The Customs Watch EU&UK: Edition 32

Arne Mielken
Sep 15, 2025
2 min read

Edition 32 - Week 38/2025

Period Covered: 8 September 2025 – 15 September 2025

Published: 16 September 2025

Colleagues,

The past week delivered critical shifts in customs and trade policy across Europe and the United Kingdom, with significant implications for businesses and compliance professionals.

The European Parliament approved the CBAM simplification package, easing compliance by extending deadlines, introducing de minimis thresholds, and postponing certificate obligations.
Norway submitted its official response to the EU CBAM consultation, calling for broader downstream product coverage, stronger anti-circumvention, and fair electricity rules.
A coalition of 108 MEPs urged the Commission to impose tougher steel import restrictions, demanding a new trade defence system by January 2026.
The UK released CDS 4.9.0, introducing stricter validation, new and withdrawn procedure codes, and optional data elements effective 27 September 2025.
HMRC published updated reference documents on customs reliefs, tariff quotas, authorised use, and tariff suspensions, bringing critical adjustments for importers.
The EU–Korea Digital Trade Agreement was tabled for Council approval, while the EU launched negotiations for a Digital Trade Agreement with Canada, reinforcing its global digital trade strategy.
A reminder that the UK–India Free Trade Agreement was concluded, eliminating tariffs on most goods and opening new opportunities in services, procurement, and investment. Now implementation starts.
At the WTO, the EU notified on CBAM implementing acts for the definitive regime starting in 2026, and reported special safeguard measures in agriculture covering poultry imports.
The EU proposed Council Decisions to approve the International Coffee Agreement 2022 and amendments to the Cocoa Agreement 2010, embedding sustainability and farmer income objectives into commodity trade.
The Commission set the EU’s position for the EU–Chile Trade Council, enabling adoption of procedural rules under the interim trade agreement.
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies entered into force, introducing binding prohibitions on harmful subsidies and activating the WTO Fish Fund with strong EU backing.

Together, these developments mark a decisive moment: EU and UK policymakers are not only modernising trade defence and sustainability mechanisms, but also reshaping the digital and commodity trade landscape. Stakeholders should prepare early, monitor forthcoming implementing acts, and adjust strategies to stay competitive in this rapidly evolving regulatory environment.

We wish you a productive week ahead.

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