The European Union is considering changes to its global safeguards on steel products in effect since July 2018 in response to U.S. Section 232 tariffs, the European Commission said in an Aug. 14 press release. According to a recent notification to the World Trade Organization, the EU is considering changes to tariff-rate quotas on several steel products, as well as a general slowing of increases on the quotas.

In the Aug. 13 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

Britain’s Home Secretary is removing the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group from its list of terrorism organizations, according to an Aug. 13 post on the European Sanctions blog. Although the move decriminalizes involvement with the group in the U.K, European Union and United Nations sanctions on the group remain in place.

In the Aug. 9-12 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

In the Aug. 7 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

The United Kingdom is working with Nigeria to boost the country’s exports and increase trade relations, the U.K. said in an Aug. 6 press release. As Alok Sharma, U.K.’s secretary for international development, visited Nigeria, the U.K. said it is working to help Nigeria’s Export Promotion Council diversify its exports, help “non-oil exporters comply with British standards” and encourage more trading between the U.K. and Nigeria. “A prosperous, growing and trading Nigeria is firmly in the UK’s interests and our relationship will continue to thrive as we leave the EU,” Sharma said in a statement.

Slovakia proposed several changes to its value-added tax law that will provide new rules on a VAT exemption for taxable goods “relating to the international trade in customs and special warehouses,” KPMG said in an Aug. 6 post. The proposals also extend a requirement “concerning adjustments to the input VAT deduction (via a capital goods scheme) to purchases of services related to these goods,” the post said. The measures would take effect Jan. 1, 2020.

In the Aug. 1-6 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

The European Commission released a compliance guide for dual-use trade controls that details “common approaches” to compliance programs and lays out a “framework” to help exporters minimize risks, the commission said in an Aug. 5 notice. The guide outlines seven “core elements” that are “cornerstones for a company’s tailor made” internal compliance program: top-level management commitment to compliance; organizational structure responsibilities and resources; training and awareness raising; transaction screening processes and procedures; performance, review audits, reporting and corrective actions; recordkeeping and documentation; and physical and information security. For each element, the guide contains a “What is expected?” section and “What are the steps involved?” section to help companies assess their own programs. The guide emphasizes that the “most important aspect” of developing compliance programs is ensuring they’re “relevant to the company's organisation and activities,” easy to follow and “capture the day-to-day operations and procedures.”

Britain will create up to 10 "freeports" to reduce costs and boost trade after it leaves the European Union, the country said Aug. 1. Ports and airports across the United Kingdom can bid to become one of the freeports, the country said, and the U.K. will have a Freeports Advisory Panel composed of the ministers of the Department of International Trade and HM Treasury, along with trade and business experts, some of whom were identified in the release.