The U.K. issued updated guidance last week on how exporters can use Assimilated General Export Authorizations (GEA), the general export licenses that were "assimilated" into U.K. law after the country’s exit from the EU.

The EU and India held the second meeting of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council on Feb. 28, where working groups discussed critical technologies, supply chains, a possible trade agreement and more. The trade working group specifically spoke about “best practices in the screening of Foreign Direct Investments,” and they “strengthened their commitment towards the multilateral trading system as an anchor in the current challenging geopolitical context.” They also spoke about World Trade Organization reform, the EU’s upcoming carbon tax on certain imports and diversifying suppliers. The next meeting will be held in 2026.

The U.K. updated its Russia-related export control and sanctions guidance this week to provide more information on license requirements for common high-priority list items destined for Russia.

The EU unveiled its latest Russia sanctions package this week, including an import ban on primary aluminum; new export controls on dual-use items used by Russia’s military; more restrictions against Russia's energy sector; new sanctions against companies, people and vessels helping Moscow evade trade restrictions; and more.

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.