Acronyms, spelled out

3PLThird-party logistics provider

A company that runs warehousing, fulfilment and shipping on behalf of sellers or platforms.

ACFTAASEAN-China Free Trade Area

The free trade agreement between ASEAN and China, upgraded to version 3.0 in October 2025.

ACIAdvance Cargo Information

Egypt's system requiring shipment data and documents to be registered before goods are loaded for Egypt.

ACIDAdvance Cargo Information Declaration

The number an Egyptian importer obtains on the Nafeza platform, which must appear on all shipping documents.

ADIIAdministration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects

Morocco's customs and excise administration.

APECAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Forum of 21 Pacific Rim economies that sets non-binding trade and investment goals.

ARCAAgencia de Recaudación y Control Aduanero

Argentina's federal tax and customs agency, successor to AFIP.

ASEANAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations

Ten Southeast Asian states cooperating on trade, economy and security.

BEUCBureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs

The European consumer organisation, which represents national consumer associations in Brussels.

BRCBritish Retail Consortium

The main trade association for UK retailers, from high-street chains to online sellers.

CBAMCarbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

EU charge on the embedded carbon of imported cement, steel, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen.

CBPU.S. Customs and Border Protection

The US agency that clears goods entering the United States and collects duties.

CBSContribuição sobre Bens e Serviços

Brazil's new federal consumption tax created by the tax reform, fully effective from 2027.

CBSACanada Border Services Agency

Canada's customs and border authority, which sets and applies low-value shipment thresholds.

CENTCOMUnited States Central Command

The American military command responsible for the Middle East, which runs the naval blockade of Iranian ports.

CFIBCanadian Federation of Independent Business

Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses.

CJEUCourt of Justice of the European Union

The EU's highest court, which can issue opinions on whether international agreements are compatible with EU treaties.

CNIConfederação Nacional da Indústria

Brazil's national confederation of industry, the main lobby for manufacturers.

CUSMACanada-United States-Mexico Agreement

Canada's name for the USMCA, the North American free trade agreement in force since July 2020.

DDPDelivered Duty Paid

The seller pays duties and taxes upfront: the customer pays nothing at delivery.

DDUDelivered Duty Unpaid

Duties and taxes are collected from the customer at delivery, often with a handling charge.

DEFADigital Economy Framework Agreement

ASEAN's region-wide treaty on digital trade, cross-border e-commerce, data, payments and digital identity.

DSADigital Services Act

The EU regulation that makes large online platforms responsible for tackling illegal and unsafe content and products, with fines of up to 6% of global turnover.

DXBDubai International Airport

Dubai's main airport and the hub of Emirates and Emirates SkyCargo.

EAPAEnforce and Protect Act

A United States law that lets customs investigate and penalise evasion of duties, including through false origin claims.

ECLACEconomic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

UN regional commission, also known by its Spanish acronym CEPAL, known for its work on development and trade policy.

EIAU.S. Energy Information Administration

The statistical agency of the American Department of Energy, which publishes oil market data and forecasts.

EPDEconomic Prosperity Deal

The UK-US framework of 8 May 2025 that cut American tariffs on some UK sectors; it is not a full free trade agreement.

EPPEuropean People's Party

The largest political group in the European Parliament, centre-right.

ETSEmissions Trading System

The EU carbon market, which since 2024 also covers emissions from shipping to and from EU ports.

EUEuropean Union

27 countries with a single market and a customs union.

EUCAEU Customs Authority

New EU agency based in Lille, due to start in 2027, that will coordinate customs risk management and run the EU Customs Data Hub.

FOBFree On Board

A valuation basis covering the goods' price up to loading at the port of export, excluding international freight and insurance.

FTAFree Trade Agreement

A treaty between countries that removes or reduces tariffs and other barriers on goods traded between them.

GACCGeneral Administration of Customs of China

China's national customs authority, which also publishes the country's trade statistics.

HMRCHM Revenue and Customs

The United Kingdom's tax and customs authority, which collects VAT and import duties.

IATAInternational Air Transport Association

The global trade association of airlines, which publishes air traffic, cargo and industry financial data.

IBSImposto sobre Bens e Serviços

Brazil's new state and municipal consumption tax, phasing in from 2029 to replace ICMS and ISS.

ICMSImposto sobre Circulação de Mercadorias e Serviços

Brazil's state-level tax on the circulation of goods and some services, also charged on imports.

IDVInstituto para Desenvolvimento do Varejo

A Brazilian institute representing large domestic retail chains.

IEEPAInternational Emergency Economic Powers Act

A United States emergency law used for tariffs until the Supreme Court struck those tariffs down in February 2026.

IMECIndia-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor

A planned network of ports, railways and links connecting India to Europe through the Gulf states, announced in 2023.

IMOInternational Maritime Organization

The United Nations agency that sets global rules for shipping safety and navigation.

IOSSImport One-Stop Shop

EU scheme letting sellers collect import VAT at checkout on consignments up to €150 and declare it monthly in one country.

IPCInternational Post Corporation

Cooperative association of postal operators that publishes cross-border e-commerce research.

IRGCIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Iran's elite military force, whose navy controls operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

LFPLoi de Finances pour

Morocco's annual finance law (budget act), which sets tax and customs measures for the year.

MFNMost-favoured-nation

The standard, non-discriminatory tariff rate a WTO member applies to imports from other members.

MOFCOMMinistry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

China's trade ministry, responsible for foreign trade policy, trade negotiations and e-commerce regulation.

MSCMediterranean Shipping Company

The world's largest container line by capacity, based in Geneva.

OPECOrganization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

The oil producers' cartel that coordinates output quotas; the UAE left it on 1 May 2026.

PAMAuthenticity and Modernity Party

Moroccan political party that won the most seats in the September 2026 election.

PGSAPersian Gulf Strait Authority

The Iranian body set up in 2026 to authorise vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz and collect fees.

PJDJustice and Development Party

Moroccan Islamist-leaning party that led governments from 2011 to 2021.

PPIProgramme prévisionnel d'importation

Algeria's forward import programme that importers must have approved before banks will pay for imports.

RNINational Rally of Independents

Moroccan political party that led the previous government.

SCASuez Canal Authority

Egyptian state body that operates the Suez Canal and sets its transit tolls.

SKUStock Keeping Unit

A unique reference for one product variant, used to track stock and price.

SPSSanitary and phytosanitary

Rules on food safety, animal and plant health; a UK-EU SPS agreement would remove most border checks on agri-food goods.

STFSupremo Tribunal Federal

Brazil's Supreme Federal Court, which rules on the constitutionality of laws and decrees.

TEUTwenty-foot equivalent unit

The standard measure of container volume, equal to one 20-foot container.

UAEUnited Arab Emirates

The federation of seven emirates, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, home to Jebel Ali port and the Emirates and Etihad hubs.

UKUnited Kingdom

Great Britain and Northern Ireland, outside the EU customs union since 2021.

UKGTUK Global Tariff

The United Kingdom's own schedule of import duty rates, applied since 1 January 2021.

UPUUniversal Postal Union

UN agency that sets the rules for international mail exchanges between postal operators.

USUnited States

The United States of America.

USMCAUnited States–Mexico–Canada Agreement

The North American free trade agreement that replaced NAFTA in 2020.

USPSUnited States Postal Service

The American national postal operator.

USTROffice of the United States Trade Representative

The United States agency that negotiates trade deals and runs Section 301 investigations.

VATValue Added Tax

Consumption tax charged at each stage of the supply chain and paid in the end by the consumer.

WCOWorld Customs Organization

Intergovernmental body that maintains the Harmonized System used to classify goods.

WTOWorld Trade Organization

Global body that sets and arbitrates the rules of trade between nations.

ZATCAZakat, Tax and Customs Authority

Saudi Arabia's combined tax and customs authority, which collects VAT and customs duties.