EU: Council Adopts Revised GSP Regulation Strengthening Conditionality of Trade Preferences
On 22 May 2026 the EU Council adopted a revised Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Regulation that tightens the conditions for preferential market access to developing countries. The overhaul adds the Paris Agreement, additional UN human‑rights instruments, ILO standards and the UN crime convention to the compliance checklist, and links trade benefits to migration readmission cooperation. While the three‑tier structure, including the Everything‑But‑Arms (EBA) regime, remains, the new rules introduce stricter withdrawal mechanisms and a transition path to GSP+ for graduating economies. The regulation becomes effective on 1 January 2027, prompting firms to reassess exposure to countries that may fall short of the expanded obligations.
EU: Council and Parliament Reached an Agreement on the Implementation of the EU-U.S. Trade Deal
On 20 May 2026 the EU Council presidency and European Parliament reached a deal on two regulations that will give effect to the EU‑U.S. Trade Agreement Framework announced in August 2025. The framework caps U.S. tariffs on EU goods at 15 percent while the...
EU: Austria Publishes Draft EUR 2 Delivery Tax on Distance Sales
Austria has released a draft Delivery Tax Act that would levy a flat €2 (≈ $2.15) charge on each e‑commerce parcel, payable by the distance seller. The tax applies only to sellers who generated more than €100 million (≈ $107 million) in Austrian distance‑sale...
The EU–Mercosur Free Trade Agreement: A Landmark Deal at a Critical Moment
After 25 years of talks, the EU and Mercosur signed a landmark free‑trade agreement covering more than 770 million consumers and roughly 25 % of global GDP. The deal is split into a political‑economic Partnership Agreement and an Interim Trade Agreement (iTA)...
The Mexican Government Publishes an Increase to the General Import Duty Applicable to Certain Goods Originating in Countries with Which...
On April 23, 2026 Mexico’s President office issued a decree raising the general import (MFN) duty for 185 tariff classifications, with rates now ranging from 5% to 35%. The increase targets chemicals, cosmetics, paper, textiles, steel, aluminum, auto parts, electrical...
EU: European Parliament and Council Reach Agreement on the EU Customs Reform
On 26 March 2026 the European Parliament and Council approved the most sweeping EU customs reform since 1968, replacing the Union Customs Code with a new Regulation (nUCC). The package creates an EU Customs Authority in Lille and a single EU Customs...
Japan: Amendments to Prevent Circumvention of Anti-Dumping Duties and Abolish De Minimis Provisions
On 31 March 2026 Japan passed amendments to its Customs Tariff Act, Customs Act and related measures, introducing a system to curb anti‑dumping duty evasion and scrapping the 0.6‑times de‑minimis rule for personal imports. The reforms also empower customs officials...
Canada Initiates Safeguard Inquiry Into Imports of Wood Cabinets, Flooring and Furniture
On April 20, 2026, Canada instructed the Canadian International Trade Tribunal to conduct a 270‑day safeguard inquiry into imports of finished wood products, including cabinets, hardwood flooring, and storage furniture. The investigation will examine import data from January 1 2023 to determine...
General Court Confirms Reliance on Foreign Export Prices for Customs Valuation
On 25 March 2026 the EU General Court upheld that customs authorities may rely on export‑price data from a third country when applying the residual valuation method under Article 74(3) of the Union Customs Code. The ruling stemmed from a post‑clearance audit of...
United States: President Trump Tariffs on Patented Pharmaceuticals Under Section 232
On April 2, 2026 President Trump issued a proclamation imposing a 100% ad valorem tariff on most imported patented pharmaceuticals and related active ingredients, effective July 31 for some firms and September 29 for others. The decree creates tiered rates,...
Canada Initiates Safeguard Inquiry Into Imports of Canned and Frozen Vegetables, Considers Future Investigation Into Wood Products
Canada’s finance ministry has instructed the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) to launch a safeguard inquiry into imports of certain canned and frozen vegetables, covering tariff headings 7.10 and 20.05. The tribunal has 180 days, with a recommendation due by...
SAVE THE DATE: Stockholm Customs Day, Wednesday 25 March 2026 at 9:00am
Baker McKenzie will host a Stockholm Customs Day on 25 March 2026 at 9 am, targeting customs, trade compliance professionals and legal counsel. The half‑day, in‑person event features speakers from the firm’s Stockholm office and other global locations. The agenda covers the latest...
2026 Canadian Trade & Customs Outlook: Forced Labour
Canada’s forced‑labour import prohibition remains largely unenforced, with the CBSA having detained only one shipment confirmed as forced‑labour since 2021. A private‑member Bill C-251 is advancing, proposing a rebuttable presumption that goods from certain entities are tainted unless proven otherwise....
2026 Canadian Trade & Customs Outlook: Trade Remedies
Baker McKenzie highlights a sweeping overhaul of Canada’s trade‑remedies regime, with the CBSA making annual administrative reviews the default for updating normal values, export prices and subsidy amounts. The agency recorded a near‑record number of anti‑dumping and countervailing duty investigations...
Webinar Summary: US Supreme Court Ruling Triggers Major Shifts in US Trade Enforcement Strategy
The U.S. Supreme Court’s February 20 decision declared all tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) illegal, immediately halting collection and creating uncertainty for importers. In response, the administration invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act, imposing a...