The European Union requested consultations with the U.S., to hash out whether Europe has resolved the issues with Airbus subsidies, as it claimed on May 17. The EU lost the case on state financing for plane model launches back in 2011, but the World Trade Organization legal process has been continuing since then on whether the illegal practices have been fully abandoned. The U.S. first brought the case in 2004. On May 15, a WTO appellate body said the EU had partly complied with its obligations, but still had some changes to make (see 1805150066).
The World Customs Organization issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
In recent editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:
The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notices as of June 4 (some may also be given separate headlines):
Hong Kong will implement a three-step plan to phase out trade in elephant ivory by the end of 2021, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora said in a notice. Effective May 1, 2018, the import and re-export of all elephant hunting trophies and non pre-convention ivory items will be banned, and relevant penalties increased significantly to a maximum fine of over $1 million and imprisonment for 10 years. The new penalties will apply to all CITEs-listed species, including elephants, CITES said. Then, beginning Aug. 1, 2018, the import and re-export of pre-convention ivory, except antique ivory, will be banned, with import of antique ivory requiring an import permit in addition to an export permit. Finally, beginning Dec. 31, 2021, local trade in elephant ivory (except antique ivory) will be banned.
Canada requested a Chapter 20 panel under NAFTA to dispute the imposition of steel and aluminum tariffs, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland announced June 1. That's in addition to filing a complaint at the World Trade Organization. Canada says the U.S. is violating international trade obligations with its "improper use of national security pretexts for protectionist purposes." "Canada will closely collaborate with the European Union, which also filed a WTO challenge...." she said. She also noted that U.S. law designates Canada as part of the military industrial base. Earlier, Canada issued its list of goods that will face retaliatory tariffs (see 1806010022), which included appliances, mattresses, maple syrup, condiments and candy, in addition to aluminum and steel goods.
The European Union recently issued the following trade-related release (notices of most significance will be given separate headlines):
The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notices as of June 1 (some may also be given separate headlines):
The World Customs Organization issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
Japanese and EU trade leaders noted their concerns with potential new U.S. tariffs on cars and car parts under a Section 232 investigation (see 1805240002) in a joint statement from Paris on May 31. "The measures under consideration in the investigation on autos and auto parts, if imposed, would have a major restrictive impact affecting a very substantial part of global trade," said European Union Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom and Japanese Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko. "This would cause serious turmoil in the global market and could lead to the demise of the multilateral trading system based on [World Trade Organization] rules. Both ministers also confirmed their intention to cooperate closely in discussing these concerns with the United States and call on other like-minded countries to join their efforts," the statement said. Those leaders also met with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that day and issued a separate joint statement (see 1805310020).