Poland's DCT Gdansk -- the country's only deep-water port -- is getting $840 million to boost its capacity by 50% by 2025, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announced Oct. 12. The EBRD joined a group of banks to finance the construction of a third deep-water container terminal and upgrade Terminals 1 and 2 and other facilities. The new terminal will add 717 meters of deep-water quay and more than 36 hectares of yard area, and will be equipped in the first phase with seven energy-efficient ship-to-shore cranes and 20 semi-automated rail-mounted gantry cranes, the bank said.
The U.K. and Gulf Cooperation Council recently held the first round of negotiations on a free trade agreement, the U.K.'s Department for International Trade said Oct. 12. The Aug. 22 to Sept. 29 talks were carried out virtually. Both parties discussed their objectives for the FTA and exchanged technical information across 29 policy areas during 33 sessions, the DIT said. The deal is anticipated to boost U.K.-GCC trade by 16% and add nearly $1.8 billion to the British economy. The DIT said it will not compromise on its environmental and labor protections, public health, animal welfare and food standards.
The European Commission recently launched a landing page for the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council, with information on each of the working groups and the council’s latest publications. The site also includes information on upcoming TTC events.
Talks continue on the accessuib of the U.K. to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Singapore's trade minister, Gan Kim Yong, said during a CPTPP meeting, Bloomberg reported Oct. 8. The U.K. is the first country outside the original 11 members to request to join the group and the first in Europe. Members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Japanese Finance Minister Daishiro Yamagiwa said there is no fixed timeline to carry out the process of admitting the U.K. to the group.
The U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation on Oct. 10 added three entries to its Mali sanctions regime. The entries were for Mahri Sidi Amar Ben Daha, deputy chief of staff of regional coordination of the "Mecanisme operationnel de coordination" in Gao; Mohamed Ben Ahmed Mahri, businessman; and Mohamed Ould Mataly, former mayor of Bourem. The three will be subject to an asset freeze and travel ban.
The U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation in an Oct. 10 notice added seven people and one entity to its Iran (Human Rights) sanctions regime. The individuals are: Hossein Ashtari, commander in chief of Iran's police forces; Mohammad Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi, head of the morality police; Hassan Karami, a police commander; Haj Ahmad Mirzaei, head of the Terhan morality police division; Hassan Shahvarpour, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Khuzestan Province; Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the IRGC Basij Organization; and Leila Vaseghi, former governor of Shahr-e Qods. OFSI also designated the Iran Morality Police, which it says "are or have been involved in the commission of serious human rights violations in Iran." The additions come after Iran's violation of human rights in its response to protests over mandatory dress codes for women and similar sanctions imposed by the U.S. (see 2209220029).
A shipment of lamb from the U.K. was exported to the U.S. for the first time in over 20 years, Britain's Department for International Trade said. In 2021, USDA agreed to allow British lamb to enter the American market, given that the needed inspections were carried out. This week, a shipment of lamb from meat processors Dunbia in Wales was flown to the U.S.
The EU Parliament Oct. 6 called for the EU to impose sanctions on Iranian officials following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini and the subsequent violence committed against protesters after her death. Amini, an Iranian Kurdish woman, was killed while in custody of Iran's "morality police" after violating the country's strict veiling laws. She died in a Tehran hospital three days after suffering injuries from physical abuse while in custody. "The EU must sanction Iranian officials involved in the regime’s repression," the parliament said. The U.S. and Canada have already designated individuals and entities linked to Amini's death and the later human rights violations committed following her passing (see 2209220029).
The U.K. on Oct. 6 amended a Russia-related General License covering "basic needs, routine holding and maintenance and the payment of legal fees," the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said. The amendment alters the license to "allow any payments in connection with the Insolvency Proceedings of VTB Capital plc and its UK subsidiaries."
The European Commission updated its FAQs on the import, purchase and transfer of listed goods related to certain energy-related products to third countries from Russia. The commission said that only some goods shall be allowed to be transferred to third countries to ensure energy security goods, and these include energy products falling under CN codes 4401 (fuel wood) and 4402 (charcoal) and all the items listed in Annex XXII (coal and related products). EU sanctions will not target the trade in agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertilizers, between Russia and third countries, the FAQs said.