IMF: Briefing on the World Economic Outlook
In the briefing on the latest World Economic Outlook on 17 January 2024, the Director of the IMF’s Research Department confirmed that global growth is projected to remain steady at 3.3% in 2025 and 2026. Globally, inflation is expected to decline
See MoreIMF Updates World Economic Outlook
On 17 January 2025 the IMF published the update to the World Economic Outlook, with the subtitle Global Growth: Divergent and Uncertain. The update notes that global growth is expected to remain stable at 3.3% in both 2025 and 2026, below the
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Canada eases surtax on Chinese imports
Canada’s Department of Finance announced new relief measures on 24 October 2024, allowing Canadian importers of Chinese steel, aluminium products, and EVs to request remission of surtaxes under certain conditions for a limited time. This
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IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings: World Economic Outlook
The October 2024 update of the World Economic Outlook was launched during the IMF/World Bank annual meetings. The report notes that global growth is expected to remain stable but at relatively low levels. The growth projection of 3.2% in 2024 and
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WTO: Global Trade Outlook and Statistics
In October 2024 the WTO published the latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics. In the latest issue the WTO has revised its forecast for world merchandise trade growth in 2024 to 2.7%, which is slightly greater than the previous estimate of 2.6%.
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UN Tax Committee: Environmental Taxation
On 16 October 2024 the UN Tax Committee discussed environmental tax issues. The environmental taxation subcommittee presented some papers to the committee for discussion or approval. Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies A paper on phasing out
See MoreCanada to impose 25% surtax on Chinese steel and aluminium, 100% on EVs
Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, announced in a release the final list of Chinese-made steel and aluminium products and Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) subject to surtax on 1 October 2024. The
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China extends import duty exemption to African nations
Following a meeting by leaders from China and Africa at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on 15 September 2024, China announced it will eliminate import duties on products from the 33 least developed African
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WTO: World Tariff Profiles 2024
On 25 July 2024 the WTO published World Tariff Profiles 2024, which sets out information on tariffs and non-tariff measures imposed by more than 170 countries and customs territories. The publication is issued jointly with the International Trade
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Nigeria exempts taxes on imported pharmaceutical inputs
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has signed an executive order that removes excise duties, VAT, and other tariffs on imported pharmaceutical inputs which include specified equipment, machinery, components, and other forms of raw materials used in
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US: Oklahoma exempts digital mining equipment from sales and use tax
The state of Oklahoma enacted House Bill 1600 on 30 May, 2024, introducing a new sales and use tax exemption for specific equipment used in digital asset mining. This exemption covers sales of machinery, equipment, and electricity used for
See MoreUS: USTR issues notice on section 301 proposed tariff changes and machinery exclusion process
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai issued a notice regarding the statutory review of tariff actions in the Section 301 investigation of China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual
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Bangladesh might reduce duties on laptop imports
According to sources from the Finance Ministry, the Bangladeshi government is taking steps to ensure laptops are more affordable for freelancers and students, and to support the software manufacturing industry. Currently, importers pay a total of
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Bolivia amends procedures for export tax refund requests, includes surety insurance policy
Bolivia’s tax authority (Servicio de Impuestos Nacionales—SIN), on Thursday, 2 May, 2024, issued guidance “RND No. 102400000014”, in which it provided the following: After submitting an export tax refund request (SDI) with a
See MoreBolivia updates export tax refund regulations
On 10 April 2024, Bolivia announced Supreme Decree No. 5145, which introduces a new modality of export tax refund. The Decree aims to streamline the process of submitting tax refund requests. The key aspects of the Decree are: The deadline
See MorePlatform for Collaboration on Tax: Study of Carbon Pricing Metrics
On 8 September 2023 the Platform for Collaboration on Tax (PCT) issued a report on carbon pricing metrics. The PCT was set up for collaboration between the IMF, OECD, UN and the World Bank and supports countries in strengthening their tax systems by
See MoreWTO Trade Policy Review of EU
The WTO is reviewing the trade policies and practices of the EU on 5 and 7 June 2023. The WTO Secretariat has produced a report as a basis for the review. During the period under review the EU made progress on major policy initiatives including
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UK: Consultation on Voluntary Standard for Customs Intermediaries
On 5 June 2023 the UK launched a consultation looking for the views of stakeholders on a proposal to introduce a voluntary standard for customs intermediaries. Views are invited from interested parties by 30 August 2023. The consultation follows
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