The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade updated its statistics on exporting and investing in the U.K. with March data, according to an April 16 notice. The update includes information on traders using U.K. exporting and investing services, trade profiles and more.

The European Council approved a system that will allow the European Union and other World Trade Organization members to solve trade disputes despite the paralysis of the WTO’s dispute settlement body (see 2001240027), according to an April 15 press release. The new “multi-party interim appeal arbitration agreement” will be temporary and mirror the “main features of the WTO appeal system,” the council said. The system will establish a “binding resolution” for trade disputes and give countries access to an “independent and impartial appeal review of panel reports.” The council said the EU remains committed to finding a “permanent and urgent solution” to the current inability of the WTO appellate body to operate due to insufficient members.

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade updated its licensing data for its strategic export controls, according to an April 15 notice. The update provides new licensing data and statistics from 2017 through 2019.

The United Kingdom will import nearly 3 million packets of the pain killer paracetamol from India to stock U.K. supermarkets and retailers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.K.’s Department for International Trade said April 14. In a statement, U.K. Trade Secretary Elizabeth Truss said it is “imperative that we work together to continue global trade and keep supply chains open” during the public health crisis.

The United Kingdom’s Export Control Joint Unit updated its application form for firearms export licenses, according to an April 14 notice. The form was updated to allow licensing officers to “add certain details,” the U.K. said. The form is required for exporting firearms to European Union countries.

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade issued an April 9 guidance on remote compliance checks during the COVID-19 pandemic, detailing what steps companies should take to complete the checks, access their export records and more.

United Kingdom exporters will likely experience delayed response times when seeking export license information from the Department for International Trade, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DIT said in an April 9 notice. Response times for requests for information will be doubled from 20 to 40 business days, the agency said. The virus has affected the agency’s ability to “manage export license applications and supporting documentation,” DIT said.

The European Commission asked Schengen Area member states to extend restrictions on non-essential travel until May 15 to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the commission said April 8. The European Union originally requested a 30-day travel ban, but the virus requires “more than 30 days to be effective,” the commission said. The commission stressed that such a travel ban can only be effective if it is adopted by all EU and Schengen states “at all borders, with the same end date and in a uniform manner.”

Ukraine recently announced a limit on the amount of wheat that can be exported through the end of the current marketing year, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released April 7. The move aims to address “public concerns” about the COVID-19 pandemic and will cap wheat exports at 20.2 million metric tons, the report said. The country's wheat exports are expected to fall just below the cap at 19.6 mmt, the USDA said.

The European Union is considering amending rules that will allow it to take action in international trade disputes despite the “paralysis” of the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement body, according to an April 8 EU notice. The rules will make it easier for the EU “to protect its trade interests and rights” while the WTO is unable to deliver binding dispute settlement decisions due to an appointment blockade by the Trump administration (see 1912170035), the European Council said. The amended rules would allow the EU to impose certain sanctions, such as customs duties and trade restrictions, in cases in which dispute settlement procedures are blocked. The rules will also give the European Commission the ability to take countermeasures when a trade agreement partner imposes “illegal trade measures” and “blocks the dispute settlement process under that agreement.” The council said it is “ready to start negotiations” on the rules with the European Parliament.