EU Updates Rules of Origin for US Goods Imported Under New Tariff Framework
The EU has updated its rules of origin for US goods imported under its new tariff framework. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1422, published in the Official Journal in late June, reinforces the rules on proof of origin for goods traded under Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 to mitigate the risk of circumvention. As part of the proof of the origin of the goods, the declarant must provide evidence that the goods were transported directly from the declared country of origin and, if they were shipped through a third country, that they were not subject to any alteration after they were exported from the country of origin. The new rules entered into force on July 1, 2026.
EU Extends Suspension of Peanut Tariffs Arising From Civil Aircraft Dispute
On July 7, 2026, the European Commission published an implementing regulation suspending commercial policy measures concerning certain US products that were originally imposed in 2020 in the context of a dispute pertaining to large civil aircraft. The affected products included shelled and in-shell peanuts from the US.
The US and the EU reached an agreement in 2021 to mutually suspend all measures related to this conflict for a period of five years, ending on July 10, 2026. Given that the US has not reimposed retaliatory measures, and in view of the absence of any substantive change in the factual and legal circumstances underlying the civil aircraft dispute, the Commission has decided to extend the suspension indefinitely.
EU-Mexico Free Trade Deal Endorsed by European Parliament
On July 8, 2026, the European Parliament voted in favor of the EU-Mexico modernized global agreement (MGA) and approved the EU-Mexico interim trade agreement (iTA). The iTA covers the trade parts of the MGA that are an exclusive EU competence (such as customs duties, the protection of EU innovations and traditional products, and access to Mexican public tenders). It will allow for the updated trade arrangements to apply earlier, without waiting for all EU member states to ratify the MGA. The interim trade deal will expire and be replaced by the MGA once it enters fully into force. The EU and Mexico must now complete their internal ratification procedures before the agreement can enter into force.
South Africa Seeks Tariff Exemption for Key Exports to the US
South Africa has asked the United States to exempt its exports from a proposed tariff linked to a Section 301 investigation examining whether economies adequately enforce bans on imports produced using forced labor, according to AP News. A South African delegation appeared before the Office of the US Trade Representative and argued that the country has laws prohibiting forced labor and allowing authorities to block imports produced under such practices.
The delegation urged Washington not to impose a proposed 12.5% tariff on South African exports and requested exemptions for several products, including nuts. South African officials stated that there was no evidence that these exports were produced using forced labor. The US Trade Representative’s Office is accepting additional submissions before reaching a decision.
Kenya Launches Roadmap to Strengthen Access to EU Market
The Kenyan government has launched a 10-year implementation strategy designed to help businesses, farmers and exporters maximize opportunities under the Kenya-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), as reported by KBC. The strategy aims to support the use of duty-free and quota-free access to the 27-member EU market while improving the competitiveness of Kenyan exports.
The roadmap prioritizes several areas that influence market access, including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements, standards and conformity assessment, customs and trade facilitation, information and communication technology, structured commodity trade and sustainable trade. Kenyan authorities stated that the measures are intended to help exporters meet European market requirements and expand access to EU buyers.
According to the report, the EU remains Kenya’s largest export market. Key products exported to Europe include edible fruits and nuts, oilseeds, flowers, tea, coffee, vegetables and spices.
US Temporarily Suspends Duties on Moroccan Phosphate Fertilizer
The United States has temporarily suspended countervailing and anti-dumping duties on phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco, following a presidential proclamation signed on June 29, 2026, that declared a national emergency over domestic phosphate supply. According to a White House fact sheet, the measure allows Moroccan phosphate to enter the US market duty-free for up to eight months or until the emergency is terminated, and is intended to safeguard the domestic food supply amid recent disruptions to global fertilizer supply chains linked to conflicts in producing regions and trade actions by major fertilizer-exporting countries. The presidential proclamation also states that current US production of phosphate fertilizer is “insufficient to support domestic agricultural food production after accounting for exports.”
The suspension applies to countervailing duties of up to 16.8% first imposed in 2021, as reported by Progressive Farmer, following a petition led by US fertilizer producer Mosaic. Agricultural groups had been urging the administration for months to lift the duties, arguing that they had significantly increased phosphate costs at a time of tight farm margins. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that the measure could reduce phosphate fertilizer prices by around 22% and generate approximately US$1.82 billion in annual savings for US farmers across more than 100,000 farms and 97 million planted acres.