The EU and Moldova struck a deal to update the terms of the EU-Moldova Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, the European Commission announced.

The European Commission on July 28 imposed antidumping duties on epoxy resins from China, Taiwan and Thailand following an investigation finding epoxy resin imports from these nations harms the EU industry. The investigation originally also included epoxy resins from South Korea, but these goods were removed from the investigation due to a lack of evidence of dumping from South Korea. The AD rates range from 17.3% to 33% for China, and from 10.8% to 11% for Taiwan, and are at 29.9% for Thailand.

The EU on July 24 published an updated list of retaliatory tariffs it may impose against the U.S. in case it can't reach an agreement with the Trump administration to reverse threatened U.S. duties on steel, aluminum, cars and other goods (see 2507140040). The list includes more than 200 pages of commodity codes, with increased duties of up to 30% on agricultural goods, aircraft, cars, medical devices and electronics. The retaliatory duties will take effect Aug. 7 if the two sides don't come to a solution, the EU said.

The Council of the European Union on July 23 appointed a new judge to the EU Court of Justice. The council named Bulgaria's Alexander Kornezov to a five-year term that runs until Oct. 6, 2030.

The European Commission on July 23 activated its customs surveillance system to monitor the import and export of ferrous waste and scrap, aluminum and copper. The surveillance system was created as part of the EU's steel and metal action plan and is meant to ensure "sufficient access to scrap for the EU's metals industries." The system can provide the commission with information to "take targeted trade measures for ensuring a sufficient supply of scrap and preventing scarcity, thereby strengthening the resilience and sustainability of EU's metals industries," the commission said.

The European Commission on July 18 began accepting public comments on future safeguard measures covering the steel sector with the goal of locating an "effective replacement for the current EU safeguard on steel," which is set to expire on June 30, 2026. Stakeholders have until Aug. 18 to comment on the potential safegaurd measures, the commission said. Following the consultation period, the commission will issue a "Staff Working Document" to accompany the commission's legislative proposal, which will include an "economic model that analyses different scenarios and their effects on the EU steel supply chain."

The Council of the EU on July 18 formally adopted new valued-added tax rules that will make foreign suppliers liable for VAT paid on imports. "The directive will improve collection of VAT on imported goods by ensuring suppliers are always liable for VAT paid on imports, rather than the EU consumer as is currently usual practice," the council said. "This should encourage suppliers outside the EU to use the bloc's "VAT import one-stop-shop," which is the EU's point of contact for importers of goods from third countries into the EU. The directive will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and will enter into force 20 days later. The rules will apply starting July 1, 2028.

The U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation last week launched new online forms for submitting license applications and reporting suspected violations or frozen assets. The agency said the new forms will help modernize and streamline OFSI's services and "make it easier for you to provide the information we need and to help us respond more quickly and efficiently."

The latest EU sanctions package against Russia, adopted last week, lowers the price cap on Russian oil, introduces more import and export restrictions and designates a range of vessels and companies helping Russia move energy products and evade sanctions.

The EU opened arbitration proceedings with Algeria under the EU-Algeria Association Agreement, claiming that Algeria's trade and investment restrictions violate the agreement.