Trade Policy

EU Council Adopts Revised GSP Regulation on Trade Preferences for Developing Countries

The Council of the EU has adopted a new Regulation on the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences, tightening conditions and safeguards for tariff preferences granted to vulnerable developing countries, with application from 1 January 2027. This recast locks in the 2027–2036 GSP framework and more clearly links preferential access to performance on human rights, labour, environmental protection and migration cooperation, raising compliance and reputational stakes for EU importers and global suppliers.

25 May 2026, 15:46data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council Adopts Revised Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Regulation

The EU has adopted a new GSP Regulation that tightens sustainability, human rights and migration conditionality on trade preferences for developing countries, to apply from 1 January 2027 and run until the end of 2036. This raises the risk of preference withdrawal and safeguard action for beneficiary countries and EU traders, requiring early review of sourcing strategies, country risk and tariff exposure under the revised GSP framework.

25 May 2026, 15:44data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council Working Party Briefed On EUR 3 Customs Duty For Low-Value E-Commerce Consignments

The EU has abolished duty-free treatment for low-value e-commerce imports and, from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2028, will apply a flat EUR 3 customs duty per item for consignments up to EUR 150, with Commission services now briefing member states on implementation details and liability under Regulation 2026/382. Cross-border sellers, marketplaces and logistics providers shipping into the EU must update pricing, customs declaration processes and contractual allocations of the new duty ahead of mid-2026 and monitor the 2026–2028 review points in case the supposedly temporary regime is extended.

25 May 2026, 15:27eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

UK Government Publishes Conclusion Summary for UK–GCC Free Trade Agreement

In May 2026 the UK government published a conclusion summary of the newly negotiated UK–GCC Free Trade Agreement, outlining extensive tariff liberalisation, rules of origin, regulatory cooperation and TRIPS-plus pharmaceutical IP commitments that are agreed but not yet in force. The deal signals significant future changes for chemicals, life sciences and wider manufacturing trade between the UK and GCC, so companies should start assessing rules-of-origin, conformity assessment, pharma data exclusivity and ratification timelines ahead of implementation.

22 May 2026, 18:50gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EU Commission Welcomes Political Agreement on Implementation of EU-US Trade Deal

In May 2026, EU legislators reached a political agreement on two Regulations to eliminate tariffs on all US industrial goods and grant preferential market access for certain US agricultural and seafood products under the 2025 EU-US trade deal. If formally adopted, this package would lock in cheaper transatlantic trade for a broad range of industrial and agri-food products until at least the end of 2029, reshaping market access and competitive dynamics for EU and US manufacturers and exporters.

22 May 2026, 10:22ec.europa.euEuropean UnionUnited States

EU Parliament And Council Reach Provisional Agreement On EU–US Tariff Preferences

In May 2026, EU co-legislators agreed a provisional package of regulations under the EU–US tariff framework that would eliminate duties on US industrial goods and extend preferential access for selected seafood and agricultural products including lobster. The deal creates a time-limited but more predictable tariff environment, while embedding sunset, suspension and safeguard clauses that let the EU reimpose duties if US tariffs rise or import surges threaten EU industry and farmers.

21 May 2026, 06:54europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Corrects Regulation 2026/382: EUR 3 Customs Duty Applies Per Item

In May 2026, the EU issued a corrigendum to Council Regulation (EU) 2026/382 clarifying that the transitional EUR 3 customs duty on low-value consignments is charged per item rather than per consignment between July 2026 and July 2028. Importers, distance sellers and customs intermediaries must adjust pricing, IT systems and customs declarations for low-value shipments into the EU, as multi-item consignments may now attract significantly higher total duties.

21 May 2026, 06:54eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU-US Trade: Council and Parliament Reach Provisional Agreement on Tariff Regulations Under Joint Statement

In May 2026, EU co-legislators reached a provisional agreement on two regulations eliminating remaining tariffs on most US industrial goods and extending duty-free access for lobster, implementing the tariff commitments in the 2025 EU-US Joint Statement. If adopted, this package will reset key transatlantic tariff conditions, offering cost and market-access benefits while embedding safeguards, conditionality on US steel and aluminium tariffs, and a 2029 sunset that firms must build into medium-term trade and supply-chain planning.

21 May 2026, 06:53consilium.europa.euEuropean UnionUnited States

US Presidential Proclamation Extends AGOA and CBERA Preferences Through 2026 and Redesignates Gabon

A 19 May 2026 US presidential proclamation implements Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 trade provisions by extending AGOA and Caribbean Basin apparel preferences through 31 December 2026, redesignating Gabon as an AGOA beneficiary, and updating multiple HTSUS notes and headings for entries from late 2025 and early 2026. This secures short-term continuity for African and Haitian textile and apparel exports while setting a common 2026 sunset, requiring importers and supply chains to adjust classifications and plan for potential post-2026 preference changes.

21 May 2026, 06:51whitehouse.govUnited StatesGabonHaitiAFR

American Chemistry Council Testifies at USTR Section 301 Hearing on Excess Capacity

On 5 May 2026, the American Chemistry Council testified at a USTR Section 301 hearing on structural excess capacity, urging trade officials to tackle unfair non-market policies while protecting access to critical chemical and plastics inputs. This signals that potential Section 301 responses could reshape chemicals value chains, so manufacturers and importers should watch for tariff or other trade actions that might disrupt raw materials, intermediates, and export competitiveness.

20 May 2026, 08:28americanchemistry.comUnited States

UK Explanatory Memorandum on EU Industrial Accelerator Act Proposal (COM(2026)100)

The UK Government has issued an Explanatory Memorandum on the EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act, clarifying how new origin, procurement, investment and future construction-product sustainability labelling rules could affect UK supply chains and apply in Northern Ireland via the Windsor Framework. While the Act remains at proposal stage, companies should treat it as an early signal that EU industrial decarbonisation policy may recalibrate market access and investment conditions for UK manufacturing, particularly in construction materials, automotive, net-zero technologies and sustainable chemicals.

13 May 2026, 18:46assets.publishing.service.gov.ukEuropean UnionUnited Kingdom

EU Council Authorises Signing of EU-Mexico Modernised Global and Interim Trade Agreements

In May 2026 the EU Council authorised signing of a modernised EU-Mexico partnership agreement and an interim trade agreement that will, once ratified, remove most remaining tariffs, strengthen cooperation and embed robust sustainable development and climate commitments. For European exporters in agri-food, machinery, pharmaceuticals and other sectors, this signals upcoming changes to market access, customs procedures, critical raw materials cooperation and trade rules with Mexico, making it important to track ratification and implementation timelines.

12 May 2026, 15:19consilium.europa.euEuropean UnionMexico

EU Council Prepares Policy Debate on Industrial Accelerator Act and Low-Carbon Single Market Access

EU ministers will hold a policy debate on the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act at the 28 May 2026 Competitiveness Council, guided by a presidency note that frames how European preference and low-carbon criteria in public spending and market access could support strategic industrial sectors. This signals a potential shift toward linking Single Market access, public procurement and large foreign investments to low-carbon performance and EU value-chain integration, but concrete obligations and timelines will only be fixed later in the legislative negotiations.

10 May 2026, 19:16eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

US Commerce: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review of Strontium Chromate From France (2023–2024)

US Commerce has issued preliminary 2023–2024 antidumping review results for strontium chromate from France, finding a zero dumping margin for the sole reviewed producer SNCZ and leaving existing duty rates under the 2019 antidumping order unchanged for now. Importers and chemical suppliers should monitor the final results and any resulting changes to company-specific and all-others cash deposit rates, as a confirmed zero margin could reduce duty costs and shift competitive dynamics in this specialised corrosion-inhibiting pigment market.

9 May 2026, 13:23govinfo.govUnited States

UK Trade Remedies Authority Launches Survey on Tariffs for Glass Containers From China and Turkey

The UK Trade Remedies Authority has opened a short business and consumer survey, closing on 21 May 2026, to inform potential tariffs on glass container imports from China and Turkey. UK buyers and users of glass containers should review whether they fall within the scope of the ongoing trade remedies cases and consider responding to shape the economic interest assessment and prepare for possible cost and supply-chain impacts.

9 May 2026, 13:20trresearch.qualtrics.comUnited Kingdom

EU Council Presidency Confirms Final Compromise Text for Union Customs Code Reform

In April 2026 the Council Presidency circulated the final compromise text of a new Regulation overhauling the EU Union Customs Code, creating an EU Customs Authority and a centralised EU Customs Data Hub while repealing the existing customs code. If adopted, this reform will fundamentally reshape customs governance, digital data flows and e‑commerce obligations from 2028 to 2034, requiring importers, platforms and trusted traders to retool customs processes, IT systems and compliance strategies across EU supply chains.

9 May 2026, 07:04data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

US USTR Initiates Second Four-Year Review of Section 301 Tariffs on Chinese Imports

USTR has launched the second four-year review of the Section 301 tariff actions on Chinese imports, setting two 60-day windows in mid-2026 for domestic industry representatives to request continuation of the tariffs. Companies whose products are covered by the Section 301 lists should decide whether to support continuation and prepare for potential changes to tariff coverage and competitiveness once the review and any subsequent public comment phase are completed.

8 May 2026, 08:59federalregister.govUnited States

UK Parliament Introduces Dairy Farming and Dairy Products Bill

In the UK Parliament’s 2024–26 session a Private Members’ Dairy Farming and Dairy Products Bill has been introduced to protect domestic dairy farmers in trade negotiations and to impose origin labelling and fair‑dealing rules for dairy products. If progressed, this could create new obligations for retailers, processors and importers of dairy products on labelling, pricing practices and contractual terms in UK dairy supply chains.

6 May 2026, 07:52bills.parliament.ukUnited Kingdom

European Commission Answer Highlights Honey Authentication, Import Controls and EU‑Mercosur Honey Safeguards (E-000760/2026)

In an April 2026 answer to Parliament, the European Commission outlines its approach to honey authentication, strengthened import controls, and calibrated EU‑Mercosur market access for honey. While no new rules are announced, the Honey Platform’s mandate, an import‑controls task force, and TRQ‑plus‑safeguard commitments signal continued scrutiny of honey fraud and third‑country imports, which operators should factor into risk and trade planning.

5 May 2026, 13:31europarl.europa.euEuropean UnionMERCOSUR

European Commission Confirms Provisional Application Of EU–Mercosur Trade Agreement From 1 May 2026

From 1 May 2026, the EU–Mercosur trade agreement will apply provisionally, creating a 700 million‑person market with lower tariffs, wider public‑procurement access and stronger supply‑chain links between Europe and South America. This accelerates both opportunities and competition across EU industries while locking in commitments on deforestation, labour rights, food safety and climate that companies must factor into trade, sourcing and investment strategies.

5 May 2026, 07:22commission.europa.euEuropean UnionArgentinaBrazilParaguayUruguay