In the Feb. 5-6 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade updated its guidance on trade agreements with non-European Union countries to clarify rules of origin requirements during the Brexit transition period, according to a Feb. 4 notice. The U.K. will still be “covered” by EU-third country trade agreements until the U.K. formally leaves the EU on Jan. 1, 2021, the notice said, meaning that U.K. content will continue to count toward rules of origin requirements in EU trade agreements. The U.K. is advising traders to contact their local trade office if they experience problems trading with non-EU countries due to confusion stemming from the rules of origin requirements. It is unclear whether some countries will honor U.K. goods as originating from the EU and may instead prefer to make their own determinations (see 2001220051).

The European Union imposed a countrywide import ban on Ukrainian poultry products after a January bird flu outbreak in central Ukraine, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released Feb. 5. Ukrainian officials consider the ban to be “excessive and unjustified,” the USDA said, particularly because the EU is “one of the largest” importers of Ukrainian “premium poultry cuts.” The ban will force Ukrainian producers and exporters to redirect a “significant quantity of poultry” to Asian and African markets through this month, the report said.

In its first comments at the World Trade Organization as a separate member from the European Union, the United Kingdom said it wants to prioritize improving trade in services within the WTO for least-developed countries, calling for “streamlined” procedures for qualifications, licensing and increased transparency, according to a Feb. 4 press release. The U.K.’s ambassador to the WTO said the U.K. wants to address service trade barriers, adding that firms “often lose valuable time applying and waiting for licenses from host regulators.” In a Feb. 1 notice to the WTO, the U.K. signaled it hopes to improve trading conditions for developing countries and will continue to be a “strong supporter” of the WTO (see 2002030013).

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade launched two digital tools to help companies trade with the U.K. during and after the Brexit transition period, according to a Feb. 3 notice. The U.K.’s “Trade with the UK” tool provides “detailed and up-to-date information” on tariffs, taxes and rules for businesses exporting goods into the U.K. The “Check How to Export Goods” tool provides U.K. exporters information on duties and customs procedures for more than 160 foreign markets. The country said the tools will help “existing businesses who are trading internationally and encourage new businesses to start.” Both tools will be updated “regularly” to reflect changes as the transition period progresses and as the U.K. departs the EU.

The European Commission said it has taken its “first step” to begin negotiations on trade, economic cooperation, foreign policy and more with the United Kingdom and will soon adopt a draft of “negotiating directives” to formally begin talks, according to a Feb. 3 press release. In a statement, EC President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU wants to quickly reach a deal but the commission will “defend EU interests, and the interests of our citizens, right until the end.” Michel Barnier, the EC's chief negotiator, said the EU will try “to find solutions that respect the UK's choices.”

In the Jan. 31 - Feb. 3 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade issued a notice Feb. 1 to World Trade Organization members about its withdrawal from the European Union. The notice clarified that the U.K. will continue to be a WTO member, details the U.K.’s continuity agreements and sets out “implications” of the U.K.’s exit from the EU. The U.K. said it is consulting with WTO members about a variety of trade topics, including tariff-rate quotas, its schedule of concessions and specific commitments in services and more. The country said it has “always been a strong supporter” of the WTO, looks forward to partnering with developing countries within the WTO to strengthen trade, is “committed” to meeting its WTO obligations in its “future trade regime,” and will make itself “available to answer any questions that Members might have.”

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade released a Feb. 3 collection on trading with the U.K. for overseas exporters. The collection includes links to information on U.K. import procedures, controls and restrictions, commodity rates, value-added tax measures, rules of origin procedures, and packaging and labeling. The collection also includes import requirements for agricultural, environmental and textile goods.

The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union will bring a “new era” for U.K. exporters, which will include new international marketing campaigns, new digital trading tools and more export opportunities, International Trade Secretary Elizabeth Truss said at a Jan. 30 reception hosted by the Department for International Trade.