The U.K. this week announced provisional antidumping measures on certain aluminum extrusion imports from China. The measures, which took effect Aug. 17, will require U.K. exporters to obtain a bank guarantee, bond or cash before they can import the items, which include bars, rods, profiles, tubes and various pipes. The notice includes information on import rates for the items and goods that are excluded from the measures.
The U.K. this week launched its new Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which it said will “go further” than the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences by cutting tariffs on hundreds of additional products exported from developing countries. DCTS will allow a “wide variety” of goods, including clothes and foods that aren’t widely produced in the U.K., such as olive oil and tomatoes, to benefit from reduced or zero tariffs, the country said. The U.K. said the new scheme will allow British companies to see £750 million per year, or about $900 million, in “reduced import costs.” The DCTS, which also will simplify “complex” trade rules such as rules of origin, covers 65 countries across Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas.
The U.K. announced this week it’s mandating the use of Economic Operator Registration Identification (EORI) numbers within SPIRE, the country’s export licensing system. The EORI number, which is a “unique reference identifying a business” issued by the U.K.’s customs authority, must be included on an exporter’s declaration to move goods into or out of the U.K., the country said. An exporter’s EORI will be used to match an export declaration with an export license, so “it is essential that the correct EORI number is provided on SPIRE to prevent any delays for your goods at the border,” the U.K. said. The notice includes instructions for listing EORI numbers on applications.
USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service this week released a report on new U.K. labeling requirements for food imports, including trends that could soon lead to new requirements for U.S. food exports. The agency said several “labeling trends” are followed by U.K. manufacturers and are “steadily becoming more commonplace in UK stores, and expected by consumers.” USDA said the U.K. soon plans to open consultations on labeling for livestock method of production, packaging recyclability, environmental footprint of production, and health metrics,” and any changes to its labeling law will have a “long transition period.”
The U.K.’s Department for International Trade released a report on the country’s defense exports, including an assessment of their trade value, a breakdown of the exports by destination and a comparison with other G-7 economies.
The U.K.’s Department for International Trade is accepting applications to join its Strategic Trade Advisory Group, the agency said this week. Members of the group, composed of industry representatives, will advise the government on trade policy, trade negotiations and other trade-related matters.
A U.N. aviation organization last week called on Russia to “immediately cease its infractions of international aviation rules,” including its attempts to acquire aircraft parts in violation of western sanctions. The European Commission applauded the statement from the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization, which informed its 193 member states about “Russia's blatant non-respect of crucial international aviation law.” EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said the ICAO’s comments point "to another example of Russia's blatant disregard of international rules and standards, putting the lives of people at risk, including Russian citizens.” The EU and others have placed export restrictions on a range of items and services in the aviation sector, and the U.S. has issued several temporary denial orders against Russian airlines for violating U.S. export controls (see 2208020018).
The EU dropped an entry from its North Korea sanctions regime, in a July 28 decision from the European Council. Pak Chun Il, the former North Korean ambassador to Egypt, was de-listed from the sanctions list following his death, the EuropeanSanctions blog reported. He was originally listed in November 2016. The council also updated the statement of reasons for 17 individuals and one entity in the decision, and added new identifying information for 59 individuals and five entities.
The U.K. extended a General License permitting the winding down of positions involving Rosbank for another two months, until Sept. 30, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said. The license was originally published in June and permits an individual or entity to wind down any transactions to which they are a party involving Rosbank or one of its subsidiaries, including closing out any positions, repaying loans, withdrawing deposits and closing accounts.
The EU dropped nine individuals from its Guinea-Bissau sanctions regime, in a July 28 move by the European Council. The individuals are Gen. Augusto Mario Co, Gen. Saya Braia Na Nhapka, Col. Tomas Djassi, Cranha Danfa, Col. Celestino de Carvalho, Tcham Na Man, Maj. Samuel Fernandes, Cmdr. Agostinho Sousa Cordeiro and Lt. Lassana Camara. The council also amended the title of the sanctions regime to include the phrase "concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Guinea-Bissau."