The European Union General Court annulled an act that sanctioned seven Ukrainians, including the country’s former president and other government officials, according to a July 15 post on the EU Sanctions blog. The court removed sanctions from former Ukrainian president Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych and his son Oleksandr Viktorovych Yanukovych, former minister of revenue and duties Oleksandr Klymenko, former prime minister Sergej Arbuzov, former prosecutor general Viktor Pshonka and his son Artem Pshonka, and the former head of the president’s administration Andriy Klyuyev. All annulments were announced July 11.

The European Commission posted the texts from the trade agreement with Mercosur (see 1906280060). "The texts are published for information purposes only and may undergo further modifications including as a result of the process of legal revision," the EC said. "However, in view of the growing public interest in the negotiations, the texts are published at this stage of the negotiations for information purposes. These texts are without prejudice to the final outcome of the agreement between the EU and Mercosur."

The European Union is hailing the completion of a mutual recognition agreement -- in the works for five years -- that the Food and Drug Administration can rely on European inspections of their drugmakers, and vice versa. The July 11 press release framed it as one of the significant goals sought by EU President Jean-Paul Juncker and President Donald Trump when they declared in July 2018 an intention to work toward trade talks and regulatory harmonization.

The United Kingdom updated three of its sanctions guides, the U.K. said in a series of July 10 press releases. The U.K. updated its guides on financial sanctions, terrorism-related sanctions and Venezuela sanctions.

In the July 8 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

The European Commission adopted regulations on July 8 that provide a “single list” that contains contact details “of all Member States’ competent authorities that deal with sanctions” and “the EU Commission’s address for notifications,” according to a post on the EU Sanctions blog. The regulations aim to “harmonize and update the contact details” of the sanctions authorities for EU nations, the regulations say.

In the July 8 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

A “substantial number” of industry associations asked the European Commission to better standardize certifications and other procedures related to trade between the European Union and the U.S. to lessen complexities, according to a July 9 report from the commission.

Norway’s Ministry of Finance proposed the elimination of value-added tax exemptions on imports of “low value goods,” Norway said in a notice. Among several changes, the ministry plans to impose a 25 percent VAT on foreign sellers and “online marketplaces” for all goods, except food, valued under about $350, KPMG said in a July 3 report. The proposal would also create a “simplified system” for foreign sellers to register, declare and pay VATs on their exports to Norway, the ministry said. If implemented, the changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2020.

In the July 5 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted: