workforce in Canada, we are happy to report that a 4-year agreement has now been reached, which will remain in effect until July 1, 2029. DHL Express Canada has worked diligently and in good faith with Unifor's bargaining committee to reach a fair and sustainable deal and ensure a prompt return to service. Effective June 30, 2025, all services will be reinstated, allowing us to resume normal operations and ensure timely delivery of your shipments.
DHL Express values the trust you place in us and understands the impact that the temporary service suspension may have had on your business. Our priority remains to effectively support your needs and facilitate your international trade. We are committed to delivering exceptional service for your business.
If you have any questions or need assistance on any of these updates, please don't hesitate to reach out to your dedicated freight consultant.
Please refer to the below notice from DHL regarding the temporary suspension of International services to and from Israel.
"Due to the closure of Israeli airspace, DHL Express has to temporarily suspend all international services to and from Israel. This suspension is effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice. Our aviation security experts are actively monitoring the situation in collaboration with our local team in Israel and the relevant government authorities.
We are looking for alternative solutions and will resume international services as soon as the restrictions are lifted or other secure transportation options become available. Please note that we remain operational within Israel for domestic deliveries. We understand the impact this may have on your shipments and appreciate your patience and understanding during this challenging time.
The safety and security of our employees and our customers’ shipments are our top priorities. We will keep you updated with any developments and are here to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have."
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to your dedicated freight consultant.
The European Commission will intensify its focus on the line-item description of goods for all shipments into and transiting the European Union, Norway, Switzerland, and Northern Ireland.
The European Commission has published a list of the so called ”stop words”, and using any of these words as the goods description (e.g., Goods, Garments, Materials, Private things, Spare Parts etc.) will result in the rejection of Import Control System 2 (ICS2) customs filings.
Please find below some useful links for your reference:
Providing accurate details with every lodgement is an important first step in the delivery process and helps ensure your articles reach their destination efficiently.
On 1 November 2023, StarTrack terms and conditions were updated to enable a Manifest Correction Fee to be applied on a per-consignment basis where there is a need to correct information in your manifest (including but not limited to incorrectly declared weight and dimensions, lodgement points, destination address, or product or service code).
From 1 July 2024, any StarTrack Consignment identified with an under-declared dead weight may be subject to a Manifest Correction Fee of $3.61 ex GST. This fee will be applied at consignment level and not per package.
To minimise the impact of this fee on your business operations, ensure that your dead weight declarations upon manifest are as accurate as possible. Accurate manifesting forms part of our Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations and we must all ensure the documentation prepared in relation to lodgements is not false or misleading. Find out more about our CoR obligations.
Chain of Responsibility (COR) laws aim to achieve improved road safety outcomes by imposing obligations on each person in the 'chain'. If you despatch Unit Loading Devices (ULDs) or pallets, your business must take reasonable steps to ensure that COR requirements are not breached in connection with the transport of those ULDs and pallets.
When you are dealing with Australia Post/Startrack, you are required to comply with the specific COR requirements and it is your responsibility to understand and comply with all other legal duties in relation to Chain of Responsibility.
It is important to declare the correct weight and to round up, when if a package is 1.1 or 1.2 or 1.5 the actual weight should be declared at 2kg. Especially on the FPP service as the same base rate will be applied for up to 3kg.
If you have any questions on this update, please don't hesitate to reach out to your dedicated freight consultant.
22 May 2025, 1:01PM
TNT have advised that their system is now up and running again. We’ve conducted a few tests and confirmed that we are able to book shipments. Thank you for your patience.
For any questions or concerns please contact your dedicated freight consultant.
22 May 2025, 11:07AM
We’ve been advised by TNT that they are currently experiencing ongoing API issues, which initially began last night. This affects their direct website and all other third-party platforms connected with them.
Although a resolution was implemented at the time, the issues have unfortunately reoccurred today. TNT has confirmed that this matter is being treated as a top priority, and they are actively investigating the cause. We will continue to share updates with you as they become available throughout the day.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, for any questions or concerns please contact your dedicated freight consultant.
Please see below communication from Startrack regarding 24/7 delivery collection.
At Startrack we regularly review our products and services to ensure we maintain a safe, reliable and efficient delivery service.
To make it easier for your customers to receive their Startrack Premium Air parcels if they are not present when we attempt delivery, in certain circumstances we have been leaving parcels in a secure, 24/7 Australia Post Parcel Locker.
Details
We will leave the parcel in a Parcel Locker outside the Post Office where it would otherwise have been left, or at a Parcel Locker within 1km of the delivery address on the parcel.
We will only leave a parcel in a Parcel Locker if we have the receiver's mobile number to which we can send the Parcel Locker access PIN. StarTrack Airlock parcels or those requiring ID on delivery will not be left in a Parcel Locker. The parcel will only be left at a Parcel Locker after attempting to deliver the parcel in person.
Australia Post Parcel Lockers are free for customers to access with a secure PIN, and are conveniently located at over 800 locations around Australia. Your customers can access their free, designated Parcel Locker 24/7, allowing them to choose a convenient time to collect their parcel. We have now updated our Terms and Conditions to clarify that the use of a PIN meets proof of delivery and signature on delivery requirements. See clause 2.7 of the StarTrack terms and conditions.
Convenient and Secure service
For parcels delivered to Parcel Lockers, Australia Post provides a unique, secure PIN directly to your customer which they must use to obtain their parcel. Use by your customer of the PIN meets StarTrack's signature on delivery requirements.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to your dedicated freight consultant.
Please see the latest updates regarding U.S. customs regulatory changes.
Effective May 14, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT,
China's countermeasure tariffs on products with country of origin of the United States will decrease from 125% to 34%. Of the 34%, 24% will be suspended for 90 days, i.e. only 10% will remain in effect in the meantime. It will take effect before May 14, 2025 (exact timing to be confirmed). Other non-tariff countermeasures are expected to be suspended or cancelled subject to the official announcement from the authority.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to your dedicated freight consultant.
As of 14 May, 3:34PM
TNT Domestic
Collections with TNT Domestic has been fixed since 12 May.
FedEx International
Collections with FedEx International has also been fixed since 12 May.
The error, "ERR: INVALID.INPUT.EXCEPTION" has also been fully fixed today.
Please note the following important guidelines when shipping to the United States:
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to your dedicated freight consultant.
As of 12 May, 10:55AM
TNT Domestic
Collections with TNT Domestic has been fixed.
FedEx International
Collections with FedEx International has also been fixed.
However, the error "ERR: INVALID.INPUT.EXCEPTION - Invalid field value in the input" when booking FedEx International shipments may still occur intermittently. FedEx continues to fix this. If you encounter this error while booking a FedEx International shipment, please contact your dedicated Freight Consultant.
Thank you very much for your patience.
As of 9 May, 10:52AM
TNT Domestic
Collections with TNT Domestic appears to have been fixed but TNT is yet to send official communications on this. For the meantime, if you have urgent domestic shipments that need to be dispatched today and you do not have daily pick-up arrangement, please contact your dedicated Freight Consultant.
FedEx International
Users will see the error "ERR: INVALID.INPUT.EXCEPTION - Invalid field value in the input" when booking FedEx shipments. FedEx is looking into this and we will advise once fixed. If you have any FedEx shipment to book, please contact your dedicated Freight Consultant as they can manually arrange this for you.
Thank you very much for your patience.
As of 8 May, 3:18PM
We have been informed by TNT that there has been an ongoing issue with their booking system that occurred late yesterday, briefly fixed earlier today, and has once again occurred this afternoon.
TNT have advised the following:
"We experienced an outage with a component of our web services yesterday which prevented some shipments from being finalised. In addition bookings were not making it through to our operations teams in some cases. The services have been restored this morning however were receiving feedback that some web services are degraded in some cases."
In light of this, please monitor TNT Domestic bookings and services—both recent and upcoming—if any irregularities or issues please notify your Freight Consultant. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. Thank you.
Please see the latest updates regarding U.S. customs regulatory changes.
U.S. Customs Regulatory Changes Overview: Reciprocal Tariffs & De Minimis
IMPORTANT: Shippers must provide complete and accurate Commercial Invoice data, including detailed goods descriptions, HTSUS classification, Country of Origin (COO), and ultimate consignee’s Tax ID/Social Security.
Disclaimer: While we strive for accuracy, this information is provided "as is," without warranty. For the latest updates, consult official sources.
Click here to view further information on Reciprocal Tariffs and De Minimis
Click here to view frequent customer FAQs on the Tariffs and De Minimis
Effective May 2, 2025, CBP is reinstating Informal Entry procedures for certain shipments. This follows a notice issued on April 24, 2025.
What This Means for Your Shipments:
Products made in China or Hong Kong (valued between USD $1 and $2,500):
Shipments not made in China or Hong Kong:
Shipments valued over USD $2,500:
Additional Notes:
Effective May 2, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT, the U.S. duty-free de minimis treatment will be removed from products with a country of origin of China or Hong Kong SAR China, regardless of the shipment origin. There may be a volume surge or other situations that could impact your shipments in the next couple of weeks. Please be reminded to arrange your exports appropriately and leave enough buffer time to avoid unintended tariffs. FedEx's liabilities are limited per the standard conditions of carriage.
Our recommendations for customers to avoid customs delay
Customers who ship products with country of origin from mainland China and Hong Kong SAR China, Canada and Mexico to the United States regardless of the shipment origins should provide the necessary information on the air waybill and/or commercial invoice to avoid customs delay:
Incorrect or incomplete information submitted for customs clearance may be subject to service delay.
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