On 3 April 2020, the European Commission issued its Decision granting relief from customs duty and import VAT exemptions for equipment necessary for combating the COVID-19 outbreak, following its announcement of its intention to do so on 20 March 2020 (please see our previous blog post here). Goods will only be exempt from customs duty and import VAT if they: are imported by or on behalf of State organisations, or by or on behalf of organisations approved by…
On 20 March 2020, the Commission published Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/426, amending the measures introduced on 15 March 2020 by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/402, which made the export of certain personal protective equipment (PPE) to outside the EU subject to an authorization requirement (please see our previous post here). These amendments modify the existing measures to exclude exports to EFTA Member States (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland), and to certain “overseas countries and territories” (the Faroe Islands,…
On 20 March 2020, the European Commission announced that it intends to introduce exemptions from customs duty and import VAT for “protective equipment, other relevant medical devices or equipment in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak”, following a request from the Italian government. Relief is to be granted under provisions of the EU’s customs and import VAT legislation granting relief for items “for the benefit of disaster victims”, where they are to be made available…
In response to the growing impact of the COVID-19 Coronavirus in Europe, a number of countries have implemented national controls to restrict the export of medicines and medical equipment, such as face masks, gloves, and protective clothing. Over the weekend, the EU Commission reviewed actions taken by Member States and, while it has discouraged Member States from adopting measures which would limit intra-EU trade, it has introduced a temporary export ban on exports of certain…
On 15 March 2020, the Official Journal published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/402 of 14 March 2020 making the exportation of certain products subject to the production of an export authorisation (the “Regulation”). Because of the public health impact as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Regulation requires export authorisation, by the competent authorities of the Member State where the exporter is established, for the export outside the EU of personal protective equipment listed…
On March 12, 2020, the US Trade Representative (USTR) published in the Federal Register a notice [Docket No. USTR-2019-0003] correcting a ministerial error in the consolidated list of descriptive subheadings included in Section 2 of Annex 2 of the notice published February 21, 2020 (85 Fed. Reg. 10204) modifying the Sec. 301 action in the Large Civil Aircraft Dispute investigation. The operative tariff language in Annex 1 of the February 21 notice is not affected.…
On March 4, 2020, CBP issued CSMS #41898289 – UPDATE: Section 301 EU LCA Modification – Effective March 05, 2020, which provides information and guidance on USTR’s modification of the Sec. 301 additional duties on products of the EU or its member states. It is reproduced below: The purpose is to provide notice of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) modification determination to impose additional duties on products of the European Union (EU) or certain…
On February 21, 2020, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) published in the Federal Register a notice [Docket No. USTR-2019-0003] making adjustments to its WTO-authorized retaliation action relating to the Large Civil Aircraft case, which was implemented on October 18, 2019. The United States is increasing the additional duty rate imposed on aircraft imported from the EU to 15% from 10%, effective March 18, 2020, and making certain other minor modifications, effective March…
On 12 February 2020, the European Commission announced that it has decided to withdraw part of the tariff preferences granted to Cambodia under the European Union’s Everything But Arms’ (EBA) trade scheme due to the serious and systematic violations of the human rights principles enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In a news release, the Commission stated that: The withdrawal of tariff preferences – and their replacement with the EU’s standard…
On 12 February 2020, the European Parliament approved the EU-Vietnam trade and investment agreements. The EU-Vietnam trade agreement is now set to enter into force in 2020, upon conclusion of the ratification procedure by Vietnam. The trade agreement will eliminate virtually all tariffs on goods traded between the two sides and will guarantee – through its strong, legally binding and enforceable commitments on sustainable development – the respect of labour rights, environmental protection and the…