The U.K. has extended, effective Feb. 21, the antidumping duties on corrosion-resistant iron and steel products from China, until Feb. 9, 2028, the Department for International Trade announced. The duties range from 17.2% to 27.9%, including the 27.9% rate applied to non-individually examined exporters. The goods covered are "flat-rolled products of iron or alloy steel or non-alloy steel; plated or coated by hot dip galvanisation with zinc and/or aluminium and/or magnesium, whether or not alloyed with silicon; chemically passivated; with or without any additional surface treatment such as oiling or sealing," of specific metal content and "presented in coils, cut-to-length sheets and narrow strips." Excluded from the duties are products made of stainless steel, silicon-electrical steel and high-speed steel "not further worked than hot-rolled or cold-rolled."

The EU will consider upcoming U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum as it enters the final stages of a review of its steel safeguard measures (see 2412180032), with the aim of protecting European firms from import surges caused by the coming tariffs, said Leopoldo Rubinacci, the European Commission’s deputy director-general for trade.

The European Commission knocked down reporting that it is ready to drop its 10% tariffs on autos, and defended the pattern of trade between the EU and the U.S. in a FAQ document on the concept of reciprocal tariffs.

Companies shouldn’t expect a significant amount of early enforcement action from the U.K.’s new Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation, which isn’t yet a finished product, its leader, Anna Deibel-Jung, said last week.

The European Commission criticized President Donald Trump’s plans to impose reciprocal tariffs against trading partners (see 2502130030), calling it a “step in the wrong direction” and vowing to protect European businesses from any “unjustified tariff measures.”

Members of the European Parliament this week called on the EU member states to impose sanctions against the Turkish government for undermining democracy and Nicaraguan officials for human rights violations.

A new European Parliament briefing published this week analyzes the state of EU sanctions against Russia, including developments last year and possible next steps that the bloc could take to increase pressure against Moscow.

The U.K. on Feb. 12 published a general license permitting humanitarian activity in Syria. The license allows for the U.N., humanitarian organizations with observer status with the U.N. General Assembly, bilaterally or multilaterally funded non-governmental organizations taking part in the UN Humanitarian Response Plans and international organizations conducting relief activities in Syria to engage in activities needed to "provide humanitarian assistance, other activities that support basic human needs and facilitate the timely provision of those activities in Syria." Any parties carrying out those activities must "provide written notice to HM Treasury within 30 days of commencing the activity."

The European Commission on Feb. 11 imposed antidumping duties on biodiesel from China following an investigation showing that Chinese biodiesel is harming the EU industry. The duties range from 10% to 35.6% but exclude imports of aviation biofuels known as Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

The European Commission this week issued new guidance with an updated list of territories that are “temporarily occupied” by Russia and subject to certain sanctions and trade restrictions. The list, published by Ukrainian authorities, is meant to help traders and other EU “operators” determine which areas in the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts are subject to restrictions because they’re under control by Russia instead of by Ukraine. “Considering the fluid situation, a dynamic assessment of this control could be necessary,” the commission said. “In case of doubt, EU operators can reach out to their national competent authority.”