The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade released its August report on the U.K. Strategic Export Control Lists, detailing which military dual-use items need export licenses. The 298-page report covers export controls for the U.K.’s Military List, Dual-Use List, Security and Human Rights List and Radioactive Source List. The report also covers the European Union’s Non-military Firearm List, Human Rights List and Dual-Use List. The report summarizes the text of current export control legislation.

The United Kingdom updated guidance for two defense-related general licenses on Aug. 13. For the U.K.'s open general export license for "military goods for demonstration," the U.K. will now allow the option for the goods to remain under the control of the exporter’s agent. For its open general export license on "historic military vehicles and artillery pieces," including “vintage” vehicles built 50 years or more before the export date that are exported to European Union countries for no longer than three months, "exporters are no longer required to register," the updated guidance said.

The United Kingdom Department for International Trade is setting new export controls on submersible vessels and related equipment, software and technology destined to Russia. “This additional control is a consequence of Russia developing certain capabilities -- including the ability to track, access and disrupt undersea communication cables,” the agency said in a notice to exporters. The new export controls, which take effect Aug. 14, only apply to exports to Russia, it said. “Export licence applications for items subject to the new control will be assessed on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria,” said the U.K. Department for International Trade.

The European Union is considering changes to its global safeguards on steel products in effect since July 2018 in response to U.S. Section 232 tariffs, the European Commission said in an Aug. 14 press release. According to a recent notification to the World Trade Organization, the EU is considering changes to tariff-rate quotas on several steel products, as well as a general slowing of increases on the quotas.

In the Aug. 13 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

Britain’s Home Secretary is removing the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group from its list of terrorism organizations, according to an Aug. 13 post on the European Sanctions blog. Although the move decriminalizes involvement with the group in the U.K, European Union and United Nations sanctions on the group remain in place.

In the Aug. 9-12 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

In the Aug. 7 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

The United Kingdom is working with Nigeria to boost the country’s exports and increase trade relations, the U.K. said in an Aug. 6 press release. As Alok Sharma, U.K.’s secretary for international development, visited Nigeria, the U.K. said it is working to help Nigeria’s Export Promotion Council diversify its exports, help “non-oil exporters comply with British standards” and encourage more trading between the U.K. and Nigeria. “A prosperous, growing and trading Nigeria is firmly in the UK’s interests and our relationship will continue to thrive as we leave the EU,” Sharma said in a statement.

Slovakia proposed several changes to its value-added tax law that will provide new rules on a VAT exemption for taxable goods “relating to the international trade in customs and special warehouses,” KPMG said in an Aug. 6 post. The proposals also extend a requirement “concerning adjustments to the input VAT deduction (via a capital goods scheme) to purchases of services related to these goods,” the post said. The measures would take effect Jan. 1, 2020.