Conflicting advice around EORI requirements is leaving some importers unsure what they need to do before Treaty implementation. We explore where the confusion lies, what obtaining an EORI actually involves, the practical questions businesses are still asking, and why clearer, consistent guidance for freight forwarders and customs agents could make all the difference.

That morning coffee might be telling us more than we realise. As Gibraltar prepares for Treaty-related change and rising business costs, we explore how behavioural psychology shapes the way customers spend, why habits quietly become decisions, and what local businesses can do to keep delivering value when every purchase starts to feel more considered.

When people look for a local business, they often start with Google. They may search for “coffee near me”, “accountant Gibraltar”, “hairdresser open now”, “restaurant Ocean Village”, “plumber near me” or simply type the name of a business they have heard about. In many cases, the first thing they see is not the business’s website. It is the Google Business Profile.

In a Press Release issued to local media this week, the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses (GFSB) has made detailed written submissions to the Minster for Business regarding the Government’s Residency Policy. While recognising the Government’s objective of protecting public services and ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability, the GFSB says the proposed measures represent a significant change to Gibraltar’s previous residency policy. 

Over the past few weeks, Gibraltar businesses have received a steady flow of Treaty-related information. This has included technical customs guidance, FAQs, Town Hall meetings, residency proposals and updates on customs procedures. Taken together, these have helped businesses build a clearer understanding of how the new arrangements will work, and that progress is widely recognised.  Whilst uncertainty and concerns remain the effort being made by political and civil Government is clear.  As implementation approaches, our attention is increasingly turning to another aspect of the transition: how businesses will manage the associated costs.