Trade & Sanctions

Leicestershire County Council Community Life Choices Tender

Leicestershire County Council has published a tender notice for Community Life Choices services, with an estimated total value of £56,000,000. The framework aims to promote independence and reduce the need for long-term support. The tender is open and includes two lots for group activities and managed personal assistants.

Gloucestershire Rough Sleeper Needs Assessment Contract Tender

Gloucestershire local authorities have published a contract tender notice for a rough sleeper needs assessment. The contract is valued at £29,000 and aims to inform commissioning decisions for homelessness and rough sleeping programs.

Met Office Contract Notice for LiG Thermometers

The UK Met Office has published a contract notice for the procurement of LiG Thermometers from Gh Zeal Ltd. The contract value is £34,191 including VAT and is effective from March 6, 2026, to May 22, 2026.

Commerce Final AD/CVD Determinations for Steel Fencing from China

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced final affirmative determinations in antidumping and countervailing duty investigations for temporary steel fencing from China. This action imposes duties on imports found to be unfairly priced or subsidized, impacting importers and exporters.

UKRI Funding for Consumer-Led Flexibility Market Access Sandpit

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced a £1 million funding opportunity for a sandpit event focused on accelerating market access for consumer-led flexibility in the UK's energy market. The event aims to co-design prototype and minimum viable test products to address barriers to scaling flexibility, with successful projects eligible for funding.

Export Licence Update for Typhoon Project

The Export Control Joint Unit has updated the open general export licence (OGEL) for military goods related to the collaborative Typhoon project. Turkey has been added as a permitted destination for exports under this licence.

Global Antitrust Fines Rose to $7.7B in 2025

Global antitrust fines reached $7.7 billion in 2025, the highest since 2021, driven by a few major cases, while the total number of infringement decisions fell. Enforcement is increasingly shaped by geopolitical and national security priorities, with a focus on sectors impacting the cost of living.

Global Cartel Fines Surge to $3.3 Billion in 2025

Global cartel fines reached $3.3 billion in 2025, the highest total since 2021, driven primarily by enforcement actions in the European Union. The report highlights significant increases in fines from the European Commission and EU member states, while the US saw its lowest fine total in recent memory.

Vertical Conduct Violation Fines Dropped Six-Fold in 2025

A report indicates that fines for vertical conduct violations globally dropped six-fold in 2025 compared to 2024, with the number of infringement decisions halved. Despite this overall decrease, the European Commission remained the most active enforcer, focusing on the consumer and retail sectors, and resale price maintenance continued to be a key area of scrutiny.

Germany Updates Product Liability Law

Germany's Bundestag has begun reviewing a draft act to modernize its Product Liability Act, transposing an EU directive. The reform aims to update the law for digital products, AI, and global supply chains, with an expected entry into force by December 9, 2026.