News

Jul 2, 2025

Increased tariffs on agricultural imports from Russia and Belarus

With Regulation (EU) 2025/1227 of 17 June 2025, the European Union has made far-reaching changes to the import duties for fertilisers and agricultural goods from Russia and Belarus. Russian and Belarusian products can no longer be imported under tariff rate quotas; customs duties on these goods will be drastically increased. Duties on fertilisers will be introduced gradually.

Jul 1, 2025

Omnibus package IV: Updates to the Battery Regulation

On 21 May 2025, as part of the Omnibus IV package, the European Commission proposed a regulation to postpone the start of the due diligence obligations under the Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (the Battery Regulation) to 27 August 2027. At the same time, this would give the European Commission more time to publish guidelines on the formulation of due diligence obligations. In addition, relief measures for small and mid-cap companies were proposed. The Council approved the new date on 19 June 2025. We will keep you updated.

Jun 30, 2025

Omnibus package IV: Updates to the F-Gas Regulation

Anyone who believed that the Omnibus would stop at the Regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases – Regulation (EU) 2024/573 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘F-gas Regulation’) – was left disappointed. On 21 May 2025, the European Commission published a proposal for the Omnibus IV package for this piece of legislation, following on from the proposals for Omnibus Packages I and II of 26 February 2025 and Omnibus Package III of 14 May 2025.

Jun 19, 2025

Import VAT: Formal errors do not preclude tax exemption

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that formal errors in the re-importation of goods—such as missing presentation to customs or missing customs declaration – do not preclude VAT exemption, provided there is no attempt at deception (Case C-125/24).The case focused on the return of competition horses without proper customs formalities. The ECJ emphasized the primacy of substantive conditions and protects good-faith economic operators from tax disadvantages in cases of mere negligence. The ruling strengthens legal certainty in EU customs law beyond the individual case.

Jun 3, 2025

EU lifts sanctions against Syria

In response to the fall of the Assad regime, the European Union (EU) has largely lifted its sanctions against Syria. We present the amendments to the EU's sanctions regime against Syria.

May 23, 2025

The new EUDR benchmarking system and its implications

On 22 May, the European Commission published the long-awaited benchmarking system according to Article 29 of the Regulation (EU) 1115/2023 as well as its underlying methodology.

News

Increased tariffs on agricultural imports from Russia and Belarus

Omnibus package IV: Updates to the Battery Regulation

Omnibus package IV: Updates to the F-Gas Regulation

Import VAT: Formal errors do not preclude tax exemption

EU lifts sanctions against Syria

The new EUDR benchmarking system and its implications

Our newsletter – your monthly update on the new developments in trade compliance, economic security, and sustainability