In the March 14 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

The United Kingdom’s HM Revenue and Customs is delaying the effective date of a new policy interpretation that bars customs agents from using their own simplified procedure authorizations for customers that they directly represent. In a memo issued in August 2018, HMRC confirmed that authorization holders for certain simplified procedures -- including inward processing, outward processing relief, temporary admission and private customs warehousing -- must make declarations using these simplified procedures in their own name. “Where an agent wants to use their own simplified authorisation on behalf of a customer, they need to represent that customer indirectly, as the declaration must be made in the name of the person who holds the authorisation,” HMRC had said. The policy had been set to take effect April 1, at which point HMRC would have been set to “consider civil penalty action” for violations. But given that “there are multiple pressures on UK import and export business at this time,” HMRC will now allow until Oct. 1, 2019, for the change to take effect.

In the March 13 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

In the March 12 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

The European Union issued a notice in the March 11 Official Journal announcing adjustments to certain tariff-rate quotas for agricultural products that will take effect once the United Kingdom leaves the EU or a negotiated transition period ends. The new regulation also sets provisions on treatment of TRQ import licenses issued by U.K. customs authorities after Brexit, as well as how TRQs that have already opened and been partially used will be apportioned on the day the U.K. leaves.

Agricultural products imported into the European Union from the United Kingdom will face new export certificate requirements related to radiation testing once the U.K. leaves the EU at the end of March 29, the EU said in a new regulation published March 8. The EU requires non-members to test their agricultural product exports for radioactive contamination if they are located in the zone affected by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, and the U.K. will become one of those countries after Brexit, the EU said. “As soon as Union law ceases to apply to and in the United Kingdom, agricultural products originating in the United Kingdom will have to be checked in terms of radioactive contamination before they are allowed to enter the Union,” the regulation said.

Importers and exporters in the United Kingdom with an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number that was assigned by another European Union member state (i.e., does not start with “GB”) will still be able to import and export goods with the EU “for a temporary period” once the U.K. leaves the EU as planned March 29, the U.K.’s HM Revenue and Customs said in a guidance document. “HMRC will provide further guidance shortly after the UK leaves the EU to tell you when you’ll need to apply for UK EORI number,” the agency said. Companies without an EORI number at all will need to get one before importing or exporting with the EU after Brexit, and getting one could take up to three days, the guidance document said. U.K. companies with an EORI number that begins “GB” already have the required U.K.-assigned EORI number for trading with the EU and non-EU countries after Brexit, the guidance said.

The European Commission is seeking comments on “potential areas for regulatory cooperation” between the EU and the U.S. stemming from a trade agreement reached between the two sides in July 2018, the commission said in a notice. The commission is seeking feedback on three main categories, including “conformity assessment,” which asks for input on any barriers or administrative burdens faced by exporters in trans-Atlantic trade. The second category, “dialogue on standards,” asks for comments about creating trade “standards ... where no standards exist yet,” such as “robotics and technical textiles.” The commission added that cooperation in this area “could bring trade benefits,” such as a reduction in adaptation costs for exporters. The third category, “regulatory cooperation in sectors,” asks for suggestions on “concrete initiatives for regulatory cooperation in sectors with the potential of facilitating bilateral trade.” All comments should be made in written submissions to the European Commission and will be made public, the notice said. Comments must be submitted by April 23.

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

As long as the trade talks are limited to industrial goods -- which does include fisheries under World Trade Organization rules -- European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said she thinks the talks could conclude before the current commission leaves office in late October. Malmstrom was visiting Washington to talk to her counterpart, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and to give a speech at the Georgetown Law International Update.