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FTA between UK and Australia: a short update
In the official website of the Australian Trade Department it is stated that: “…During his visit to the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced 31 May as the date of entry into force of the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA), following the expected completion of UK domestic processes…”; this statement is alligned with the HMRC website for which: “…These are the trade agreements that businesses can use soon, but that are not yet in force. Once an agreement is reached, it is signed and then scrutinised by Parliament. Following this, the agreement can then be ratified. Only when this is complete, and any implementing legislation has been passed,…
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Plastic Pollution, Joint Ministerial Statement INC-2 and customs compliance
On 26.05.2023 the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment released a Joint Ministerial Statement INC-2 whose points are: This committee calls for the overarching objective of the treaty to be to end plastic pollution from all sources to protect the environment and human health. Reinforcement of commitment to ending plastic pollution by 2040; Development of common legally binding obligations and control measures for Parties to the treaty, and to cooperate with stakeholders and other partners to ensure alignment of efforts with the objective and approaches of the treaty, in order to end plastic pollution; binding provisions in the…
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Plastic Pollution, Joint Ministerial Statement INC-2 and customs compliance
On 26.05.2023 the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment released a Joint Ministerial Statement INC-2 whose points are: This committee calls for the overarching objective of the treaty to be to end plastic pollution from all sources to protect the environment and human health. Reinforcement of commitment to ending plastic pollution by 2040; Development of common legally binding obligations and control measures for Parties to the treaty, and to cooperate with stakeholders and other partners to ensure alignment of efforts with the objective and approaches of the treaty, in order to end plastic pollution; binding provisions in the…
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European Union, circular economy and customs compliance
The report “Squaring the Circle. Policies from Europe’s Circular Economy Transition” published in December 2022 by the highlights (among other thinks) the following peculiarities of the European circular economy: The private sector is playing a crucial role in the enforcement of the circular economy with its trade and environmental policies; Customs controls on the ecodesign compliance of the products (like the batteries). Indeed: “…New policy proposals are shifting the focus upstream toward more sustainable and circular products. With the proposal for a new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) published in March 2022, the EC has presented a framework that will allow it to regulate circularity requirements for almost all…
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CBAM ,climate mitigation, Q&A
The European Commission released on 10.05.2023 a memo with “Questions and Answers: Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)”. In this documenti t is analysed the following topic: “…How will you engage with third countries and industry going forward?…”. The answer is that: “… When preparing the CBAM proposal, the Commission already consulted stakeholders widely, both through an open public consultation and more targeted consultations. In addition, the Commission engaged in extensive bilateral consultations with public authorities in EU and non-EU countries, business associations, individual companies and NGOs. Targeted consultations were also undertaken with senior managers and associations from the basic materials sectors, manufacturers, NGOs and policymakers. During this transition period we…
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Classification, green goods and Customs reform
On 17.05.2023 the EU Commission released the communication “ Customs reform: Taking the Customs Union to the next level” COM(2023) 257 final. This communication underlines that: “…the EU should take a leading role in developing a global green customs policy…” and “…There are several areas in which global customs can support environmental objectives. Besides greening customs administrations themselves41, modernising the classification of goods in line with the objectives of the twin transitions should be part of the ongoing strategic review of the harmonised system convention. Options for greening the harmonised systems (HS) classification range from issuing lists of environmental goods, to changing the structure of the HS, or even alterations…
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EU Customs Reform: AEO, environment, simplifications and digitalization
On 17.05.2023 the EU Commission released the communication “ Customs reform: Taking the Customs Union to the next level” COM(2023) 257 final. This interesting document starts with a short message of Ursula von der Leyen for which “…It is time to take the Customs Union to the next level, equipping it with a stronger framework that will allow us to better protect our citizens and our Single Market. I will propose a bold package for an integrated European approach to reinforce customs risk management and support effective controls by the Member States…”. The three principles on which is based the reform of the european customs are: An efficient Customs…
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ETS, CBAM and carbon leakage
The European Commission in its memo published on May 2023 answers to this question: “…Isn’t carbon leakage already addressed by the Emissions Trading System?...” in the following way: “… The EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) is the world’s first international emissions trading scheme and the EU’s flagship policy to combat climate change. It sets a cap on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that can be released from industrial installations in certain sectors. Allowances must be bought on the ETS trading market, though a certain number of free allowances is distributed to prevent carbon leakage. That system has been effective in addressing the risk of leakage, but it also dampens…
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EU, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: how it does work?
The European Commission released on 10.05.2023 a memo with “Questions and Answers: Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)”. The second question is “How will the CBAM work?…” The answer is “…Designed in compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and other international obligations of the EU, the CBAM system will work as follows: • As from the CBAM’s entry into force in 2026, EU importers will buy carbon certificates corresponding to the carbon price that would have been paid, had the goods been produced under the EU’s carbon pricing rules; Conversely, once a non-EU producer can show that they have already paid a price for the carbon used in the production…
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UE, CBAM Question and answers
The European Commission released on 10.05.2023 a memo with “Questions and Answers: Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)”. The first question is “…Why is the EU putting in place a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism?…” The EU is at the forefront of international efforts to fight climate change. Indeed, the EU Commission added “…The European Green Deal set out a clear path towards realising the EU’s ambitious target of a 55% reduction in carbon emissions compared to 1990 levels by 2030, and to become a climate-neutral continent by 2050. In July 2021, the Commission made its Fit for 55 policy proposals to turn this ambition into reality, further establishing the EU as…