Trade regulations

Prohibits placing in-scope commodities on the EU market unless they are deforestation-free since Dec 31, 2020 and produced in compliance with the country of origin's laws. Every shipment requires a Due Diligence Statement (DDS) submitted via TRACES.NT.

Enforcement: 2026-12-30

US tariffs imposed on Chinese-origin goods following the 2018 USTR investigation into China's technology-transfer practices. Section 301 duties apply on top of MFN tariffs and have shifted commodity flows away from China-origin agricultural inputs and processed goods.

Trilateral free-trade agreement governing roughly $1.3 trillion in annual trade. Agriculture provisions preserve duty-free access for most commodities, expand US dairy access to Canada, and tighten origin rules. Operates with Chapter 7 sanitary/phytosanitary commitments and Chapter 11 investment rules.

Enforcement: 2020-07-01

EU carbon-pricing mechanism that levies importers based on the embedded carbon emissions of in-scope goods. Definitive period begins January 2026; transitional reporting has run since October 2023. Primarily affects industrial commodities but with downstream effects on fertiliser-intensive agricultural supply chains.

Enforcement: 2026-01-01

Eight performance standards covering risk management, labour conditions, resource efficiency, community health, land acquisition, biodiversity, indigenous peoples, and cultural heritage. Frequently adopted as a baseline by other development finance institutions and major commodity off-takers.

IPPC framework standardises phytosanitary certificates issued by national plant protection organisations (NPPOs). Importing countries publish ISPM-compliant requirements; exporters must obtain a phytosanitary certificate confirming the consignment meets those requirements. The IPPC ePhyto hub (IPSS) is the digital exchange replacing paper certificates.