The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade issued an April 9 guidance on remote compliance checks during the COVID-19 pandemic, detailing what steps companies should take to complete the checks, access their export records and more.

The European Commission asked Schengen Area member states to extend restrictions on non-essential travel until May 15 to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the commission said April 8. The European Union originally requested a 30-day travel ban, but the virus requires “more than 30 days to be effective,” the commission said. The commission stressed that such a travel ban can only be effective if it is adopted by all EU and Schengen states “at all borders, with the same end date and in a uniform manner.”

Ukraine recently announced a limit on the amount of wheat that can be exported through the end of the current marketing year, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released April 7. The move aims to address “public concerns” about the COVID-19 pandemic and will cap wheat exports at 20.2 million metric tons, the report said. The country's wheat exports are expected to fall just below the cap at 19.6 mmt, the USDA said.

The United Kingdom is extending the industry consultation period for its upcoming freeports (see 2002100032) through July 13, due to impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an April 8 notice. The consultation opened Feb. 10 and was scheduled to end April 20. The U.K. said it has received some responses and wants to “give all stakeholders time to submit their views.”

Russia recently announced an export quota on certain grains to ensure domestic “agricultural security” during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released April 7. The quota took effect April 1 and will last through June 30, the USDA said, which marks the end of the grain marketing year. Russian analysts have said the quota will not have a negative impact on the Russian grain market, the USDA said. Analysts also said the measure is largely unnecessary due to the high grain harvest expected this summer.

The European Union is considering amending rules that will allow it to take action in international trade disputes despite the “paralysis” of the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement body, according to an April 8 EU notice. The rules will make it easier for the EU “to protect its trade interests and rights” while the WTO is unable to deliver binding dispute settlement decisions due to an appointment blockade by the Trump administration (see 1912170035), the European Council said. The amended rules would allow the EU to impose certain sanctions, such as customs duties and trade restrictions, in cases in which dispute settlement procedures are blocked. The rules will also give the European Commission the ability to take countermeasures when a trade agreement partner imposes “illegal trade measures” and “blocks the dispute settlement process under that agreement.” The council said it is “ready to start negotiations” on the rules with the European Parliament.

The European Union Council adopted new rules to create a “uniform legal framework” for “electronic freight transportation information for all modes of transport,” according to an April 7 press release. The changes require “all relevant public authorities” to accept electronic information whenever a company wants to provide “proof of compliance with legislative requirements.” The change will bring “significant cost savings” to industry and make the freight transportation sector “more efficient and sustainable,” the council said. The rules must still be adopted by the European Parliament before being published in the EU Journal, and will take effect 20 days after publication.

The European Union will increase its safeguard measures on U.S. goods in retaliation for new Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum “derivatives” imposed in February, the EU said in a notice published in the April 7 Official Journal. Effective May 8, an additional 20% tariff will be imposed on U.S. lighters (other than pocket lighters) under EU Combined Nomenclature subheading 9613.80.00, and an additional 7% tariff on plastic fittings for furniture and coachwork of CN subheading 3926.30.00, the EU said.

The United Kingdom’s Department of International Trade issued guidance to U.K. exporters and companies about applying for export finance and insurance to continue trading during the COVID-19 pandemic, the DIT said in an April 6 notice. The agency said it sent the guidance to 160,000 exporters and investors, which includes information on available “financial support” for companies impacted by the virus. “DIT stands ready to provide assistance with customs authorities to ensure smooth clearance of businesses’ products, and to offer advice on intellectual property and other issues with business continuity,” the agency said. U.K. companies are eligible to receive export insurance when trading with the European Union, the U.S., Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, the notice said.

Cyprus recently announced it will defer payments of certain value-added taxes, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a March 31 KPMG post. Eligible VAT payments may be deferred to Nov. 10; penalties and interest will not be invoked if payments are deferred, the post said.