A substantial edition today, with a very notable update in EU-UK relations, as well as substantial acts on trade defence, digital transparency, or central bank governance among other more technical acts. Here is what was published today:
Trade & Customs
Anti-Dumping Tariffs Imposed on Acid Imports from South Korea and Mexico (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/801 – adopted 9 April 2026) – Duties of up to 25.7% on a key raw material for PET plastics, as the EU’s three remaining producers rack up losses and close plants. One Korean exporter comes away duty-free.
Loophole in Steel Safeguard Regulation for Rebar Imports Closed (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/846 – adopted 9 April 2026) – Minor chemical tweaks were allowing reinforcing bar to slip through the wrong tariff quota, with import volumes jumped 250% in a year. Two new product codes fix it, weeks before the safeguard expires.
Digital & Political Transparency
New Technical Standards for Repository of Online Political Advertising Unvealed (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/818 – adopted 9 April 2026) – Data formats, API specifications, and authentication rules are now defined for the EU’s new political ad transparency database. Platforms and political advertisers will need to connect once it goes live.
Aviation
EU Overhauls Qualification Rules for Flight Simulators (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/781 – adopted 8 April 2026) – A new capability profile system replaces fixed qualification levels for pilot training simulators, assessed across fourteen technical characteristics. Training organisations have until April 2028 to transition. → Read the full free brief
Agriculture & Plant Health
High Risk Classification on Ukrainian Maple Tree Imports Lifted (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/790 – adopted 9 April 2026) – Eight maple species from Ukraine removed from the EU’s high-risk plant import list following a positive EFSA assessment. The first time Ukrainian maple planting stock has been cleared for EU import.
EU-UK Relations
UK Rejoins Erasmus+ from 2027 as New Dispute Panel is Established (Council Decisions (EU) 2026/832 and 2026/833 – both adopted 30 March 2026) The UK’s return to Erasmus+ from January 2027 is formally confirmed at a discounted contribution rate. A separate decision activates the expert panel for EU-UK level playing field disputes, which was dormant since the TCA entered into force in 2021.
Financial Supervision & Insurance
EIOPA Chair Petra Hielkema Renewed for a Second Five-Year Term Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/834 — adopted 30 March 2026 Hielkema’s mandate as Chair of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority is extended from September 2026 following a satisfactory performance review by the supervisory board.
Monetary Policy & Central Banking
ECB Aligns Excess Reserve Remuneration With Deposit Facility Rate (ECB Decision (EU) 2026/812 – adopted 26 March 2026 From June 2026, eligible banks earn the same rate on excess reserves as on deposit facility holdings, removing the daily incentive to shuffle funds between the two. Designed to cut operational burden and support instant payment settlement.
ECB Upgrades Securities Holdings Statistics to Individual Investor Level (ECB Guideline (EU) 2026/780 – adopted 20 March 2026) – National central banks must report securities holdings at individual institution level rather than as sector aggregates, with tighter deadlines for banks and investment funds. Takes effect April 2027.
