CLECAT, EEA, ESC AND IRU JOINT STATEMENT ON THE EU ETS FOR ROAD TRANSPORT
CLECAT, together with the European Express Association (EEA), the European Shippers’ Council (ESC) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU) issued a joint statement on 26 April calling on Members of the ENVI Committee of the European Parliament to agree on the inclusion of road transport in the ETS provided that the following principles are embraced.
On 28 April, CLECAT’s Customs and Indirect Taxation Institute (CITI) met in a hybrid format to discuss important developments across Europe impacting customs and trade, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and the implementation of related EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus, as well as preparations for the next phase of post-Brexit UK controls on EU imports.
CLECAT JOINS DIALOGUE ON EU TOOLBOX AGAINST COUNTERFEITING
On 27 April, CLECAT participated in a workshop on transport and logistics, forming part of the stakeholder dialogue on the EU Toolbox against counterfeiting, organised by the European Commission and the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). During the workshop, a presentation was given on the state of play of the EU Toolbox against counterfeiting, following which an extensive discussion was held between the stakeholders, the Commission and the EUIPO on identified trends, challenges and good practices to prevent the use of transport and logistics services for IP-infringing activities.
TRAN ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON THE IMPACT OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE ON TRANSPORT
On 28 April, MEPs from the EP’s Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee adopted a resolution on the impact of Russian illegal war of aggression against Ukraine on the EU transport and tourism sectors, by 43 votes in favours, one against and five abstentions.
The Loadstar reported on 25 April that German ocean carrier Hapag Lloyd has received a fine of $822,220 for 14 violations – $58,730 for each offence – of the US Shipping Act, after an FMC investigation found it incorrectly applied detention and demurrage (D&D) charges to 11 containers handled by California drayage firm Golden State Logistics (GSL).
CALL FOR EVIDENCE ON POSSIBLE SLOT RELIEF EXTENSION
On 26 April, the European Commission published a call for evidence for an amendment of the EU Slots Regulation, which should take into account the potential emergence of restrictive measures related to COVID-19, as well as to address the closure of airspace as a result of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The call for evidence will remain open until 24 May.
EC PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS DIRECTIVE
The European Commission opened on 26 April a public consultation on the evaluation of the Directive 96/53/EC on weights and dimensions for heavy duty-vehicles. For reference, the Directive, sets out standards for the maximum weights and dimensions of heavy-duty vehicles used in national and international transport. As announced in the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, the revision of the Directive would help to make road transport more sustainable by making available sustainable alternatives and the right incentives to drive the transition.
UK DELAYS NEXT PHASE OF IMPORT CONTROLS ON EU GOODS
On 28 April, the UK government announced that no further import controls on EU goods will be introduced this year and that businesses can now stop their preparations for Phase 3 of the Border Operating Model, which was planned to roll out in July. The UK Government will publish a Target Operating Model in the Autumn that will set out how and when the UK will introduce an improved regime of border import controls. This new regime will apply equally to goods from the EU and goods from the Rest of the World, from the end of 2023.
COMMISSION PROPOSAL TO SUSPEND DUTIES ON IMPORTS FROM UKRAINE
On 27 April, the European Commission proposed to suspend for one year import duties on all Ukrainian exports to the EU. The proposal would also see the suspension for one year of all EU anti-dumping and safeguard measures in place on Ukrainian steel exports. The proposal now needs to be considered and agreed by the European Parliament and the Council.
On 27 April, CLECAT participated in the meeting of the Digital Transport & Logistics Forum’s (DTLF) Subgroup 1 (Paperless Transport), which is the formal Commission Expert Group on the eFTI Regulation. Updates were given on the state of play of the eFTI implementation preparation, including on the implementing and delegated acts of the eFTI Regulation, as well as on the progress and next steps of the work carried out in the teams of Subgroup 1.