INSTEX, the European payment system designed to allow countries to trade with Iran despite U.S. sanctions (see 1912020025), completed its first transaction, France, Germany and the United Kingdom said in a March 31 notice. The countries said the mechanism successfully facilitated exports of medical goods from Europe to Iran. INSTEX will now “work on more transactions,” the notice said. The U.S. has warned Europe that anyone associated with INSTEX could face sanctions (see 1905300035).
The Netherlands customs authority announced a package of measures to ease burdens on companies impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a March 26 KPMG alert. The measures, announced March 26, will allow companies to request payment deferrals for customs duties and will postpone a new provision that would have required companies to be “established” in the European Union “in order to act as [an] exporter for customs purposes,” KPMG said. Dutch customs will also “show leniency” to companies that cannot “comply with customs obligations on time” due to impacts from the pandemic and will grant a “special exemption” for imports of personal protective equipment if certain conditions are met.
The European Union will begin patrols of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea to enforce the United Nations Security Council arms embargo on Libya, according to a March 27 press release from the EU Council and a post from the EU Sanctions blog. The measure was taken because the “fighting has increased” in Libya despite international calls for a truce and the UN arms embargo, the council said.
The European Commission issued guidance on restrictions on non-essential travel to the European Union to address “companies' practical concerns about the measures taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus,” according to a March 30 press release. The guidance provides “advice” on border restrictions, “facilitating transit arrangements” for EU citizens and other measures.
Serbia recently announced an export ban on a range of “essential commodities” to prevent a “critical shortage” caused by the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, according to an unofficial translation of a March 14 government notice. The measure restricts exports of agricultural products and medical equipment, including sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, sugar, certain yeast products, certain soaps, gloves, “wipes,” certain masks, goggles and certain disinfectants. The export ban applies for 30 days. The notice is updated through March 27.
Russia is considering restricting exports of “relevant groups of foods” and medicine due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, according to an unofficial translation of a March 23 government notice. The government will conduct weekly reviews of the country’s supplies before proposing export restrictions, the notice said. Russia had placed temporary export restrictions on processed grains last week -- including buckwheat, rice and oat flakes -- but recently withdrew that measure, according to a March 24 report from Reuters.
Exports to the European Union rose by 5.9% in 2019, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said in its annual report on the business ties between Western Europe and the U.S. Exports to Belgium, Spain, Austria, Bulgaria and Denmark were all up by double digits, with the most growth in Austria, where exports were 60% above 2018 levels. However, the growth was about half the pace of 2018, when exports to the EU grew by 11%.
Switzerland is requiring a prior license for exports of medical protective equipment to countries outside the European Union and European Free Trade Association, according to a March 26 post from Baker McKenzie. The announcement stemmed from an increased need for the equipment in Switzerland, the law firm said, including masks, gloves, glasses and overcoats. The measures are aimed at aligning Switzerland’s export control regime with the EU, which announced similar measures (see 2003200029).
A European Union-wide procurement program to increase supply of personal protective equipment “has proven successful” after producers have made offers “exceeding the quantities requested” by member states, according to a March 24 press release from the European Commission. The procurement covers gloves, goggles, face shields, surgical masks, overalls and more. The announcement comes about a week after the EU announced restrictions on exports of certain medical equipment (see 2003160047).
The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade updated its coronavirus COVID-19 guidance for businesses trading internationally, according to a March 24 notice. The notice now includes a business support helpline for companies facing “disruption” due to the measures in place to contain the spread of the virus.