On 24 January 2022, the European Council approved certain conclusions asserting that European security is indivisible, that challenges to the European security order affects the security of the EU and its member states, and that the EU will provide unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and other neighbouring states. The European Council has condemned Russia’s actions with respect to Ukraine and has stated that further military action by Russia against Ukraine would have consequences.

Operators may request a binding information decision from the relevant customs authorities in the EU, in order to obtain certainty about the application of customs legislation in respect of the tariff classification or the origin of imported goods across the EU. Currently, EU customs legislation does not facilitate the issuing of a binding information decision in respect the value of imported goods. This can present real challenges for importers where customs authorities across the EU adopt differing approaches on customs valuation matters, which is not uncommon, particularly for the most complex valuation matters (e.g. treatment of royalties/licence fees, assists, transfer pricing adjustments, etc.).

During the latest session of the Technical Committee on Customs Valuation, the TCCV adopted Advisory Opinion 4.19, a new instrument on royalties and license fees under Article 8.1(c) of the Customs Valuation Agreement.

The scope of the two Open General Export Licences (OGEL) for security items has been further refined and amendments to the OGELs were on 26 May 2021 published by the Department for International Trade in a Notice to Exporters. The updated OGELs permit the export of low-risk information security items that rely on encryption technologies listed in Schedule 1 to each OGEL.

On 5 January 2021 the European Commission (“Commission“) published the roadmap for the upcoming consultation on the EU’s “strategy for sustainable textiles”. The textile sector was previously identified as a priority sector in the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Industrial Strategy where the EU seeks to…