The European Commission criticized President Donald Trump’s plans to impose reciprocal tariffs against trading partners (see 2502130030), calling it a “step in the wrong direction” and vowing to protect European businesses from any “unjustified tariff measures.”
Members of the European Parliament this week called on the EU member states to impose sanctions against the Turkish government for undermining democracy and Nicaraguan officials for human rights violations.
A new European Parliament briefing published this week analyzes the state of EU sanctions against Russia, including developments last year and possible next steps that the bloc could take to increase pressure against Moscow.
The U.K. on Feb. 12 published a general license permitting humanitarian activity in Syria. The license allows for the U.N., humanitarian organizations with observer status with the U.N. General Assembly, bilaterally or multilaterally funded non-governmental organizations taking part in the UN Humanitarian Response Plans and international organizations conducting relief activities in Syria to engage in activities needed to "provide humanitarian assistance, other activities that support basic human needs and facilitate the timely provision of those activities in Syria." Any parties carrying out those activities must "provide written notice to HM Treasury within 30 days of commencing the activity."
The European Commission on Feb. 11 imposed antidumping duties on biodiesel from China following an investigation showing that Chinese biodiesel is harming the EU industry. The duties range from 10% to 35.6% but exclude imports of aviation biofuels known as Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
The European Commission this week issued new guidance with an updated list of territories that are “temporarily occupied” by Russia and subject to certain sanctions and trade restrictions. The list, published by Ukrainian authorities, is meant to help traders and other EU “operators” determine which areas in the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts are subject to restrictions because they’re under control by Russia instead of by Ukraine. “Considering the fluid situation, a dynamic assessment of this control could be necessary,” the commission said. “In case of doubt, EU operators can reach out to their national competent authority.”
The EU this week said it plans to retaliate against President Donald Trump’s decision to increase tariffs on steel and aluminum. “Unjustified tariffs on the EU will not go unanswered,” European Commission President Ursula Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. “They will trigger firm and proportionate countermeasures.”
The U.K. updated its trade sanctions license this week to clarify certain situations wherein its Department for Business and Trade won’t issue an import license. The guidance said traders must apply for an import license before the goods are transported to the U.K., and the government won’t grant a license if an application is made for goods already at the U.K. border. It also won’t issue a license if the goods are “otherwise held in storage in the U.K. prior to making a customs declaration,” the guidance said. “It is a criminal offence to import sanctioned goods without the necessary” license.
The U.K. extended the antidumping and countervailing duties on folding e-bikes from China for another five years, so they are applied until January 2029, the Department for International Trade announced. The department chose to extend the duties only on folding e-bikes, despite the original duties applying to all e-bikes from China. The antidumping duties range from 10.3% to 70.1%, and include a 62.1% margin for all non-individually examined exporters. The countervailing duties range from 3.9% to 17.2%, and include a 17.2% rate for all non-individually examined exporters.
The European Commission is considering exempting more than 80% of companies that otherwise would be subject to import tariffs under the bloc’s upcoming Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said this week. Hoekstra said the EU has found that the law may disproportionately target companies that aren’t responsible for most carbon emissions.