Massive sanctions against Russia, American customs duties rising from 2% to 24% on average in a few months, tariff threats on French wines of up to 200%... Since 2022, geopolitical crises have been following one another and profoundly transforming the rules of international trade. For importing and exporting companies, each new package of sanctions or each announcement of a surcharge can call an entire supply chain into question.
In this context, the customs function is no longer a simple administrative link. It has become a strategic position, at the crossroads of regulatory compliance, cost optimization and flow continuity. Customeo supports companies on this challenge by combining an online customs clearance platform with the expertise of declarants who follow these developments on a daily basis.
Why geopolitical crises disrupt customs operations
International tensions are no longer limited to headlines in the press. They translate into concrete measures that modify import and export conditions, sometimes overnight.
Sanctions and embargos that redraw the rules of the game
Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union has adopted 16 packages of sanctions against Russia, making it the most sanctioned country in the world. The figures give a measure of the upheaval: according to the European Commission, exports of prohibited goods and technologies to Russia represent more than €48 billion, while imports subject to embargo reach €91.2 billion. In total, 54% of exports and 58% of imports between the EU and Russia are now under embargo.
For customs declarants, these measures translate into a growing list of prohibitions: ban on Russian steel products, embargo on non-industrial diamonds, restrictions on dual-use goods, prohibition on exporting luxury goods to Russia. Each package adds new restrictions, new verifications, new risks.
And the consequences of an error are severe. In May 2024, French customs dismantled a network of false declarations in Seine-Saint-Denis: hundreds of fraudulent declarations had covered the routing to Russia of goods worth tens of millions of euros. Violation of sanctions is an offense provided for and punishable under article 459 of the customs code, liable to criminal prosecution.
Customs duties and trade war, shifting ground
The other geopolitical front disrupting customs operations is American tariff policy. On April 2, 2025, a day described as "Liberation Day" by Donald Trump, a decree imposed minimum customs duties of 10% on all American imports. Tariffs on Chinese products climbed to 145%, while the EU was subject to specific measures: 25% on steel and aluminum, threats of 200% on French wines and spirits.
The Turnberry agreement concluded in July 2025 between Washington and Brussels stabilized the situation at 15% on approximately 70% of European exports. But from January 2026, new threats targeted eight European countries, with an escalation schedule of 10% in February to 25% in June. This chronic instability forces companies to constantly monitor rate changes, without certainty about their duration of application.
What are the daily impacts on your customs declarations?
Beyond the major macroeconomic trends, it is daily clearance operations that absorb the shock. Two dimensions are particularly affected.
Tariff classification and origin of goods called into question
In customs, everything rests on what professionals call the "customs trio": tariff classification, origin and value. Yet geopolitical crises disrupt each of these pillars.
Origin, in particular, is becoming a critical issue. Sanctions impose prohibitions linked to certain origins (Russia, Belarus, occupied Ukrainian territories), while American reciprocal customs duties vary by country of origin. A company that sourced from China and decides to turn to Vietnam or Turkey must revise its certificates of origin, verify eligibility for any preferential agreements and ensure that the tariff classification remains consistent.
To secure these operations, Binding Origin Information (BOI) constitutes a valuable tool. It is a request addressed to customs services to obtain official confirmation of the origin of a product, valid throughout the European Union. In times of uncertainty, this legal certainty is invaluable.
Compliance and enhanced border controls
French customs services have significantly strengthened their controls since 2022. The DGDDI is on the front line in applying restrictive measures: border controls, verification of goods flows subject to sanctions, post-clearance controls on past declarations.
These obligations are compounded by new regulations that have recently come into force. The EUDR deforestation regulation, operational since January 2026, imposes additional verifications on certain raw materials. Dual-use goods are subject to increased scrutiny, with the DGSI regularly alerting on circumvention attempts by foreign companies.
The risk for companies is not limited to customs fines. Criminal sanctions, seizure of goods, and even suspension of approvals are among the possible consequences of non-compliance. The General Directorate of the Treasury and the DGDDI regularly publish updates that every customs manager must follow.
How Customeo secures your customs operations against international tensions
Understanding the risks is not enough. The challenge is to take action with measures that strengthen the resilience of your clearance chain. This is what Customeo enables through monitoring, advice and digitalization of operations.
Setting up permanent regulatory and geopolitical monitoring
The first line of defense is information. Companies that navigate crises without setbacks are those that have organized structured monitoring. This involves following publications from the DGDDI, the General Directorate of the Treasury, the European Commission and the WTO.
Two types of information must be distinguished. There are urgent alerts, of the type "attention, new measure in force tomorrow", that require an immediate reaction. And there is background information, structural developments that will have a long-term impact. Sanctions and reciprocal customs duties often fall into the first category, while nearshoring or friendshoring trends fall into the second.
The interactive map of trade restriction measures, published by the DGDDI, allows you to identify in a few clicks the countries, goods and entities targeted by sanctions. A tool to integrate into your monitoring routine. Customeo's declarants provide this monitoring for their clients and alert them in advance whenever a new measure impacts their flows.
Strengthening the resilience of your clearance chain
Several levers allow you to absorb tariff and regulatory shocks.
Suspensive customs regimes constitute a first shield. The bonded warehouse allows goods to be stored without paying duties, while waiting for a favorable change in rates. Inward processing allows raw materials from third countries to be imported without paying duties, provided that the processed products are re-exported. In times of trade war, these mechanisms offer valuable flexibility.
The optimization of tariff quotas is a telling example. When certain metals were surtaxed by 25% following trade retaliation measures, a comparative calculation imposed itself on importers: should customs be cleared immediately by paying the surcharge, or should the container be stored in a bonded warehouse to benefit from quota renewal the following quarter? This is exactly the type of strategic advice that Customeo's declarants provide to their clients, analyzing each situation to identify the most advantageous scenario.
Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status represents a major asset in times of crisis. This trust label issued by European customs provides access to reduced controls, priority processing and reduced guarantees. Thanks to mutual recognition agreements concluded by the EU with the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and other partners, AEO status facilitates operations even with countries in trade tension. Customeo, AEO-certified, allows its users to benefit from this recognition.
Finally, the contractual dimension must not be neglected. Integrating force majeure clauses, clauses on the distribution of additional customs costs and tariff readjustment in your supplier contracts protects your margins in case of sudden duty increases.
The Customeo platform, a tool for responsiveness in times of crisis
When rules change fast, the ability to adapt fast makes all the difference. Customeo transforms this constraint into an operational advantage through several mechanisms.
Real-time tracking of customs statuses allows immediate identification of blockages linked to new restrictions. Rather than waiting for a call or email, the logistics manager sees in real time where each declaration stands and can react without delay. The two-way communication between Customeo and the French customs Delta system automatically updates the statuses of each file.
Digital archiving of documents takes on particular significance in a sanctions context. When customs services carry out post-clearance controls, being able to retrieve in seconds all the supporting documents for a declaration (invoices, certificates of origin, transport documents) constitutes a decisive advantage in demonstrating compliance. On Customeo, simply entering a declaration number gives access to the entire file, without searching through physical archives.
The centralization of exchanges with Customeo's declarants also smooths crisis moments. Quickly questioning the impact of a new measure, adapting instructions, switching to another customs regime: everything is done from a single interface that groups declarations, documents and exchanges in the same place.
Why Customeo in the face of geopolitical uncertainty
The current geopolitical crises are not parentheses. The fragmentation of world trade, the return of protectionism and the multiplication of sanctions are drawing a durably unstable environment. For companies that import or export, the question is no longer whether new disruptions will occur, but how to prepare for them.
Customeo responds to this challenge by combining three dimensions: a team of declarants who provide regulatory monitoring and strategic advice on a daily basis, a platform that centralizes declarations, documents and exchanges to react quickly when rules change, and AEO status that guarantees priority processing even in times of tension.
In a world where a decree can change your import costs overnight, having a customs partner who anticipates, informs and adapts in real time is no longer a comfort. It is the condition for your operations to continue without interruption.
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What are the main trade sanctions in force in 2025-2026 and how do they impact imports?
The EU has adopted 16 packages of sanctions against Russia, banning 54% of exports and 58% of imports between the EU and Russia. On the US side, weighted average customs duties rose from 2% to approximately 24%, with a rate of 15% on most European products since the Turnberry Agreement (July 2025). Chinese products can be taxed up to 145%. These measures directly impact the cost of imported goods, customs clearance times and documentary compliance requirements. Customeo declarants monitor these developments daily and alert their clients whenever a measure impacts their flows.
How does AEO status help in the face of geopolitical crises?
Authorised Economic Operator status offers reduced customs controls, priority handling of goods and reduced financial guarantees. In times of crisis, these advantages allow operations to remain fluid where other companies experience slowdowns. The mutual recognition agreements concluded by the EU with the United States, China, Japan and the United Kingdom strengthen this protection internationally.
Which customs regimes help mitigate the impact of surcharges?
Several suspensive regimes offer valuable flexibility. A customs warehouse allows storage without paying duties while waiting for rate changes. Inward processing authorises the import of raw materials without duties if the finished products are re-exported. Tariff quotas allow certain volumes to be imported at reduced rates. Customeo declarants analyse each situation and recommend the most advantageous regime based on the current tariff context.
