2026 marks the start of the Digital Product Passport in the EU
In 2026 the European Union will launch the central digital register of the Digital Product Passport, starting with batteries and industrial equipment before extending to all products sold on the European market. What is the Digital Product Passport (DPP)? The Digital Product Passport(DPP) is a digital record that contains comprehensive information about a product throughout […]
Digital standards stall steel and aluminum negotiations
The United States is conditioning the reduction of tariffs on European steel and aluminum on changes to the EU’s digital enforcement, as the two sides continue to negotiate the details of the trade agreement reached in July. Cross-pressures over tariffs and digital rules Talks between Washington and Brussels are showing increasing difficulties in closing the […]
2026 outlook for the U.S. construction market.
The U.S. construction market in 2026 is characterized by a transition from the paralysis of uncertainty to clarity around policy trajectories. However, policy volatility continues to reshape the construction economy. According to JLL’s latest 2026 U.S. Construction Perspective report, the U.S. construction market enters 2026 with greater strategic clarity after a 2025 marked by uncertainty. […]
China updates the technical framework for road signs and signals
China has notified the WTO of three national standards that regulate the main components of the road signaling system: electronic controllers for traffic lights, optical units that emit light signals and technical requirements for their installation on the road. The three Chinese notices correspond to the same HS code 853080, but each one regulates a […]
Implicit intra-European barriers hold back the single market
The IMF warns that the implicit barriers between EU countries continue to fragment the Single Market and limit the productivity, growth and development of the European business fabric. Implicit barriers: a persistent obstacle in the EU The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) report on the Economic Outlook for Europe highlights the existence of structural obstacles, “implicit […]
China presents outlines of the next five-year plan
China has advanced the strategic foundations of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), with a focus on innovation, technological self-sufficiency, domestic demand and economic openness. AMEC has prepared a summary of the strategic axes that will guide it. The Communist Party of China has provided a glimpse of the strategic thrusts that will form the core […]
Assessment and outlook for sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic outlook points to moderate expansion, driven by non-resource-dependent countries and progress in stabilization and tax reforms. Even so, relevant vulnerabilities remain, ranging from high inflation in several economies to the increasing fragility of some key markets. We have analyzed the October 2025 edition of the IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa to […]
EU maintains growth despite global environment
The latest forecasts confirm that the EU economy continues to grow above expectations in 2025. Even so, the scenario until 2027 will be conditioned by a more restrictive international environment, marked by the continuation of US tariffs and weakened global trade. While EU growth has initially surprised to the upside, the future depends on strengthening […]
THE U.S. STRENGTHENS ITS TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH LATIN AMERICA. U.S. strengthens trade agreements with Latin America
The United States has reached new reciprocal trade frameworks with El Salvador, Guatemala, Argentina and Ecuador, including tariff reductions, regulatory improvements and economic cooperation. The United States has linked tariff advantages to extensive commitments by these countries in terms of regulations, technical standards and the opening of sensitive sectors. Overall, the United States places special […]
Updating 2026 in the European Customs Classification
The 2026 update of the Combined Nomenclature has been published, which introduces technical adjustments and new subheadings that should be reviewed to confirm their possible impact on the tariff classification of products. The European Commission has adopted the Regulation establishing the Combined Nomenclature (CN) applicable from January 1, 2026. The CN is the basis used […]