Federal Express Corporation is strengthening its support for Asia Pacific businesses as they prepare for the European Union’s removal of the de minimis duty exemption on July 1, 2026. The change introduces new customs requirements and cost implications for cross-border shipments into Europe.
Ahead of the implementation, FedEx engaged more than 5,000 businesses across 12 Asia Pacific markets through a series of customer education webinars, supporting organisations from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to multinationals with practical guidance to navigate evolving customs clearance requirements, maintain operational efficiency, and reduce the risk of unexpected costs in an increasingly complex trade environment.
Awareness high, readiness uneven
Post-webinar insights reveal strong awareness of the EU de minimis changes, but a notable gap between awareness and readiness remains:
- Just over half, or 59% of APAC businesses, report being fully or mostly prepared, while 41% remain at an early stage or unprepared
- Key barriers include:
- Limited access to clear, actionable guidance (27%)
- Lack of internal expertise on EU customs regulations (24%)
- Difficulty keeping pace with evolving rules and timelines (22%)
Businesses that are not fully prepared for new product data requirements, product identifiers, EU-wide handling fees, and stricter documentation standards may face delays at EU borders once the changes take effect.
Businesses recalibrate cost and trade
Rising compliance requirements and cost pressures are prompting businesses to reassess their approach to European markets. 45% of respondents cite EU customs regulations as a constraint to growth, driven by higher landed costs (24%) and increased compliance burdens (23%).
More than one-third (36%) have already adjusted or plan to adjust their EU pricing, while half say the changes are influencing their trade corridor strategies, leading to a reassessment of market priorities.
Among those diversifying beyond Europe, Intra-Asia (28%) and the United States (23%) are emerging as key alternatives, highlighting the importance of strong regional and global logistics connectivity.
Helping businesses move forward with confidence
“As global trade continues to evolve, businesses across the Asia Pacific are navigating increasing regulatory complexity while pursuing growth across key markets,” said Salil Chari, president, Asia Pacific, FedEx. “At FedEx, we combine deep trade expertise, digital capabilities, and the strength of our global network to help businesses adapt quickly, operate with confidence, and continue growing across Europe and beyond.”
Support to navigate regulatory change
FedEx is expanding support to help customers stay compliant and keep shipments moving:
- Digital systems aligned to new requirements
With 29% of businesses identifying digital customs and compliance tools as a top priority, FedEx shipping, invoicing, and clearance platforms are already aligned to meet new EU customs processes and data requirements, helping customers continue to ship with confidence. - Practical guidance and expert access
As 25% of businesses seek clearer, step-by-step regulatory guidance, FedEx has launched a proactive customer support program, including:
– Direct outreach and detailed guides on Product Identifier (PID) requirements and the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS).
– Access to FedEx clearance and compliance specialists for support on classification, documentation and customs processes.
– A dedicated EU de minimis information page across APAC markets with regularly updated guidance, videos, and trade resources. - Strengthening Asia-Europe Connectivity
To support continued trade across the critical Asia–Europe corridor, FedEx is enhancing network capacity and flexibility, including:
– Five additional weekly flights between Asia to Europe, have been added in the past year, providing greater capacity and routing flexibility
– A total of 26 weekly flights supporting APAC to Europe shipments, enabling express deliveries in as little as 48 hours.
Enabling continuity in a changing trade environment
As businesses adapt to new regulatory realities, FedEx remains focused on ensuring continuity, helping customers stay compliant, manage costs, and maintain reliable access to European markets.
