Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement
On May 31, 2023, the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement will come into effect, providing Australian farmers with enhanced access to a significant market, and enabling them to expand their customer base. The FTA also grants UK consumers the opportunity to purchase high-quality, sustainable Australian produce alongside their existing domestically produced options. With over 99% of Australian goods imported into the UK becoming tariff-free, the FTA covers a range of products, including wine, medium- and short-grain rice, honey, most seafood, processed foods, nuts, fruits and vegetables.
EU-USA: Agreement on EU’s WTO TRQS Following UK’s Departure
The European Union and the United States of America have reached an agreement concerning all the tariff-rate quotas (TRQS) included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a result of the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU. This agreement was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on May 5 and came into effect on May 2, after the US informed the EU of the completion of their internal procedures for its implementation.
In respect of the TRQS for which the US has negotiating or consultation rights under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994, the US and the EU agree with the proposed TRQS quantity commitments set out in the Annex 1 to G/SECRET/42/Add.2 for the Union, subject to the following:
- Tariff-rate quota 056 (Almonds): the Union volume of the erga omnes quota shall be adjusted to 86,223 tons.
Tariff quotas to be modified:
| TRQ sequence number | Description of the TRQ | Unit | Current concession in Schedule CLXXV (EU28) | Proposed concession for the EU27 |
| 056 | Almonds, other than bitter | t | 90,000 | 85,958 |
EU: Extension of Suspension of Tariffs and Quotas on Imports from Moldova
On May 2, 2023, the European Commission proposed renewing and broadening the suspension of import duties and quotas on exports from Moldova to the European Union, known as Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs), for one more year. The proposal seeks to prolong the present suspension of import duties on Moldovan exports to the EU for another year and expand this suspension to all remaining tariffs and tariff rate quotas imposed on imports from Moldova.