Canada: announces new support for Canadian businesses affected by U.S. tariffs
On April 15, 2025, the Canadian government unveiled a comprehensive support package to assist businesses impacted by the ongoing trade dispute with the United States. This initiative aims to mitigate the economic challenges arising from U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and Canada's subsequent countermeasures.
Key Support Measures:
1. Performance-Based Tariff Relief for Automakers: Automakers maintaining vehicle production and investment commitments in Canada can import a limited number of U.S.-assembled, CUSMA-compliant vehicles without incurring Canadian countermeasure tariffs.
2. Temporary Tariff Exemptions for Essential Imports: A six-month exemption from counter-tariffs is granted for U.S. goods utilized in Canadian manufacturing, food and beverage packaging, and sectors critical to public health, safety, and national security.
3. Financial Assistance Programs:
- Large Enterprise Tariff Loan (LETL) Facility: Provides liquidity support to large Canadian enterprises adversely affected by tariffs.
- Tax Relief: Defers corporate income tax payments and GST/HST remittances from April 2 to June 30, 2025, for eligible businesses.
4. Duties Relief and Duty Drawback Programs: Allow qualified companies to import commercial goods without paying duties, provided those goods are eventually exported. For more information please refer Department of Finance of Canada
Canada Export Control Update
Canada has implemented significant revisions to its Export Control List (ECL), effective April 6, 2025, through Order SOR/2025-89. These amendments aim to enhance national security by expanding controls over technologies with potential military applications. The primary objective of the recent amendments is to include critical technologies that could be utilized in military contexts. This move ensures Canada maintains a coordinated and robust export control framework, aligning with its national security interests and those of its allies and partners. While the specific items added under SOR/2025-89 have not been detailed in the available sources, previous amendments, such as SOR/2024-112, have included controls on advanced semiconductors and quantum computing technologies. These additions reflect Canada's commitment to regulating the export of sensitive technologies that could be repurposed for military use.
For more information, please refer Government of Canada
European Union: EUCDM 7.0 Release - Enhancing Customs Data Efficiency Across the EU
The European Union is pleased to announce the release of the EU Customs Data Model (EUCDM) 7.0, a landmark publication designed to standardize and harmonize customs data legal requirements across the EU's trans-European and national systems. This latest release reaffirms the EU's commitment to streamlining customs procedures, enhancing customs data efficiency, and facilitating seamless trade operations.
Key Features and Improvements
EUCDM 7.0 serves as a vital tool for ensuring consistency in data handling for customs declarations, notifications, economic operators' registration and identification, applications, and decisions. The new release aligns with the Union Customs Code's legal requirements and provides essential guidance for the technical implementation of key systems, including (but not limited to):
- NCTS (New Computerised Transit System)
- AES (Automated Export System)
- ICS (Import Control System)
- EOS (Economic Operators’ System)
- CDS (Customs Decisions System)
The key highlights of EUCDM 7.0 include:
- Multilingual Support: Major sections are now available in English, French, and German, enhancing accessibility and usability.
- Improved Usability: Enhanced representation of customs data legal requirements, making it easier for users to navigate and understand the model.
- Updated Mappings: Alignments with the World Customs Organization Data Model version 4.1, ensuring consistency with international standards.
- Simulation Date Features: New functionality allowing for the simulation of future changes in legal data requirements, enabling stakeholders to prepare and adapt to upcoming changes.
- Structured Datasets: XML format downloadable datasets, providing a standardized and machine-readable format for customs data. For more information, please refer European Commission
European Union: Exporting to the US? There's a new update on Access2Markets
A brand-new field called “Other Duties” is now available - giving a clearer view of recent and upcoming additional duties imposed by the US. It can be found next to the usual GEN (Tariff Rate) and MFN (Most Favored Nation) fields, making it easier for EU exporters to forecast costs and plan ahead and with more certainty. Access2Markets Home
European Union: Commission Implementing Regulation as regards the conditions and procedures related to the status of authorised CBAM declarant
The Commission is pleased to announce that the Implementing Regulation as regards the authorisation of CBAM declarants was adopted by the Commission on 17 March 2025 and is published on the Commission website. This will allow importers and indirect customs representatives to apply for the status of authorised CBAM declarant to be able to import CBAM goods from 1 January 2026.
The Commission will launch the Authorisation Management Module (AMM) on 31 March 2025 in the CBAM Registry, which is the module to be used by the importers and indirect customs representatives for the application process and the management of the authorisations by the competent authorities.
Guidance detailing the authorisation process is available in the dedicated section “Authorisation Management Module” on the CBAM website.
In line with the Commission’s commitment to simplify the CBAM Regulation, and the new proposal for a de minimis threshold of 50 tonnes mass, the Commission encourages the competent authorities to advise importers who expect to exceed the de minimis threshold for the import of CBAM goods to apply for an authorisation as soon as possible. In the same vein, importers who do not expect to exceed the threshold should be invited to wait until early autumn to submit an application for authorisation. For more information, please refer European Commission
Netherlands: Export controls on advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment to be tightened
On 1 April 2025 the Netherlands will modify its national export control measure for advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment. As of that date more types of technology will be subject to a national authorisation requirement. The new policy will apply, for example, to specific measuring and inspection equipment that can be used in the production of advanced semiconductors. This announcement was made by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Reinette Klever in the Government Gazette. The expansion of the export control measure covers only a very limited number of technologies and goods.
Netherlands: tighten controls on military and dual use exports to e.g. Israel
The Dutch government published a significant decree in the Staatscourant (Official Gazette of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), introducing changes to export and transit of strategic goods under the Strategic Goods Decree. The Dutch government had tightened export controls for all military and dual use goods destined for Israel, the Palestinian territories and the broader region. All direct exports and the transit of these goods to above regions will be checked to see if they comply with European regulations and will no longer be covered by general export licenses. Exporters will still be able to apply for individual licenses, which will be assessed in accordance with European rules. Changes effective as of April 8, 2025.
The Netherlands Amends General Licenses for Dual-Use and Military Items
On 7 April 2025, the Dutch government announced changes to certain general licenses for transfers of dual-use and military items, as follows:
• National General Export Authorization NL002, for eligible exports of dual-use items to most destinations worldwide, will be repealed in its entirety.
• National General Export Authorization NL010, for eligible exports of encryption dual-use items, will be amended to exclude Israel as an eligible country of destination.
• National General Transit Authorization NL007, for eligible transits of military items through the Netherlands, will be amended to exclude Israel as an eligible country of destination.
These changes will be effective from 8 April 2025. Therefore, operators can no longer rely on these general licenses for transfers that are no longer covered by the respective general licenses because of the above changes. Instead, operators will need to confirm whether another general license is available (requiring a one-off prior registration for use) or apply for transaction-specific licenses (global or individual) for relevant transfers.
Norway publishes guidance on exporting research and technology
Norway’s Directorate for Export Control and Sanctions (DEKSA) has published new guidance on exporting research and technology.
The guidance, aimed at universities, research institutes and industries that conduct research, explains:
- what research and technology (and other relevant terms) means in the context of export controls. For example, technology is defined as “specific information necessary for the development, production or use of controlled goods"
- a step-by-step guide for clarifying whether a technology transfer or technical assistance is subject to licensing
- a list of subject areas and technologies that may be subject to export controls (e.g. nuclear physics and atomic technology; advanced semiconductors, electronics and quantum technology; advanced sensors)
- how to read and understand export control goods lists
Switzerland: Federal Council to harmonise export controls for dual-use goods: Amendment of the Goods Control Ordinance
On 2 April 2025, the Federal Council adopted an amendment to the Goods Control Ordinance and introduced new export controls for dual-use goods in the field of new technologies. The move is Switzerland’s response to the blockade of multilateral export controls and aims to harmonise Swiss export controls with those of its main trading partners. The changes take effect on 1 May 2025. Link
Swiss exports affected by US tariff increases
On 3 April the Federal Council took note of the US government's announcements on the imposition of wide-ranging tariffs. These will affect all of the USA’s trading partners including Switzerland. The Federal Council will analyse the measures and their impact on Switzerland in greater detail. It is in contact with the affected industries and the US authorities. The Federal Council has instructed the EAER to begin preparatory work on a possible solution with the USA. Link
United States: Changes to Low-Value Shipments from China Starting May 2, 2025, packages from China and Hong Kong valued at or under $800, previously exempt from duties under the de minimis threshold, will be subject to formal customs entry procedures and applicable tariffs. This change aims to enhance enforcement and prevent duty circumvention. For more information, please refer white house fact sheets.