The UK government announced on 15 March 2023 that customs valuation rulings, so-called Advance Valuation Rulings (“AVR”), would soon be a feature of the UK Customs regime (please see our earlier blog here). On 27 April 2023, the UK government published guidance on submitting applications for an AVR with the system going live. This is despite the necessary legislative amendments not yet coming into force. An AVR is a legally binding ruling held by the…
As part of its slate of Customs measures announced for the Spring Budget 2023, the UK government confirmed yesterday, March 15, that AVRs will soon be a feature of the UK Customs regime. The long awaited mechanism will allow for legally binding rulings on the Customs Valuation methodology for the specified goods in a particular scenario, for a period of three years (subject to cancellation or withdrawal). Amendments will be made to the UK legislative…
Yesterday (15 March 2023), the Government announced its Spring Budget 2023, which included some long awaited changes to the current Customs regime (“Customs Package”). Broadly, the announcements capture improvements following the Government’s 2022 Call for Evidence on an independent Customs regime. Many of the changes have been anticipated by businesses (such as the Advance Valuation Rulings mechanism which we have blogged about separately today as well). A summary of these changes is set out below:…
There are already big reforms planned for the UK Trade Remedies Authority (“TRA”) – less than two years after its establishment – and for the overall operation of the UK trade remedies regime. On March 9, the UK Government announced changes to its trade remedies regime to transition to a more complex investigatory regime. Changes include: The TRA taking on responsibility for investigating bilateral safeguard cases as part of free trade agreements; Greater Ministerial powers…
The UK’s trade remedies body, the Trade Remedies Authority (“TRA”) announced on 22 February that it has begun a reconsideration of its recommendation in Case AD0012, concerning imports of certain aluminium extrusions originating in China (here). Notably, this was the TRA’s first anti-dumping investigation in response to an application from UK industry. A reconsideration application is a request for the TRA to review its findings in a concluded investigation. The applicant, a UK producer in Case AD0012, alleges that the TRA erred in its…
Hot on the heels of the German Federal Fiscal Court’s publication of its final decision in the Hamamatsu case (our blog on that here), UK Customs (HMRC) have today published updated guidance on the customs valuation of imports, replacing its previous guidance (Notice 252). What jumps out at first glance is a seeming change in policy with regards to the valuation of goods sold between related parties, with HMRC advising “you will not usually be…
The UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax (“PPT”) becomes effective on 1 April 2022 and applies to plastic packaging in the UK that contains less than 30% recycled plastic content at a rate of £200 per metric tonne. You can access our recent webinar on PPT here. The tax is aimed at encouraging the use of more sustainable plastic packaging, increasing the use of recycled plastic and helping to reduce plastic waste. The PPT has been promoted by…