Trade Policy

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

US House Bill H.R. 8583 Proposes Ban on Duties for Imported Phosphate Fertilisers

US lawmakers have introduced H.R. 8583 to prevent the use of key Trade Act of 1974 authorities to impose duties on imported phosphate fertilizers, with the bill now before the House Ways and Means Committee. If advanced, this measure could stabilise phosphate fertilizer import costs for US agriculture while constraining future tariff-based trade actions under those provisions.

5 May 2026, 07:10congress.govUnited States

EU–Mercosur: European Parliament MEPs React to Provisional Application of Interim Trade Agreement From 1 May 2026

On 30 April 2026 the European Parliament’s trade committee leadership welcomed the provisional application, from 1 May 2026, of the EU–Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement while stressing that full entry into force still depends on a Court of Justice opinion and Parliament’s consent. For companies trading between the EU and Mercosur, this confirms that tariff preferences will start to apply while highlighting that bilateral safeguard clauses to protect sensitive EU sectors, particularly agriculture, are already in place, so trade gains will be accompanied by continued political scrutiny of import impacts.

5 May 2026, 06:53europarl.europa.euEuropean UnionArgentinaBrazilParaguayUruguayMERCOSUR

Argentina Establishes Procedure for Advance Origin Rulings on Imported Goods

Argentina has adopted Resolution SIC 26/26 to establish a formal procedure for advance rulings on the origin of imported goods, effective from 1 May 2026. This gives importers, exporters and producers a binding three‑year origin determination via the national TAD electronic platform, improving certainty for tariff preferences and trade‑defence measures but adding new documentation and process requirements for origin‑sensitive imports.

5 May 2026, 06:46cda.org.arArgentina

European Commission Adopts Delegated Regulation Amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 for Temporary EUR 3 Customs Duty on Distance Sales

In April 2026 the European Commission adopted a delegated regulation amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 to update customs declaration data requirements for implementing the temporary EUR 3 duty on distance sales of imported goods. Importers, online sellers and intermediaries shipping goods into the EU will need to align their customs declaration systems and processes with the revised data elements to ensure correct application and collection of this new duty on low-value consignments.

4 May 2026, 20:09ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Commission Opens January 2027 Tariff-Suspension Round and Sets 12 June 2026 Objection Deadline

In April 2026 the European Commission announced a new round of requests, for the January 2027 cycle, to suspend autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on certain industrial and agricultural products and published the associated request list on its customs portal with objections due by 12 June 2026. This development signals upcoming adjustments to EU tariff treatment for selected goods, so companies trading relevant products should quickly review the online list and coordinate any objections with national administrations to manage 2027 market access and cost impacts.

3 May 2026, 14:33eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

European Parliament Questions Commission on Coking Sector, Critical Raw Materials and EU ETS

On 22 April 2026, an MEP asked the European Commission whether it will recognise the EU coking industry as strategic, ease EU ETS costs and consider trade protections against cheap coke imports. If taken up, these ideas could foreshadow adjustments to the Critical Raw Materials framework, ETS cost burden and trade defence tools affecting coke-dependent steel, defence and automotive supply chains.

3 May 2026, 07:29europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

OECD Publishes 2026 Inventory of Export Restrictions on Critical Raw Materials

In April 2026 the OECD released its 2026 inventory showing export restrictions on critical raw materials remain at historically high levels after sharp increases in 2022–2023. This points to sustained concentration and price volatility risks for critical raw material supply chains, signalling ongoing exposure for manufacturers, energy and technology sectors that rely on these inputs and may need to diversify sourcing and engage on trade policy.

1 May 2026, 18:35oecd.orgGlobal

US Commerce/BIS Issues Technical Corrections to HTSUS for Proclamation 11021 Metal Duties

The US Commerce Department has issued technical corrections to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule implementing Presidential Proclamation 11021, adding a new heading and amending US Note 16 for section 232 duties on aluminum, steel, and copper imports effective 6 April 2026. Importers of affected metal products, particularly those relying on exemptions for non-metal content or the UK-origin Tata Steel arrangement, must adjust their classifications and duty-calculation processes ahead of the 2028 sunset on the clarified preferential treatment.

1 May 2026, 12:59federalregister.govUnited States

Germany: Chancellor Signals 1 May 2026 Interim Application Of EU–Mercosur Trade Deal

Germany’s Chancellor has publicly signalled that the EU–Mercosur interim trade agreement is expected to start provisional application from 1 May 2026, stressing that this path is effectively irreversible and that only final EU‑level approvals remain. This is a strong political marker for companies to plan around lower tariffs and deeper supply‑chain integration with Brazil and Mercosur—especially for rare earths, niobium, e‑mobility and wind‑power metals—while monitoring the remaining EU ratification steps and adapting trade and sourcing strategies accordingly.

24 Apr 2026, 08:15bundesregierung.deGermanyBrazilEuropean UnionMERCOSUR

EU Parliament ITRE Draft Opinion on Extending CBAM to Downstream Goods and Anti-Circumvention Measures

In April 2026 the European Parliament’s Industry Committee issued a draft opinion on the Commission’s proposal to amend the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, backing a significant extension of CBAM to downstream goods and stronger anti-circumvention rules. If adopted, these changes would bring a broad range of appliances, machinery and vehicles into CBAM scope, raising compliance demands for importers and manufacturers while shaping investment decisions on low-carbon production and EU-centred supply chains.

23 Apr 2026, 15:19europarl.europa.euEuropean Union