The European Commission issued a progress report dated Jan. 30 on the ongoing trade talks with the U.S. to provide "a detailed overview on the state of play," the EC said in a news release. Among other things, the report notes that any new Section 232 measures on EU autos "would effectively block further progress on key elements." Such restrictions "on trade of automobile products would in any event lead to the suspension of negotiations in industrial tariffs as well as to rebalancing measures as in the area of steel and aluminium," it said. While most items on the report don't require specific negotiating objectives from the EC, the talks around industrial tariffs did require negotiating directives (see 1901180022).

The World Customs Organization issued the following release on commercial trade and related matters:​​

The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notices as of Jan. 28 (some may also be given separate headlines):

Dispute panels are forming at the World Trade Organization on the Section 301 tariffs the U.S. levied on China and on the retaliatory tariffs Turkey levied on the U.S. in response to U.S. tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum. China said the tariffs, on about $250 billion worth of its exports, are damaging China's economic interests and the rules-based trading system. The panel on Turkish retaliation is the sixth panel formed on retaliation for the metals tariffs, which are applied around the world.

The World Customs Organization issued the following release on commercial trade and related matters:​​

China recently expanded its use of ATA Carnets to allow their use for professional equipment and product samples, the United States Council for International Business said in a Jan. 23 press release. It had previously allowed use of carnets only for goods destined for trade shows and exhibitions, USCIB said. China will also now allow goods to be brought into the country under a carnet for a full year, instead of six months. The changes took effect Jan. 9.

The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notices as of Jan. 23 (some may also be given separate headlines):

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species on Jan. 23 issued notice that it is withdrawing its earlier recommendations to suspend trade in CITES-listed plant and wildlife species with Iceland and Saint Kitts and Nevis. The move, effective immediately, follows the two countries’ submissions of late annual reports to CITES covering the years 2015 through 2017, CITES said.

The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notices as of Jan. 22 (some may also be given separate headlines):

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