The EU will add the United Kingdom to its list of countries with general export authorizations for dual-use items after the U.K. leaves the EU Jan. 1, 2021, the European Commission said Nov. 4. The move eliminates the possibility that EU exporters would have to obtain a specific export license to ship certain dual-use goods to the U.K., which would create a “considerable administrative burden” for member states and hurt EU competitiveness, the EC said. The U.K. “is an important destination for dual-use exports” and “ensures full compliance with relevant international obligations and commitments,” the EC said.
The United Kingdom Nov. 6 updated its guidance on trade with South Korea after the U.K. leaves the European Union. The updated guidance now includes new details on origin quotas and other trade information. The trade agreement with South Korea takes effect Jan. 1, 2021.
The European Union’s Directorate-General for External Policies released an October report on sanctions against Iran and the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The report includes an overview of the EU’s foreign policy objectives for Iran, the return of U.S. sanctions against Iran (see 2009210022) and how the EU should move forward. The report recommends the EU remain committed to the JCPOA and reject U.S. calls for sanctions. “Europe should continue to send clear messages to Tehran that it is not going to align with the US maximum pressure campaign and will remain committed to the deal, despite the challenges faced,” the report said.
The United Kingdom updated multiple guidance documents for trade with foreign countries after the U.K. leaves the European Union Jan. 1, 2021. The updates, published Nov. 3, provide more information on import tariff rates and rules of origin for more than 20 countries.
The European Union will begin tracking bioethanol imports to allow the industry to better assess the economic impacts caused by a recent spike in imports, the European Commission said Nov. 4. The commission said bioethanol imports “significantly increased in the last months, at low prices,” and that the industry is concerned that evidence suggests that more imports would “cause economic damage” to the sector. The tracking system will provide “quick monitoring” to give the bioethanol industry “fact-based information to help them explore the need for further actions,” the EU said, but stressed the move does not impose import restrictions.
The United Kingdom will continue to apply a European Union antidumping duty order against imports of certain types of Chinese wire rods after the U.K. leaves the EU Jan. 1, 2021, the U.K.’s Department for International Trade said Nov. 4. Then, a “transition review will be conducted to assess whether the trade remedies measure is appropriate” to the U.K.
Germany revised and added to its list of items subject to dual-use and military-related export controls, the EU Sanctions blog said Nov. 2. The additions, which took effect Oct. 29, include small firearms and components related to hunting and sports, software specially designed for “military offensive cyber operations,” certain land vehicles with military equipment, equipment relating to radiation weapons systems, and items used at “environmental testing facilities” to evaluate weapons and ammunition.
The European Commission referred Poland to the European Union's Court of Justice due to its failure to comply with EU duty exemptions for alcohol imports used in the production of medicine, the EC said in an Oct. 30 news release. Poland’s national practices stipulate that it will not apply the exemption “when the alcohol importers do not choose to use a duty suspension arrangement,” the EC said. The Polish practice “runs against provisions of EU law on the harmonisation of the structures of excise duties on alcohol and alcoholic beverages and the principle of proportionality,” the EC said.
The European Council and the European Parliament agreed to a regulation amendment that would allow the European Union to “enforce its trade rights” if a trading partner blocks the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement system. The revision, which must be approved by a “qualified majority” of member states, would allow the EU to impose “countermeasures” if a trade partner “imposes illegal trade measures and subsequently blocks the dispute settlement process,” the EU said Oct. 28.
The European Union issued a proposal for its new EU-wide single customs portal, which it said will make it easier for member states to exchange customs information and speed up clearance times. Under the proposal, traders would be required to submit some customs documents in only one location as opposed to submitting “documents to several authorities through different portals,” the EU said Oct. 28.