The EU customs reform has come into force, marking the start of a better, smarter and simpler customs system across the EU. Following its formal adoption by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, the reform was published in the Official Journal on 19 September and will be phased in from 21 […]
New EU rules on e-commerce and customs controls
Parliament has given the green light to a wide-ranging reform of the European Customs Code, which imposes stricter rules on e-commerce and establishes a new customs authority. The regulations include an administration fee for each product purchased from retailers outside the EU and sent directly to European consumers, which will serve to cover the costs […]
The Commission submits the landmark trade agreement with India to the Council for signature
The European Commission has submitted its proposals to the Council for the signing and conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Union and India, requesting the Council’s authorisation. If authorised by the Council, this will be the largest trade agreement ever signed between the EU and India. Once adopted and in force, […]
The EU’s agri-food trade surplus rises in the first five months of 2026
The latest report on EU agri-food trade published by the European Commission shows that, in the first five months of 2026, the EU’s agri-food trade surplus stood at €19.4 billion, €1 billion more than in the same period of 2025. The value of the EU’s agri-food exports totalled €96,900 million between January and May 2026, […]
The Commission welcomes the political agreement on the new EU steel measure
The European Commission welcomes the political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council on the measure to protect the EU steel sector from global overcapacity. This is a crucial step towards ensuring the long-term viability of a strategic European industry. The new measure sets duty-freequotas at 18.3 million tonnes per year, with an […]
Commission acts against unfair imports of ABS from Korea and Taiwan
On 13 February, the Commission imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on imports into the EU of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resins from Taiwan and the Republic of Korea. The anti-dumping duties imposed range from 5.2% to 7.5% for Korea and from 10.9% to 21.7% for Taiwan. The imposition of definitive duties follows a thorough investigation which concluded that […]
EP approves safeguards to protect European agriculture in Mercosur agreement
On Tuesday, the plenary session approved safeguard measures to prevent harm to European farmers when implementing the trade agreement with Mercosur. Under the new regulation, approved by 483 votes in favour, 102 against and 67 abstentions and informally agreed with the Council, the tariff preferences provided for in the EU-Mercosur trade agreement for imports of […]
The Commission establishes a working group to strengthen food safety controls on imports
The European Commission has established a task force to maintain and strengthen the EU’s capacity to ensure that imports comply with Union standards, while supporting employment and growth for EU producers. The task force will focus in particular on food and feed safety, pesticide residues and coordinated EU follow-up measures on specific imported products. It […]
EU introduces customs duties on low-value e-commerce packages
The Commission welcomed last December 12’s decision by EU Member States to introduce a €3 customs duty per item on e-commerce parcels valued below €150, starting in July 2026. The new duty will help protect the competitiveness of European businesses by levelling the playing field between e-commerce and traditional retail. Given the rapid increase in e-commerce goods being imported into the EU, the Commission and Member States have together acknowledged the need for an urgent […]