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On 21 July, the European Commission published a public consultation on the initiative to revise the Union Customs Code, which will remain open until 14 September. The aim of this consultation is to gather views from a broad range of stakeholders on the state of the customs union and possible reform elements. The input collected will feed into the ongoing preparatory work by the Commission for an integrated package of measures, to be published by the end of the year.

On 19 July, CLECAT submitted its response to the public consultation on the evaluation of Directive 96/53/EC on Weights and Dimensions for heavy-duty vehicles. The Directive sets out standards for the maximum weights and dimensions of heavy-duty vehicles used in national and international transport.

On 19 July, Ministers and officials from 119 countries convened at ICAO for high-level discussions and briefings toward a new collective global long-term reduction goal for international aviation CO2 emissions. The new international emissions reduction goal is expected to be formally established at the 41st ICAO Assembly in September, and States had asked the ICAO Council to work in advance of that event to help them explore the feasibility of various emissions reduction options.

Shipping consultants reported this week that container freight rates have further decreased, corresponding to the broader trend of decreasing freight rates since early 2022, but have not reached pre-pandemic levels yet.

On 20 July, the European Commission adopted an amendment to the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework to support the EU economy in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this month, the Commission consulted Member States on a draft proposal to adjust the Framework.

On 21 July, the Council adopted new measures intended to tighten existing economic sanctions targeting Russia, perfect their implementation and strengthen their effectiveness.

CLECAT and nine other trade organisations, representing the owners and forwarders of cargo, port terminal operators and other parts of the supply chain dependent on container shipping, issued a joint press statement today, following a joint letter to Vice-President Vestager demanding an immediate start to the review of European Union’s Consortia Block Exemption Regulation for the container shipping industry.

European and international business organisations are urging the European Commission to start an immediate review of its competition regulations for container shipping.