Since the novel coronavirus pneumonia case occurred last year, it has been almost a year since the outbreak of the disease. The European epidemic has not been curbed. The second wave is fierce. Recently, European countries have adopted the "blockade" measures.
The chain reaction behind the blockade also brings great challenges to foreign trade freight forwarders.
According to incomplete statistics, at least 12 European countries, including Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, Belgium, the United Kingdom (England), Austria, Greece, the Netherlands and Poland, have announced "blockade" orders to curb the epidemic.

Britain will implement a total blockade in England
On the evening of October 31 local time, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a press conference after Germany and France announced the "enfeoffment" on the same day. He announced that the second comprehensive blockade of England would be implemented from November 5 to December 2. At that time, except for supermarkets selling daily necessities, non essential facilities and institutions such as catering and entertainment will be closed.

The novel coronavirus pneumonia confirmed in 21915 hours in the 24 hours in the United Kingdom and 1011660 cases were confirmed in the 24 hours at 16 p.m. local time, according to the Ministry of health and social security of the United Kingdom. There were 326 new deaths and 60115 cumulative deaths.
A curfew was imposed across Austria
On October 31 local time, Austrian Prime Minister Kurtz announced the second "blockade" measure. From 0:00 on November 3, Austria will impose a curfew from 8:00 a.m. every night to 6:00 a.m. the next day. There is no need to ban people from going out. According to the new epidemic prevention measures, all kinds of leisure places, including theaters, cinemas, museums and other places, will be closed for one month.

At the same time, the government called on people to work from home as much as possible. Compared with the first closure in spring, shops and barbershops in Austria will continue to be open, requiring disinfection in addition to masks.
Novel coronavirus pneumonia cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours, according to the data of the Ministry of health of Austria in October 31st. So far, there are 106584 confirmed cases and 1097 deaths.
Most parts of Spain are under blockade
Novel coronavirus pneumonia cases in Spain are up to 25595 cases, and the number of new confirmed cases has increased to 1185678 since the latest epidemic data on 30 July.
On October 30, the blockade measures in most parts of Spain began to take effect. The Madrid region banned residents from entering and leaving the region during the legal holidays from October 30 to November 2; Catalonia region in addition to the next 15 days to prohibit residents from free access to the region, residents are also prohibited during the weekend access to their towns. Residents who violate the blockade will be fined up to 600000 euros.

Telecommuting is mandatory in Portugal
Local time on October 31st, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced the response to COVID-19's new policy.
The new policy requires that no one can go out except for necessary activities such as going to work, school, shopping or sports; Activities and celebrations shall not exceed 5 persons (except those living together); Exhibitions and fairs are prohibited; Force telecommuting unless you have to. These measures will be implemented on November 4 and evaluated every two weeks.

Belgium's second "closure"
On the 30th local time, Belgium announced that it would launch the blockade measures for at least one and a half months from November 2. According to the regulations, residents are not allowed to visit relatives and friends. In principle, they are only allowed to contact one contact person outside the family, while those living alone can contact two contacts.
All enterprises are forced to implement remote home office. If it is impossible to work at home, the staff must wear masks and keep ventilation in the office.
According to the latest data released by the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) on October 31, in the past 14 days, the average infection rate per 100000 people in the Czech Republic and Belgium was the highest among the countries within the statistical scope of the center, exceeding and approaching 1500 cases respectively. In Belgium, there are more than 20000 newly diagnosed cases in a single day, 412000 confirmed cases and 11000 deaths.

The second wave of epidemic situation in Europe has forced out the second blockade of various countries, which will be another huge blow for enterprises. Recently, freight forwarders who have goods to go to Europe still need to pay attention to the risk control of collection and delivery, and guard against customs clearance at the port of destination, no delivery at the port of destination, buyer abandonment and non payment.
Facing a new round of epidemic impact, foreign trade people must pay attention to these things!
1. Decrease of orders
Affected by the epidemic, many cities are closed, affecting people's normal consumption. On the one hand, except for daily food and medical supplies, other products in demand will almost stagnate.
On the other hand, due to the impact of the epidemic, the supplier can not give an accurate delivery date, the salesman can not quote an accurate price, resulting in the order can not continue.
It is suggested that you should have your own independent ideas, calmly respond to customers, and keep in touch with customers. When the epidemic peak is over, demand will gradually pick up.
2. The order is cancelled
Affected by the epidemic, we may face challenges such as reduced demand, untimely supply delivery and rising logistics costs, or we may directly cause customers to cancel orders.
It is suggested that you communicate with customers as much as possible, and do not cancel the order. The second outbreak will certainly not have the same panic as the first one. It is suggested to wait and see the changes, and actively deal with the problems and find the optimal solutions.
3. Supply chain disruption
Affected by the epidemic, enterprises may face difficulties and challenges such as insufficient funds and personnel, many suppliers' inability to carry out normal production, and supply chain rupture.
It is suggested that enterprises should actively contact with multiple suppliers to evaluate their anti risk ability and adjust the supply chain in time.
4. Difficulty in delivery
Or challenges to be faced: affected by the epidemic situation, the delivery schedule will be affected by the supplier's untimely supply, port suspension, port inspection, isolation, epidemic prevention, etc.
How to deal with it: adjust the supply chain in time, pay attention to the policy changes of each port, communicate with customers in time, and let customers know the latest situation.
Stand on the same front with customers, face and solve problems together. Sometimes customers know better how to deal with the operation of the port of destination, so they have to work with customers to find solutions.

5. Shipping logistics soars
Or will face the challenge: affected by the epidemic, fewer flights, reduced logistics channels, resulting in the increase in the cost of available logistics channels.
Due to the accumulation of goods in many ports in many countries and places, the storage pressure increases, which leads to the increase of related costs.
It is suggested to change the transportation mode and storage location in time, strive for time as far as possible, avoid late shipment, and actively pay attention to the operation of domestic ports, airports and other important delivery places;
If the customs policy of the destination country or the third country through which the goods flow changes, it is suggested to communicate and negotiate with customers in a timely manner, such as changing the place of delivery, directly supplying the terminal, delaying the performance of the contract, and selling by a third party.
6. The logistics transportation is blocked
Or the challenges: affected by the epidemic, many countries, many places and many ports will stop transportation and passage, including flight stoppage, shipping company closure and road obstruction.
Due to the port terminal epidemic prevention reasons, less workers, traffic jams, so that our normal logistics has been hindered.
How to deal with it: actively pay attention to the operation of domestic ports, airports and other important delivery places, if temporarily closed due to the epidemic, timely change the logistics and warehousing.

7. Refuse to pay the balance due to port abandonment
Or will face challenges: or because the customer's cash flow is poor, or because the customer's customer cancels the order, or because the customer can't accept the sudden increase in freight, or because the logistics is blocked, miss the best sales time, etc.
The customer will choose to discard the goods and refuse to pay the balance.
How to deal with it: during the outbreak of the epidemic, it's better to collect the full payment before delivery, and it's better not to pay the balance after delivery, because probably the rate can't be recovered, it's not the customer's Rogue, it's the bad environment.
8. Big fluctuation of exchange rate
Or the challenge: if the epidemic breaks out again, the economic environment will fluctuate greatly. In order to balance the economic weakness, in terms of monetary policy, the Federal Reserve is likely to adopt "unlimited easing" in the face of the shortage of market liquidity, which may lead to the decline of the US dollar index and the exchange rate of the US dollar against the RMB, that is, the depreciation of the US dollar.
The devaluation of the US dollar will shrink the settlement of foreign exchange in US dollars of foreign trade enterprises.
How to deal with it: the exchange rate changes in real time, either high or low. However, if there is a second outbreak of the epidemic, the global economy may become weaker, which may cause the exchange rate of the US dollar against the RMB to continue to fall.
9. Increasing financial pressure
Or the challenges: under the epidemic situation, the economy is weak, the consumption power is weak, and the commodity circulation is slow, which directly causes foreign customers to be unwilling to accept full payment or reduce the deposit payment, which leads to greater financial pressure on exporters.
In the special period, we should do what we can. In terms of collection, we should assess the risk as far as possible, so as not to let the enterprise fall into excessive passivity.