BIFAlink


Illusionist Steve Price smashes his act, but not the eggs!


News Desk


www.bifa.org


A smashing Liverpool diner


BIFA Members, shipping lines and their guests gathered for the BIFA Liverpool Region Annual Dinner on 28 February at The Liner Hotel Liverpool. In the presence of the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Anna Rothery, attendees enjoyed a three-course meal and entertainment from the Corps of Drums of the Ellesmere Port Sea Cadets and illusionist Steve Price. During the evening a number of generous


donations, including Premier League match tickets, were auctioned which together with a raffle raised in excess of £4,500 for charity. The money will be split between Help for Heroes, Zoe’s Place Hospice and the Ellesmere Port Sea Cadets.


The Corps of Drums of the Ellesmere Port Sea Cadets entertains guests at the BIFA Liverpool Region Annual Dinner


EU-Vietnam trade deal adopted


The European parliament approved the EU-Vietnam trade and investment agreements on 12 February 2020. The trade agreement is expected to enter into force this year and will eliminate virtually all tariffs on goods traded between the two sides. It will guarantee the respect of labour rights, environmental protection and the Paris Agreement on climate change. The EU-Vietnam trade agreement


is the most comprehensive trade agreement between the EU and a developing country. Vietnam will eliminate its duties gradually over a longer, 10-year period, to consider its development needs. However, many important EU export items such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals or machinery will already


6


enjoy duty-free import conditions as of entry into force. The trade agreement also contains specific provisions to address non-tariff barriers in the automotive sector. With the parliament’s adoption,


the Council can now conclude the trade agreement. Once the National Assembly of Vietnam also ratifies the trade agreement, it can enter into force, most likely in early summer 2020. The investment protection agreement with Vietnam will still need to be ratified by all member states according to their respective internal procedures.


Withdrawal of Cambodia’s preferential access to the EU The European Commission has decided to withdraw part of the tariff preferences granted to


Cambodia under the European Union’s Everything But Arms (EBA) trade scheme due to the serious and systematic violations of the human rights principles enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Unless the European parliament


and the Council object, this will take effect on 12 August 2020. The withdrawal amounts to around one- fifth or €1 billion of Cambodia’s yearly exports to the EU. The withdrawal of tariff preferences – and their replacement with the EU’s standard tariffs (most favoured nation) – will affect selected garment and footwear products, and all travel goods and sugar. High value-added garments and


certain types of footwear will continue to enjoy duty-free, quota-


free access to the EU market. All emerging industries in Cambodia will also continue to enjoy duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market. The Commission and the


European External Action Service will continue their engagement with the Cambodian authorities and monitor the human rights and labour rights situation in the country closely. If Cambodia shows significant


progress, notably on civil and political rights, the Commission can review its decision and reinstate tariff preferences under the EBA arrangement.


BIFA would like to acknowledge CLECAT for information published on which this article is based.


April 2020


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20