circular economy
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USA, trade policy and deforestation
On 31 May 2023 has been published the report to the President “Reducing international deforestation through US government international programming, assistance, finance, investment, trade and trade promotion”in response to E.O 14072 (Stopping International Deforestation). This document provides a picture of the US policies to block the deforestation/forest degradation. The preferential trade agreements (free trade agreement) play a key role in the enforcement of the commitment against the illegal deforestantion. Indeed, in the “section 2: trade agreements” “(ii) Address deforestation and land conversion risk in new relevant trade agreements and seek to address such risks, where possible, in the implementation of existing trade agreements” this report states that “…The U.S. has…
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CBAM Belgium
The competent autority for the enforcement of CBAM( carbon borders adjustment mechanism)/MACF (mécanisme d’ajustement carbone aux frontières) is the “Service public fédéral Santé Publique, Sécurité de la chaîne alimentaire et Environnement – Direc-tion générale de l’Environnement (service Changements Climatiques)” .
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CBAM and Malta
The Competent Authority for the management of CBAM (carbon borders adjustment mechanism) in Malta is the Malta Resources Authority (MRA). Therefore, importers and indirect customs representatives shall be notified, via the appropriate customs systems, of the reporting obligations due during the transitional period.
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The customs aspects of the batteries/waste of batteries regulation
The new regulation (batteries and waste of batteries) should be a good basis for the a new approach to customs; the key stones are: circular economy, trade compliance and sustainable development against environment destruction, deforestaion, climate crisis and pollution. Indeed, from a customs/customs compliance perspective, it is interesting to take into account that the protocol of origin of the free trade agreements (FTA) inked by the European Union usually lays down rules of origin which classify the waste/scramps (generated in the EU) as “originating material” of the European Union. Futhermore, the obligation to develop a reliable system of recycling of some materials contained by the batteries (cobaltum, lithium, nickel )…
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EU regulation on batteries and waste of batteries: a new way for circular economy
On 10 July 2023 the European Council adopted a new regulation (batteries and waste of batteries) that strengthens sustainability rules: for batteries; for waste batteries; This regulation covers all categories of batteries including: all waste portable batteries; electric vehicle batteries; industrial batteries; starting, lightning and ignition (SLI) batteries (used mostly for vehicles and machinery); batteries for light means of transport (e.g. electric bikes, e-mopeds, e-scooters). The regulation aims to: promote a circular economy by regulating batteries throughout their life cycle; sets targets for producers to collect waste; mandatoryminimum levels of recycled content; recycling efficiency target; from 2027 portable batteries incorporated into appliances should be removable and replaceable by the end-user, leaving…
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Excises, environmental taxation, power generation
The environmental taxation of electricity (power generation) and energy products has received another interesting contribution from the Court of Justice of the EU which, with its Section V in the judgment C-833/21 of 23 June 2023 stated that: “… national legislation providing for the taxation of coal used for the production of electricity satisfies the condition contained in that provision, according to which the tax must be introduced for reasons of environmental policy“, where there is a direct link between the use of the revenue of the taxation and its purpose or if such a tax, “…without pursuing a purely budgetary purpose, is designed, as regards its structure, in particular…
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EU, New Zealand: another step done for the entry into force
The agreement between the European Union and the New Zealand has been signed. Now, it needs to be sent to the European Parliament for its consent. After the ratification process in both the EU and New Zealand, the deal enters into force.
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New GSP framework, sustainable development and good governance: a check of the principles.
The ProposalCOM(2021)579 will set up a new framework of the European generalized system of preference which is: part of EU common commercial policy (unilateral preferential origin treatment for goods originating from the eligibile countries): sustainable development and good goverance; consistent with with the analysis and perspective of the Commission Communication Trade Policy Review: An Open, Sustainable and Assertive Trade Policy of 18 February 2021; consistent with EU green agenda and UN suistainable goals; The key stone of GSP is the “conditionality”: a country should not benefit from preferential trade arrangements if it is acting in a way that is contrary to international standards and principles and thereby also to its…
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New GSP framework, sustainable development and good governance: a short check
The new GSP regulation -to be adopted within the 2027- mantains: the three group of beneficary countries: “…The scheme provides for the following tariff preference arrangements: (a) a standard arrangement (‘Standard GSP’); (b) a special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance (‘GSP+’); (c) a special arrangement for the least-developed countries (Everything But Arms (‘EBA’))…”; The difference between the sensitive and non sensitive goods; The nature of unilateral preferential treatment for goods originating from eligible countries; The list of commodities (HS codes); The need of formalities. The import operations from GSP countries can impact on the AEO internal monitoring.
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New EU GSP: proposal for postponement to 2027
The current European generalized system of preferences (GSP) should be extended to 2027 according to proposal of regulation of EU Parliament and Council. In particular, this proposal ( 4 July 2023- COM 426 2023/0252 COD ) lays down that: “…the period of application of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 should be extended until 31 December 2027…”; “…If the publication takes place after 31 December 2023, this Regulation shall apply retroactively from 1 January 2024…”; “…in case the Regulation based on Commission Proposal COM(2021)579 becomes applicable before that date, the extension of the period of application of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 should be correspondingly shortened…”. For sake of completness, the Commission Proposal COM(2021)579 provides…