WESTERN EUROPE

The entry checks on goods from Great Britain imposed by the Northern Ireland Protocol present a significant practical obstacle to intra-UK trade and have revived internal political tensions. Following the UK government’s calls for change, the European Commission proposed new arrangements on 13 October 2021, subject to further negotiation, under which the relevant checks would be reduced. More

The UK Government has announced that it will give businesses more time to adapt to the introduction of the new UK Conformity Assessment marking (the “UKCA”) which replaces the EU’s mandatory CE marking following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Initially, the UK government had announced that products sold in Great Britain which previously had to bear the EU’s CE marking, would need to carry the new UKCA marking from 1 January 2022. More

Ireland is the only European country that has managed to post positive economic growth during the first year of the global coronavirus pandemic, its GDP increasing by an enviable 3.4% in 2020. This interview sets out how the Irish business community is ready for more dynamic collaboration with Hong Kong entrepreneurs in the post-pandemic future. More