EU-Australia: Free Trade Agreement Negotiations
On June 1-11, 2021, the 11th round of negotiations for a trade agreement between the European Union and Australia took place. Negotiators discussed the proposals of the different negotiating areas, such as trade in goods, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and geographical indications, among others.
Report of the 11th round of negotiations for a trade agreement between the European Union and Australia here.
Report of the 11th round of negotiations for a trade agreement between the European Union and Australia here.
UK: CPTPP Trade Agreement
On June 2, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) nations agreed to the UK’s accession process to join the CPTPP. In addition, on June 15, the UK reached an agreement with Australia and negotiations are ongoing with New Zealand.
The CPTPP is a trade agreement between 11 countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam). On February 1, 2021, the UK Government formally applied to join the CPTPP.
See more information here.
The CPTPP is a trade agreement between 11 countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam). On February 1, 2021, the UK Government formally applied to join the CPTPP.
See more information here.
US-Japan: Trade Agreement, Third Year of Implementation
On April 1, 2021, the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA), ratified in 2019, entered “Year 3” of ratification. According to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) GAIN report, the following tariffs are applying for several US dried fruits exported to Japan from Year 3 (2021) to Year 5 (2023).
| Product Name | Japan Customs HS Code |
Base Rate |
Year 3 (2021) |
Year 4 (2022) |
Year 5 (2023) |
| Prunes | 081320000 | 2.4% | Free | Free | Free |
| Dried figs | 080420090 | 6.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | Free |
| Mixtures of nuts or dried fruits | 081350090 | 12.0% | Free | Free | Free |
Link to the USDA GAIN report can be found here.
USA: Senators Ask Administration’s Assistance on EU Peanut Trade Barriers
In a letter sent to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai, nineteen U.S. Senators have requested assistance from the Administration on EU non-tariff trade barriers affecting the peanut industry –aflatoxin testing requirements in particular.
“In recent years, the U.S. industry estimates they have lost approximately $170 million in sales into the E.U. due to difficulties presented by these burdensome testing requirements,” the letter says.
Senators urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative to joint efforts to engage with their EU counterparts to reduce existing non-tariff barriers on peanut exports.
More information
“In recent years, the U.S. industry estimates they have lost approximately $170 million in sales into the E.U. due to difficulties presented by these burdensome testing requirements,” the letter says.
Senators urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative to joint efforts to engage with their EU counterparts to reduce existing non-tariff barriers on peanut exports.
More information