The European Commission gave notice Oct. 1 of the impending expiry of the anti-subsidy and antidumping duties on certain coated fine paper from China, unless a review of the duties is initiated. European Union manufacturers can submit a written request for a review up to three months before the July 5, 2022, expiration date.
The European Union extended its COVID-19 vaccine export transparency and authorization system until Dec. 31 and intends no further extensions, the European Commission said Sept. 30. The system was intended to ensure that vaccine manufacturers in Europe fulfill their contractual obligations with the EU and applies only to companies with which the EU has negotiated an advance purchase agreement. The controls require these companies to notify their member state authorities of their intention to export COVID-19 vaccines. Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, the commission will use a new monitoring system that will give company-specific and timely vaccine export data, the commission said. This will ensure transparency without export controls, it said.
The European Commission in a Sept. 30 notice announced the impending expiration of antidumping duties on melamine from China, unless a review of the duties is initiated. European Union manufacturers can submit a written request for a review up to three months before the July 2, 2022, expiration date.
The United Kingdom's navy captured evidence of ships violating United Nations sanctions on North Korea in the East China Sea, the Defense Ministry said. HMS Richmond conducted operations in the East China Sea, finding evidence that ships provided fuel or refined petroleum products to North Korea, in violation of the sanctions established in 2017. HMS Richmond detached from the U.K. Carrier Strike Group deployed in the Indo-Pacific. The operations mark the first time since 2019 that a Royal Navy ship has supported U.N. sanctions monitoring and enforcement activity, the ministry said.
The first talks between the United Kingdom and the 11 members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership kicked off Sept. 28, the U.K.'s Department for International Trade said. While pact members have met to discuss the U.K.'s accession to the trade agreement, the Sept. 28 meeting was the first to include the U.K. The opening talks focused on how the U.K. would meet the CPTPP's standards, DIT said.
The United Kingdom will make mandatory the inclusion of Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) numbers on license applications and registrations in the SPIRE licensing system, the Department for International Trade said Sept. 27. The U.K. said export control license applicants will need to provide an EORI issued by Revenue and Customs. The EORI will begin with GB and be followed by 12 digits; the applicant will need to enter only the 12 digits. This requirement will take effect in late autumn 2021, DIT said.
The United Kingdom published it first national risk assessment for proliferation financing. The Sept. 23 document covers the U.K.'s strategic, regulatory and operation framework for countering proliferation financing, proliferation financing threats facing the U.K. and vulnerabilities to proliferation financing in Britain. European Sanctions reported on the assessment's key findings, including that “the UK has a robust counter-proliferation legal framework, including its autonomous sanctions regimes,” and “the UK’s financial system is at significant risk from PF given its position in the global financial system, transparency, involvement in the legitimate trade of sensitive/dual-use items and the ease with which actors may set up shell companies in the UK.” North Korea and Iran exist as key proliferation financiers affecting the U.K. financial system, with China and Syria also in the mix, the assessment said.
The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority published a new guidance for companies on how to counter financial crime risks. The report covers financial crime systems and controls, money laundering and terrorist financing, fraud, data security, bribery and corruption, sanctions and asset freezes, and insider dealing and market manipulation. The sanctions and asset freezes chapter advises companies to be aware of sanctions obligations, have risk assessment frameworks in place including necessary sanctions screening methods, and implement systems to identify “false positives” and real matches of names to sanctions lists. It also said compliance programs should address export controls.
The United Kingdom has appointed Emma Wade-Smith has been appointed consul general to New York and commissioner for North America, the Department for International Trade said Sept. 27. Wade-Smith currently serves as trade commissioner for Africa and has previously held diplomatic positions in the U.S., DIT said. The new appointment will take effect in November. She will seek to promote U.K. trade and investment in the U.S. and Canada, “with the aim of accelerating job creation and opportunities across the UK, and working with businesses across North America to support growth and innovation,” DIT said.
The European Commission in a Sept. 27 notice announced the impending expiration of anti-subsidy measures on certain stainless steel bars and rods from India, unless a review of the duties is initiated. European Union manufacturers can submit a written request for a review up to three months before the June 29 expiration date.