EU

On 9 September 2020, the UK Government published a bill that will, if adopted, breach key parts of its withdrawal agreement with the EU. Two days earlier, the UK Government revealed that it would be introducing a new UK Internal Market Bill which could affect post-Brexit customs and trade rules in Northern Ireland.. More

The EU-Vietnam trade agreement (“Trade Agreement”) has, earlier this month, entered into force. The immediate consequence of this is lower tariffs, with the ultimate goal of scrapping duties on 99% of all goods traded between the two sides. In addition to providing economic benefits, the Trade Agreement expresses a strong commitment on both sides to respect labour rights, environmental protection and the Paris Agreement combatting climate change. More

Hong Kong traders selling goods to EU and UK consumers will be aware that, as of 1 January 2021, the transition period currently operating between the EU and UK will end, and the UK will operate a full, external border as a sovereign nation. This means that controls will be placed on the movement of goods between the two trading blocks. The UK Government has taken the decision to introduce the new border controls with the EU in three stages up until 1 July 2021. More

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer recently updated Congress on on-going and potential U.S. trade negotiations. Among other things, he acknowledged that mainland China is not currently on pace to buy the amounts of U.S. agricultural and energy products that were agreed under the phase one trade agreement, due at least in part to the economic ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic. More