The U.K. on March 13 revoked the antidumping duty order on chamois leather from China after the Trade Remedies Authority conducted a transition review of the order and found that there were no U.K. producers of the subject merchandise in the period of investigation. The duties were revoked for goods falling under U.K. global tariff commodity codes 4114.10.10.00 and 4114.10.90.00.
Denmark is considering new legislation that could punish EU sanctions violators by sentencing them to up to eight years in prison, an uptick from the current maximum four-month sentence, the country’s Ministry of Justice said this week. And if there are "aggravating circumstances," the ministry said, certain offenders could face up to eight years, according to an unofficial translation.
The EU General Court last week rejected Russian oligarch Alexander Ponomarenko's application to annul his sanctions listing after he argued the European Council violated his procedural rights, committed "manifest errors of assessment" and violated principles of fundamental law.
EU government enforcement agencies should better cooperate on sanctions and export control investigations, including by regularly sharing information during periodic meetings, according to a recent report from Kleptotrace, a research project co-founded by the EU.
The European Commission proposed extending the current duty exemption for imports of Ukrainian iron and steel products, which are a "significant source of revenue for Ukraine," the commission said last week. The current waiver, which has been extended twice before, is due to expire in June. The proposed extension must be approved by the European Council and Parliament. "The Commission is currently working on a longer-term solution which will provide economic certainty and a stable framework for trade to both Ukraine and the EU," it said.
The European Commission last week released updated preferential rules of origin guidance, including new guidelines for how companies and member states should verify proof of origin (Section C). The commission said the section “addresses the processes for requests exchanged between EU Member States and third countries, as well as clarifications on importer’s knowledge.”
The U.K. issued updated guidance last week on how exporters can use Assimilated General Export Authorizations (GEA), the general export licenses that were "assimilated" into U.K. law after the country’s exit from the EU.
The EU and India held the second meeting of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council on Feb. 28, where working groups discussed critical technologies, supply chains, a possible trade agreement and more. The trade working group specifically spoke about “best practices in the screening of Foreign Direct Investments,” and they “strengthened their commitment towards the multilateral trading system as an anchor in the current challenging geopolitical context.” They also spoke about World Trade Organization reform, the EU’s upcoming carbon tax on certain imports and diversifying suppliers. The next meeting will be held in 2026.
The U.K. updated its Russia-related export control and sanctions guidance this week to provide more information on license requirements for common high-priority list items destined for Russia.
The EU unveiled its latest Russia sanctions package this week, including an import ban on primary aluminum; new export controls on dual-use items used by Russia’s military; more restrictions against Russia's energy sector; new sanctions against companies, people and vessels helping Moscow evade trade restrictions; and more.