The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade launched two digital tools to help companies trade with the U.K. during and after the Brexit transition period, according to a Feb. 3 notice. The U.K.’s “Trade with the UK” tool provides “detailed and up-to-date information” on tariffs, taxes and rules for businesses exporting goods into the U.K. The “Check How to Export Goods” tool provides U.K. exporters information on duties and customs procedures for more than 160 foreign markets. The country said the tools will help “existing businesses who are trading internationally and encourage new businesses to start.” Both tools will be updated “regularly” to reflect changes as the transition period progresses and as the U.K. departs the EU.

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade released a Feb. 3 collection on trading with the U.K. for overseas exporters. The collection includes links to information on U.K. import procedures, controls and restrictions, commodity rates, value-added tax measures, rules of origin procedures, and packaging and labeling. The collection also includes import requirements for agricultural, environmental and textile goods.

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade issued a notice Feb. 1 to World Trade Organization members about its withdrawal from the European Union. The notice clarified that the U.K. will continue to be a WTO member, details the U.K.’s continuity agreements and sets out “implications” of the U.K.’s exit from the EU. The U.K. said it is consulting with WTO members about a variety of trade topics, including tariff-rate quotas, its schedule of concessions and specific commitments in services and more. The country said it has “always been a strong supporter” of the WTO, looks forward to partnering with developing countries within the WTO to strengthen trade, is “committed” to meeting its WTO obligations in its “future trade regime,” and will make itself “available to answer any questions that Members might have.”

The European Commission said it has taken its “first step” to begin negotiations on trade, economic cooperation, foreign policy and more with the United Kingdom and will soon adopt a draft of “negotiating directives” to formally begin talks, according to a Feb. 3 press release. In a statement, EC President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU wants to quickly reach a deal but the commission will “defend EU interests, and the interests of our citizens, right until the end.” Michel Barnier, the EC's chief negotiator, said the EU will try “to find solutions that respect the UK's choices.”

The first year of the European Union-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement significantly increased U.K. meat, dairy, beverage, leather and electrical machinery exports, according to a Jan. 31 press release from the European Commission. The deal removed the “vast majority of the €1 billion in duties” on EU exports to Japan and will eventually eliminate Japanese customs duties on 97 percent of EU imports once the deal is fully implemented, the commission said. Frozen meats of bovine animals saw the biggest growth under the deal (221 percent increase in exports), followed by milk and cream (120.7 percent) and babies’ clothing and accessories (108.3 percent).

The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union will bring a “new era” for U.K. exporters, which will include new international marketing campaigns, new digital trading tools and more export opportunities, International Trade Secretary Elizabeth Truss said at a Jan. 30 reception hosted by the Department for International Trade.

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade on Jan. 30 released a guidance on trading with developing nations during the Brexit transition period. The guidance contains details on the U.K.’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences during and after the transition period.

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade released on Jan. 29 a notice to importers about the current range of European Union measures in force on steel. The guidance includes information on EU legislation during and after the Brexit transition period, including EU definitive safeguard measures on steel, EU tariff-rate quota review findings, EU antidumping and anti-subsidy measures in place against steel and aluminum and EU countermeasures against U.S. steel and aluminum tariff increases. The guidance also includes an annex containing product categories that are subject to safeguards.

The European Council issued guidance and background on the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the European Union as the U.K. enters the Brexit transition period Jan. 31, according to a Jan. 30 notice. The guidance includes information on the transition period, copies of the draft agreement on the withdrawal, a revised political declaration on the future relationship between the U.K. and the EU, and further background information on Brexit.

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade issued guidance on trade agreements with non-European Union countries in place during and after the Brexit transition period, according to a Jan. 29 notice. The guidance includes information on when the trade agreements take effect, how long they will remain in effect, which agreements are still in negotiations and more. The transition period begins Feb. 1 and will end after this year.