On December 24, 2020, the United Kingdom (“UK”) and European Union (“EU”) agreed on a Trade and Cooperation Agreement to facilitate free trade between the UK and EU following the UK’s official exit from the EU on January 2, 2020. The UK Parliament approved the agreement and Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed it into law
European Union
EU Releases New Complaint System to Address Trade Deal Violations and Market Barriers
On November 16, 2020, the European Commission (“EC”) debuted their new complaints system for stakeholders to report harmful trade barriers and violations to European Union (“EU”) trade agreements. The “Single Entry Point” complaints system allows member states, companies, trade associations, civil society groups and EU citizens to report any market access barriers and…
EU Imposes Tariffs on U.S. Following WTO Decision on Subsidies to Boeing
The European Union (EU) has imposed additional tariffs on approximately $4 billion worth of U.S. goods, after a World Trade Organization (WTO) decision last month authorized proportionate retaliation against the U.S. for its subsidies to Boeing. According to the European Commission’s (EC) Implementing Regulation (“the Regulation”), published in the Official Journal of the European Union…
WTO Rules That EU Can Impose $4 Billion in Tariffs on U.S. Imports
The World Trade Organization (WTO) issued a decision that the European Union (EU) is authorized to impose tariffs on approximately $4 billion worth of annual imports from the United States, an amount the WTO found to be “commensurate with the degree and nature of the adverse effects determined to exist.” The WTO’s decision is part…
EU Lifts Tariffs on U.S. Lobsters; U.S. Agrees to Limited Rollback on Certain Products
On August 21, 2020, the United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and European Union (EU) Commissioner Phil Hogan issued a joint statement, announcing that both parties would reduce tariffs on certain goods. Specifically, the EU has agreed to eliminate tariffs on imports of U.S. live and frozen lobster products. The elimination of these tariffs…
USTR Revises List of EU Imports Subject to Section 301 Tariffs
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued an updated list of goods from the European Union (EU) subject to Section 301 tariffs as part of the Large Civil Aircraft dispute. In October 2019, the World Trade Organization ruled in favor of the U.S. and Boeing in the dispute against the EU and Airbus,…
USTR Opens Online Portal to Solicit Input on Products to Carousel, Duty Rate in Large Civil Aircraft Section 301 Tariff Action
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a draft Federal Register notice outlining its process to review the Section 301 duties imposed on imported goods pursuant to the Large Civil Aircraft Dispute with the European Union (EU). This review is required by statute (Section 306(b)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974) and may result in goods…
EU Prepares Retaliation against U.S. over Expansion of Section 232 Tariffs
In retaliation for the United States’ expansion of Section 232 tariffs in February to cover steel and aluminum derivative articles, the European Union (“EU”) will hit certain U.S.-origin imports with additional tariffs. Duties of 20 percent for lighters and 7 percent for plastic furniture fittings will apply starting May 8, 2020. An additional 4.4 percent…
USTR Announces Increase in Section 301 Tariffs for New Airplanes and Aircraft, Minor Changes for Other Goods
On February 14, 2020, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it had completed its review of the current Section 301 tariffs due to the ongoing Large Civil Aircraft dispute with the European Union (EU). As previously reported, various European goods (including aircraft, certain textiles and wearing apparel, hardware, cheeses, and other…
U.S., EU, and Japan Trade Ministers Issue Joint Statement on Subsidy Reform
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a joint statement with the trade ministers of Japan and the European Union (EU) following a meeting between the three ministers on January 14, 2020. The joint statement announces the three economic powers’ frustrations with the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) current countervailable subsidy measures and their…