EU, China agree to advance tariff talks and stabilise trade relations

16 October, 2026

The EU and China have agreed to pursue tariff reductions, improve market access and strengthen cooperation on export controls, intellectual property and regulatory standards following their second Trade and Investment Consultations. A third ministerial meeting is scheduled for March 2027.

🇦🇺 Australia

Australia tables draft legislation imposing 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts

16 October, 2026

Australia has introduced legislation to impose a 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts from 1 July 2028, alongside beneficiary tax offsets, targeted exemptions and transitional relief options. The reforms aim to curb tax minimisation through income splitting and other trust distribution arrangements.

🇰🇪 Kenya

Kenya gazettes 2026 significant economic presence tax regulations

16 October, 2026

Kenya has introduced new regulations replacing the 1.5% Digital Services Tax with a 3% Significant Economic Presence Tax on gross turnover, setting out the scope of taxable digital services, exemptions, registration requirements and compliance obligations for non-resident providers.

🇰🇪 Kenya

Kenya replaces 2006 transfer pricing rules with new framework

15 October, 2026

Kenya has brought into force the Income Tax (Transfer Pricing) Rules, 2026, setting binding guidelines for determining arm’s length prices in transactions between related or connected persons and revoking the Income Tax (Transfer Pricing) Rules, 2006.

UK overhauls Iran controls, rolls over steel quotas in quarter-end surge

🇲🇽 Mexico 🇺🇸 US

US, Mexico tariff negotiations hit a wall over steel and vehicle levies

16 October, 2026

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has blocked a tariff deal with Mexico that would have cut American levies on steel, aluminium, and vehicles. The move stalls negotiations that appeared close to...

🇦🇺 Australia

Australia tables further amendments to CGT reforms

16 October, 2026

Australia has introduced legislation to clarify the application of its capital gains tax reforms to investment trusts, superannuation funds and foreign residents. The proposed changes address indexation rules, preserve CGT discounts for eligible housing, establish minimum tax exemptions and introduce safeguards against tax avoidance ahead of the reforms taking effect on 1 July 2027.

🇺🇸 US

US postpones new international small import mail customs requirements until January 2027

16 October, 2026

US Customs and Border Protection has postponed new customs filing and bond requirements for international mail shipments valued under USD 800 until 20 January 2027, giving businesses more time to prepare and delaying potential disruptions to personal prescription drug imports.

🇦🇪 UAE

UAE: MoF updates e-invoicing requirements, reporting rules and exemptions

16 October, 2026

The UAE has established the legal and operational framework for mandatory electronic invoicing, covering exemptions, self-billing, in-country data storage and outage reporting.

🇮🇳 India 🇺🇸 US

India, US trade negotiations move forward

16 October, 2026

India and the US have finalised the first phase of a proposed trade deal, with legal drafting underway as New Delhi seeks preferential market access and greater tariff stability.

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: IRD issues reminders on September 2026 VAT, financial services VAT deadlines

16 October, 2026

Sri Lanka’s IRD has urged taxpayers to pay September 2026 value added tax (VAT) and VAT on financial services, and to file the monthly VAT return on time, warning of penalties for non-compliance.

🇧🇩 Bangladesh

Bangladesh: NBR extends deadline for July-September 2026 VAT returns

16 October, 2026

NBR has given taxpayers more time to file VAT returns for the July-September 2026 tax periods on the eVAT system, without interest or fines, after the government scrapped quarterly filing and restored the monthly system.