The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade on Aug. 6 updated its guidance for exporting to Azerbaijan. The guidance contains information on trade risks for companies doing business in the country, including Azerbaijan’s “lack of transparency,” “inconsistent” application of regulations and procedures for licensing and certification, and ranking in an index of perceived corruption risks.
The European Union on July 31 proposed a measure to continue to apply EU value-added tax rules to Northern Ireland after Brexit. Under the proposal, goods traded between Northern Ireland and the EU would be treated as “cross-border supplies of goods within the EU” and would be eligible for VAT exemptions and deductions. The measure would not apply to supplies of services in Northern Ireland, which will be subject to United Kingdom VAT rules. The European Commission said member states should “rapidly agree to the proposal” to help with implementation before the Jan. 1, 2021, end of the Brexit transition period.
The European Union on July 31 issued guidance for its free trade agreement with Vietnam, which took effect Aug. 1. The guidance includes information on proof of origin requirements and how to claim preferential treatment. It said the deal includes a process to simplify customs controls and speed up “physical controls of the goods” and a “commitment to a reciprocal duty relief on repaired goods.”
The United Kingdom will transition a European Union antidumping duty against imports of certain types of Chinese wires after the U.K. leaves the EU next year, the U.K.’s Department for International Trade said July 29. The U.K. said it will retain the duty on certain “pre- and post-stressing wires and wire strands of non-alloy steel.”
The European Commission extended its customs duties and value-added tax exemptions on imports of medical equipment to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic, a July 23 notice said. The exemptions, “uninterrupted” through Oct. 31, apply to masks, protective equipment, testing kits, ventilators and “other medical equipment.” The EU in April applied the exemptions for six months with retroactive effect, from Jan. 30 until July 31 (see 2004030016).
The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade published guidance July 29 on applying for a trade remedies investigation. Starting Aug. 5, the U.K.’s Trade Remedies Directorate will accept applications to investigate imports “causing or threatening injury” to U.K. industry, the guidance said. But the U.K. clarified that the directorate can investigate imports only in cases in which there is already a European Union investigation taking place and will not be able to investigate other imports until after the Brexit transition period ends on Jan. 1, 2021.
The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade on July 27 issued a list of controlled imports from the European Union. The U.K. clarified that importers of the goods must follow import declaration requirements, effective Jan. 1, following the U.K.'s official departure from the EU. The list contains more than 20 broad categories of goods, including excise goods such as alcohol and tobacco, controlled drugs, plant products, military items, certain weapons and fishery products.
Spain and France announced that Airbus is going to repay subsidy launch loans at market rates -- Germany and the United Kingdom have already been paid back -- and the European Commission said July 24 that this “removes any grounds for the U.S. to maintain its countermeasures on EU exports and makes a strong case for a rapid settlement of the long-running dispute.” The World Trade Organization ruled last year that Airbus and the four countries were not in compliance with industrial subsidy disciplines, and the U.S. imposed 10% tariffs on Airbus planes and 25% tariffs on various foods and beverages, and some apparel and tools (see 1910020044).
The United Kingdom’s Department for International trade on July 24 updated its overseas business risk for Bolivia. The guidance covers human rights, corruption and intellectual property issues for companies trading with Bolivia and includes a section on available U.K. export financing for shipments to the country.
The European Commission recently announced it will allow more time for certain countries to comply with its registered export system, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a July 20 KPMG post said. Haiti, Madagascar, Senegal and Vietnam have faced “serious difficulties” meeting the June 30 deadline for the application of the system, the commission said. Those countries were granted an extension through Dec. 31. The system, used by European Union exporters in some free trade agreements, allows traders to self-certify the origin of goods.