Week of 7 to 13 September 2026
Legislative, regulatory and case-law review
I. Anti-dumping: registration of imports of welded mesh and steel shelving
By two implementing regulations of 10 September 2026, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 11 September, the Commission instructed customs authorities to register certain steel imports. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2022 covers steel welded mesh falling within CN codes 7314 20 90, 7314 31 00 and 7314 39 00, originating in the People’s Republic of China and Turkey. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2023 covers bolted and boltless steel shelving originating in China.
These measures are based on Article 14(5) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036. Registration does not in itself entail any duty: it preserves the possibility, if the investigation leads to the imposition of duties, of levying them on registered imports, and therefore on goods already released from customs. Registration ends nine months after the regulation’s entry into force, which took place on 12 September 2026.
The practical significance lies in this potential retroactivity. An importer contracting at a fixed price for these products during the registration period bears the risk of duties whose amount is not yet known, unless it has passed that risk on to its supplier by contract.
II. Proof of the melt-and-pour country: a condition of entry from 1 October 2026
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1963 of 28 August 2026, published in the Official Journal on 31 August, sets the type of evidence importers must provide to establish the « melt and pour » country of steel. Its Article 3 makes it applicable from 1 October 2026, while Article 1(3) applies from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027.
The melt-and-pour country is declared using TARIC document codes, and customs authorities carry out a documentary check of the information and supporting documents provided. The regulation provides that failure to declare that country with appropriate verifiable evidence leads to the import being rejected. This is therefore not an ancillary reporting obligation but a condition for the goods to enter.
III. Import duties on certain husked rice
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2029 of 3 September 2026, published in the Official Journal on 7 September, sets the import duties applicable to certain types of husked rice from 7 September 2026.
IV. Other points to watch
No new French customs text was published during the period. Citations of the Customs Code must follow the numbering introduced by Ordinance No. 2026-265 of 8 April 2026, in force since 1 May 2026, at Articles L. 111-1 et seq. The deadlines to watch are the application of Regulation 2026/1963 on 1 October 2026 and the end, nine months after 12 September 2026, of the registration period opened for the steel products concerned.
The firm advises on international trade law, including sanctions compliance and customs law.
Previous edition: Weekly Digest: International Trade Law (31 August-6 September 2026)
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