Australia-India Free Trade Agreement Interim Talks Come Closer
According to FreshPlaza, Australia offered to give tariff concessions to 99% of its traded goods with India instead of opening up of India's dairy and agriculture sectors through low or zero tariffs.
Australia’s imports to India include vegetables, wool, fruits, nuts and lentils.
Both parties agreed to materialize their bilateral agreement by the end of 2022.
Australia’s imports to India include vegetables, wool, fruits, nuts and lentils.
Both parties agreed to materialize their bilateral agreement by the end of 2022.
Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA) Signed
On December 17, 2021 both parties signed the A-UKFTA, the first UK trade agreement since leaving the European Union. It is expected to enter into force throughout 2022
Key outcomes include:
Key outcomes include:
- Elimination of tariffs on most fruits and vegetables, including tariffs on almonds, macadamias, other nuts and dried fruits.
- Enhanced digital trade, including through new rules around data sharing and electronic contracts.
- Elimination of tariffs over seven years for the remaining products.
China: Decree 248 Single Window Operation Manuals and Tutorial
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has grouped relevant information regarding China’s recently implemented Decree 248 of the Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) overseas facility registration process.
The report includes:
The report includes:
- translations of GACC operation manuals for: Competent Authorities, Overseas Enterprises; and a tutorial to the Single Window website self-registration process developed by a third party, and
- the Harmonized System (HS) tariff codes and commodity descriptions affected by Decree 248.
EU: New Rules on Import of Organics on Required Documents and Notifications
The European Commission has published implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2307 laying down rules on documents and notifications required for organic and in-conversion products intended for import into the Union.
This Regulation lays down rules on:
(a) the declarations and communications by importers, operators responsible for the consignments, first consignees and consignees for the import of products from third countries for the purpose of placing those products on the market within the Union as organic products or in-conversion products; and
(b) the notification by the competent authorities of the Member States of suspected or established non-compliance of consignments.
The Regulation entered into force on December 30, 2021
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This Regulation lays down rules on:
(a) the declarations and communications by importers, operators responsible for the consignments, first consignees and consignees for the import of products from third countries for the purpose of placing those products on the market within the Union as organic products or in-conversion products; and
(b) the notification by the competent authorities of the Member States of suspected or established non-compliance of consignments.
The Regulation entered into force on December 30, 2021
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EU: Regulation Suspending Common Customs Tariff Duties on Certain Agricultural Products
On December 29, 2021, the European Union published the Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2278 of December, 20, 2021 suspending the Common Customs Tariff duties referred to in Article 56(2), point (c), of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 on certain agricultural and industrial products, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1387/2013.
For the agricultural products listed in the Annex to the Regulation, the Common Customs Tariff duties referred to in Article 56(2), point (c), of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 are suspended.
Nuts and Dried Fruit Products included:
For the agricultural products listed in the Annex to the Regulation, the Common Customs Tariff duties referred to in Article 56(2), point (c), of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 are suspended.
Nuts and Dried Fruit Products included:
|
Serial Number
|
CN Code |
TARIC |
Description |
Rate of autonomous duty | Date envisaged for mandatory review |
| 0.3347 |
ex 0804 10 00 |
30 |
Dates, fresh or dried, for use in the manufacture (excluding packing) of products of drink or food industries [1] | 0% |
31.12.2023 |
| 0.4716 |
ex 2008 93 91 |
20 |
Sweetened dried cranberries, excluding packing alone as processing, for the manufacture of products of food processing industries [2] | 0% |
31.12.2022 |
[1] (1) Suspension of duties is subject to end-use customs supervision in accordance with Article 254 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013.
[2] (4) A surveillance of imports of goods covered by this tariff suspension shall be established in accordance with the procedure laid down in Articles 55 and 56 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 of 24 November 2015 laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code (OJ L 343, 29.12.2015, p. 558).
EU: Results of the Public Consultation on the Trade and Sustainable Development Review
The European Commission’s directorate general for trade has published the results of the public consultation period (July-November 2021). Results include a 15-Point Action Plan on the enforcement and implementation of the trade and sustainable development chapters.
The review looked at the approach to trade and sustainable development issues in trade agreements by third countries/regions, how this differs from the EU’s approach in its free trade agreements, and what teachings the EU can extract from these.
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The review looked at the approach to trade and sustainable development issues in trade agreements by third countries/regions, how this differs from the EU’s approach in its free trade agreements, and what teachings the EU can extract from these.
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EU-India: Future Free Trade Agreement Discussions
On January 10, 2022, the European Parliament’s Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development (COMAGRI) held a meeting to discuss the carbon border adjustment mechanism and the EU-India future trade and investment cooperation.
During this meeting, the European Commission responded to the Draft Opinion of COMAGRI to the Committee on International Trade. The report warned about certain risks that a free trade agreement with India could involve in terms of labor, environment, and imbalanced competition with EU producers. The draft opinion called on the Commission to ensure that the FTA forbids the importation of agricultural products and foodstuffs from India with higher levels of pesticide residues than provided for in EU law.
In response, the Commission’s representative stated that the future agreement would include obligations on social and environmental aspects of sustainability. In terms of pesticide residues, India would have to meet EU standards.
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During this meeting, the European Commission responded to the Draft Opinion of COMAGRI to the Committee on International Trade. The report warned about certain risks that a free trade agreement with India could involve in terms of labor, environment, and imbalanced competition with EU producers. The draft opinion called on the Commission to ensure that the FTA forbids the importation of agricultural products and foodstuffs from India with higher levels of pesticide residues than provided for in EU law.
In response, the Commission’s representative stated that the future agreement would include obligations on social and environmental aspects of sustainability. In terms of pesticide residues, India would have to meet EU standards.
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Georgia To Start Negotiations with the UAE to Conclude Free Trade Agreement
According to EastFruit, Georgian producers of nuts, among other products, could benefit from new market opportunities and reduction of tariffs. Imports of nuts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been increasing in the last years. EastFruit states that Georgian exports of fruits, nuts and vegetables to the UAE totaled only $3.2 million over the past 8 years.
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Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Came Into Effect on January 1
The novel Asian regional trade pact, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), becomes the biggest free trade agreement in the world.
RCEP includes Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and all the ASEAN countries (Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Philippines and Cambodia).
The new regional trade bloc will remove tariffs on most of the traded goods in the region, inspire a unified market, codify intellectual property and e-commerce and regulate rules on investment.
The RCEP entered into force on January 1, 2022.
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RCEP includes Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and all the ASEAN countries (Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Philippines and Cambodia).
The new regional trade bloc will remove tariffs on most of the traded goods in the region, inspire a unified market, codify intellectual property and e-commerce and regulate rules on investment.
The RCEP entered into force on January 1, 2022.
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UK: New Import Controls for Companies
The UK Border Operating Model was last updated in December 2021. It displays the latest timetable relating to customs rules for EU products imported into the UK.
From January 1, 2022:
From January 1, 2022:
- Full customs declarations and customs controls.
- Pre-notification requirements of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods.
UK-New Zealand Agree on New Trade Deal
The governments of New Zealand and the United Kingdom announced an 'Agreement in Principle' to develop a new trade agreement (FTA).
Objectives of the new FTA include:
Objectives of the new FTA include:
- goods market access: “broad liberalisation” of tariffs;
- customs and trade facilitation;
- technical barriers to trade;
- sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards;
- trade in services;
- digital trade;
- investment;
- intellectual property.