TradeLane

Importers, exporters, and producers trading within North America have been rapidly preparing for the July 1^st implementation of the US Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA).

The Covid-19 pandemic has produced disruption around the globe, causing governments to enforce lockdowns and place controls on essential equipment to protect vital medical supply chains. In the EU, the regulations surrounding the import and export of personal protective equipment (PPE) have forced industry professionals to pay attention to regulations that evolve in step with the crisis.

In preparation for Brexit, the United Kingdom (UK) has published its Common External Tariff, scheduled to take effect on January 1^st, 2021, at the end of the transition period established in the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill.

As we strive in the US to obtain enough personal protective equipment to keep first responders and the general populace safe, the rules for importing these essential items seem murky at best.  There is a lengthy list of PPE products flowing into the United States, so let’s target masks for today’s discussion.

Following a 15 years dispute between the United States and the European Union regarding aviation industry-related subsidies, the World Trade Organization recently issued a report that justifies up to USD $7.5 billion annually in countermeasures made by the US against EU countries as a result.