ECONOMIC/TRADE ISSUES

Brexit: PM Johnson Unveils New Proposals in Attempt to Secure Deal and Break Deadlock with EU

08 October 2019

On 2 October 2019, Prime Minister Boris Johnson put forward new (in his words) “constructive and reasonable proposals which provide a compromise for both sides” in an attempt to break the long-running deadlock between the EU and the UK to secure a deal before the withdrawal of the UK on 31 October. More

hktdc research

Brexit: Regulatory Challenges Faced by UK and EU-27 Companies in the Field of Chemicals Law

24 September 2019

Should the UK leave the EU by the currently foreseen deadline of 31 October 2019 without a withdrawal agreement in place, the EU’s laws will stop applying to UK-based establishments. This will be the case for all product-related laws, including the REACH chemicals legislation. More

hktdc research

Ireland’s Former Environment and Community Minister Nominated as the New EU Trade Commissioner

17 September 2019

On 10 September 2019, the European Commission’s president-elect Ursula von der Leyen presented her team of 26 commissioners at a press conference in Brussels. The proposed commissioners are expected to take over the roles as of 1 November 2019, if the nominations are approved by the national governments and lawmakers without a delay. More

hktdc research

Brexit: EU Commission Publishes Preparedness Notice in the Field of Cosmetics

13 September 2019

The EU and Member States are preparing for Brexit and encourage stakeholders to do so as well. The European Commission recently published a preparedness notice for the cosmetics industry laying out the consequences of a no-deal Brexit and containing important changes with regard to “responsible person”, notifications in the CPNP (the cosmetics portal), product information file, labelling and safety assessor. More

hktdc research

As Boris Johnson Suffers Sixth Parliamentary Defeat in Record Time, UK Parliament Is Suspended

11 September 2019

It will come as no surprise to Hong Kong readers that the UK’s MPs have once more rejected Boris Johnson's attempts for a snap election to be held before the end of October 2019. On 9 September 2019, just 293 MPs voted for the prime minister's motion calling for the snap election, far short of the required majority. More

hktdc research

Snap Election Sought by UK Prime Minister After UK Parliament Votes to Avert No-deal Brexit

05 September 2019

Faced with the suspension of the UK parliament for five weeks in the months of September and October, British MPs voted on 3 September to take control of the parliamentary timetable. This paves the way for a vote to extend the date of the UK leaving the EU to 31 January 2020. The UK Prime Minister has responded by seeking a snap election which he claims will take place before 31 October, the current departure date of the UK. More

hktdc research

Businesses Involved in Trade of Consumer Goods with EU Face Important Legal Repercussions Ahead of a No-deal Brexit

30 August 2019

In light of the approaching withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, Hong Kong traders might be concerned by the existing lack of agreement between the EU and the UK over the consequences of Brexit. More

hktdc research

UK Prime Minister Pushes European Council President to Ditch Irish Backstop; EU Cold Shoulders Request

22 August 2019

On 19 August 2019, the UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote to the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, seeking to ditch the so-called Irish border backstop from the by now infamous Brexit withdrawal agreement. More

hktdc research

Henan: Market Profile

08 May 2019

Hong Kong is the largest source of foreign direct investment in Henan. In 2017, actual investment from Hong Kong amounted to US$10.21 billion, accounting for 59.3% of the total. Other major sources of investment included Taiwan, the UK and the US. More

hktdc research

EU-US Trade Tensions Persist, Yet Hope Remains for Adoption of Bilateral Pact

16 April 2019

On 8 April 2019, the US threatened to impose tariffs amounting to USD 11.2 billion on a range of EU products, as a countermeasure to illegal subsidies provided by the EU to Airbus. The ultimate purpose, in the words of US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, is “to reach an agreement with the EU to end all WTO-inconsistent subsidies to large civil aircraft”. More

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