The Department for Business and Trade has shared a series of important updates affecting UK businesses, including developments on US tariffs and de minimis rules, the UK’s Trade Strategy, and other government policies. This briefing also includes details on upcoming export webinars, calls for evidence, regulatory changes, and sustainability initiatives that could impact the giftware and retail sectors.

Please continue to share your concerns about/ impacts of US tariffs (and US De Minimis removal) and/or HMG policies on your business/industry, and any reflections on the Trade Strategy, with us. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at retailandconsumergoods@businessandtrade.gov.uk by email, and we’d also be happy to have a conversation, as always.

Important: DBT Export Academy #GatewayUSA webinar: Essential Tips for Shipping Your Goods to the USA - 12 August 2025.

Register here 

Attendees will:

Learn what to prepare before exporting
Learn what the new de minimis rules mean for your business
Learn how to classify goods using commodity codes
Hear practical tips to avoid border delays
Hear from Sarah Bell, Director of Public Affairs at UPS, who will help businesses navigate global trade 
Whether new to exporting or looking to stay compliant, this webinar will help businesses to trade with the USA with more confidence.

Explore the full Gateway USA series here.

Further Announcements and Calls for Evidence: 

UK-India FTA: Trade and Agriculture Commission call for evidence

The Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) seeks submissions on the Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and India.

First published. 

Licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures

We are seeking your views on what procedures should be in scope of the licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England.

Added the government’s response to the consultation.

Consumer Scotland super-complaint application

We are seeking views on the application from Consumer Scotland to be designated as a super-complainant under the Enterprise Act 2002.

First published.

Opt-out collective actions regime review: call for evidence

This call for evidence seeks feedback on access to, and the operation of, the opt-out collective actions regime for competition law claims.

First published.

Designated standards

Designated standards: new or amended notices of publication

Proposed updates to the lists of standards for businesses.

Proposal to amend added for low voltage equipment

Goods Movement

Reference Document for The Customs Tariff (Establishment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

Find the UK’s most favoured nation tariff rates as referenced in The Customs Tariff (Establishment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.

The Tariff of the United Kingdom, version 1.26, dated 4 August 2025 (entry into force 8 August 2025) added.The Tariff of the United Kingdom, version 1.24, dated 27 March 2025 (entry into force 27 April 2025) removed.

Reference Documents for The Customs Tariff (Suspension of Import Duty Rates) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

Find out about the tariff suspensions that apply from the end of the transition period.

Suspensions of Import Duty Rates, version 3.0, dated 4 August 2025 (entry into force 8 August 2025) added. Suspensions of Import Duty Rates, version 2.8, dated 27 March 2025 (entry into force 27 April 2025) removed.

Export or move plants and plant products from Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Check if you need a licence or phytosanitary certificate to export or move plants and plant products.

Removed ‘Cornus’, ‘Populus’, ‘Sorbus’ and ‘Taxus’ from the list of high-risk plants prohibited to move from Great Britain. Added them to the list of plants where you must consult your local plant health and seeds inspector, as some species within these genera have now been approved to move.

Apply for a certificate of free sale for export

Use a certificate of free sale to export or move products for human consumption and products for animal consumption.

First published

Skills, employment, and training

DWP partnerships

How to contact DWP partnership teams for England, Scotland and Wales.

The London partnerships’ email address has been updated.

Sustainability, Resources and Waste, including EPR (packaging)

Recyclability assessment methodology: how to assess your packaging waste

An overview of the recyclability assessment methodology (RAM). Under extended producer responsibility for packaging, large producers must report the recyclability of some packaging materials

The environmental regulators have issued a statement on collecting and reporting data under the recyclability assessment methodology. This update provides links to that statement. It also adds information on reporting medical packaging and modulated disposal fees.

Packaging data: how to create your file for extended producer responsibility

How to structure your packaging data submission. It includes information about the different types of data you need to submit and the codes you need to use.

Publishing the file specification for 2025 packaging data

Extended producer responsibility for packaging: example files for packaging data

If you need to submit packaging data under extended producer responsibility for packaging these example files shows how you must structure your data.

Several new example files have been added covering 2025 submissions for large producers, small producers and compliance schemes,