Cross-border compliance in 2026: five things to prepare now
EU packaging rules, US tariff changes and platform policies are tightening at once. Here are five areas to prepare.
Compliance is becoming a core competency for cross-border sellers. Based on our client work, at least five areas need preparation for 2026.
1. Product compliance documents
CE, FCC and RoHS certificates are no longer "nice to have" — customs and marketplaces are inspecting far more often. Build a complete document archive per category.
2. Packaging and environmental rules
EU packaging rules now specify recycled content ratios and material labelling. Factor them in at the design stage.
3. Tax and invoicing
VAT, sales tax and import duty filing must be designed together with your logistics plan.
4. Data and privacy
DTC sellers must handle cookies and customer data in line with GDPR-style regulations.
5. Platform policy updates
Review policy changes quarterly and turn compliance checks into a routine process.