Trade Legislation

Laws governing international trade, customs procedures, trade agreements, and commercial relations.

The Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2025

The Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2025 amends the 2012 Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) Order.

Key changes include updated definitions to reflect the UK's departure from the EU, revised routing times for standard and priority letters, and adjustments to delivery and collection schedules, aiming for greater clarity and efficiency in the postal system.

The Order also revokes a previous, incomplete amendment Order.

OFCOM conducted a user needs review before implementing these changes.

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The Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) (Amendment) Order 2025

This Order amends the 2012 Postal Services (Universal Postal Service) Order to update definitions, reflecting the UK's departure from the European Union.

It also modifies delivery and collection service requirements, specifying separate standards for priority and standard letters, while outlining revised routing time calculations.

These changes aim to improve service standards and are made after a user needs review and a public consultation process.

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The Subsidy Control (Subsidies and Schemes of Interest or Particular Interest) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Published: Mon 14th Jul 25

The Subsidy Control (Subsidies and Schemes of Interest or Particular Interest) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective August 4th, 2025, amend the 2022 Subsidy Control Regulations.

The key change increases the threshold for subsidies deemed 'of particular interest' from £10 million to £25 million in non-sensitive sectors.

This amendment impacts how public authorities must refer subsidies before disbursement, as schemes enabling these higher-value subsidies are considered 'schemes of particular interest' under the 2022 Act.

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The Inter-American Investment Corporation (Further Payments to Capital Stock) Order 2025

The Inter-American Investment Corporation (Further Payments to Capital Stock) Order 2025 approves a payment of up to 106,000,000 USD to the Inter-American Investment Corporation.

This payment is to support the corporation's increased authorized capital stock, following the adoption of a new business model and capitalization plan (Resolution CII/AG-5/24).

The order also covers associated payments and ensures that the value of the initial payment is maintained.

The Secretary of State is authorized to make the payment and the Treasury approved the order.

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The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2017 regulations.

Key changes include adding a definition of "marketing," updating the interpretation of EU Directive 2014/98/EU with a new Schedule 6, removing a review duty, requiring labeling for genetically modified varieties, correcting terminology, and updating pest and disease requirements.

These updates aim to modernize the regulations and ensure consistency with current scientific knowledge and risk assessments.

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The New Heavy-Duty Vehicles (Carbon Dioxide Emission Performance Standards) (Vocational Vehicles) Regulations 2025

These regulations outline a procedure for identifying and correcting misreported heavy-duty vehicles regarding their CO2 emission performance standards.

The Secretary of State is empowered to notify manufacturers of misreported vehicles, allowing manufacturers one month to provide evidence.

If the vehicle was incorrectly certified as a vocational vehicle, the Secretary of State corrects the manufacturer's average specific CO2 emissions, using either provided data or, failing that, a formula detailed in the Schedule.

The regulations apply to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and come into effect on July 29th, 2025.

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The Haiti (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Haiti (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2022 regulations to incorporate UN Security Council Resolution 2752 (2024).

This resolution expands the arms embargo on Haiti to include a broader spectrum of military goods and related items.

The amendments update definitions, clarify prohibitions on the transfer of military technology and the provision of associated financial services or technical assistance, and introduce new offenses relating to these broader sanctions.

The regulations also modify existing penalties to match the updated prohibitions.

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The Multinational Top-up Tax (Pillar Two Territories, Qualifying Domestic Top-up Taxes and Accredited Qualifying Domestic Top-up Taxes) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Multinational Top-up Tax (Pillar Two Territories, Qualifying Domestic Top-up Taxes and Accredited Qualifying Domestic Top-up Taxes) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2025 Regulations to enable retroactive application of tax specifications related to the OECD/G20 Pillar Two model rules.

This change allows tax specifications to take effect from a date prior to their publication, aiming to improve the effectiveness of the multinational top-up tax.

The amendments are explicitly authorized by the Finance (No. 2) Act 2023.

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