China: Zero-Tariff Agreement for Mozambican Macadamias and Cashews
Thanks to a new agreement signed on September 3, 2024, macadamias and cashews from Mozambique can now be imported tariff-free into China. The agreement is valid for three years and can be renewed automatically.
China: Guatemalan Macadamia Shipments Entering China Normally
Guatemalan macadamia shipments are entering China without incident, according to a statement given by Guatemala’s Deputy Minister for Integration and Foreign Trade, Hector Marroquín, to the Guatemalan media outlet Azteca Noticias in late August. This announcement follows meetings held between Guatemala and China in June at the World Trade Organization, during which the Chinese delegation assured their Guatemalan counterparts that they would consult with the Chinese authorities to determine the reason for the rejection.
India-UAE: Virtual Trade Corridor Agreement Signed
On September 10, 2024, India and the United Arab Emirates signed an agreement launching the India-UAE Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC), as reported by the Times of India. The VTC aims to enhance the ease of doing business by reducing administrative processes as well as logistics and transport costs. The agreement also launches the Master Application for International Trade and Regulatory Interface (MAITRI), which integrates multiple Indian operational portals to facilitate interfacing with UAE portals.
Ukraine-EU: Public Consultation on Further Reciprocal Tariff Liberalization
The European Commission has issued a call for evidence on further reciprocal tariff liberalization between Ukraine and the European Union. Under Article 29 of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, consultations between the Ukraine and the EU can be held to accelerate and broaden the liberalization of trade on goods not already liberalized by the Agreement. The Commission is pursuing such consultations with Ukraine with the aim of adopting their result in the Association Committee in Trade Configuration at the latest when the current Autonomous Trade Measures regime expires in June 2025. The EU’s adoption of such a decision will need to be endorsed by the Council and the Commission will therefore make a proposal for an Article 218(9) Council decision.
Ukraine-UK: Free Trade Agreement
On August 22, 2024, the Ukrainian Parliament ratified the Political, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement between Ukraine and the United Kingdom. This agreement envisages full trade liberalization between the two countries for the next five years.