Britain's Department for International Trade released an Aug. 19 guidance on exporting controlled goods after Brexit, detailing changes exporters may face if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union without a deal. The guidance covers exporting military items, firearms, dual-use goods, civil nuclear material and how exporters can best prepare for the changes. The U.K. suggested exporters use the “goods checker” tool to check if they will need an export license when shipping to EU countries.

The United Kingdom Department for International Trade published guidance Aug. 15 detailing the status of trade agreements that may take effect if it leaves the European Union without a transition deal on Oct. 31. The guidance details trade continuation agreements the U.K. has signed with various countries that will take effect upon a no-deal Brexit, as well as the status of current negotiations for agreements that have not yet been concluded. The guidance will be updated “if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed,” the UKDIT said.

Lithuania is expanding the list of goods subject to the value-added tax “reverse-charge mechanism," according to an Aug. 9 post by KPMG. VATs will be placed on mobile phones, tablets and laptops until June 30, 2022, and on hard disks until Feb. 28, 2022, the post said. The changes take effect Sept. 1.

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade released its August report on the U.K. Strategic Export Control Lists, detailing which military dual-use items need export licenses. The 298-page report covers export controls for the U.K.’s Military List, Dual-Use List, Security and Human Rights List and Radioactive Source List. The report also covers the European Union’s Non-military Firearm List, Human Rights List and Dual-Use List. The report summarizes the text of current export control legislation.

The European Union is considering changes to its global safeguards on steel products in effect since July 2018 in response to U.S. Section 232 tariffs, the European Commission said in an Aug. 14 press release. According to a recent notification to the World Trade Organization, the EU is considering changes to tariff-rate quotas on several steel products, as well as a general slowing of increases on the quotas.

The United Kingdom Department for International Trade is setting new export controls on submersible vessels and related equipment, software and technology destined to Russia. “This additional control is a consequence of Russia developing certain capabilities -- including the ability to track, access and disrupt undersea communication cables,” the agency said in a notice to exporters. The new export controls, which take effect Aug. 14, only apply to exports to Russia, it said. “Export licence applications for items subject to the new control will be assessed on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria,” said the U.K. Department for International Trade.

The United Kingdom updated guidance for two defense-related general licenses on Aug. 13. For the U.K.'s open general export license for "military goods for demonstration," the U.K. will now allow the option for the goods to remain under the control of the exporter’s agent. For its open general export license on "historic military vehicles and artillery pieces," including “vintage” vehicles built 50 years or more before the export date that are exported to European Union countries for no longer than three months, "exporters are no longer required to register," the updated guidance said.

In the Aug. 13 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

Britain’s Home Secretary is removing the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group from its list of terrorism organizations, according to an Aug. 13 post on the European Sanctions blog. Although the move decriminalizes involvement with the group in the U.K, European Union and United Nations sanctions on the group remain in place.

In the Aug. 9-12 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted: