The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a final rule that rescinds and amends the certification provisions, labelling requirements and enforcement provisions for specific types of consumer products and commercial and industrial equipment that were addressed in an October 2024 final rule.

John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), attended the presentation of plaques to 15 State Key Laboratories (SKLs) in Hong Kong by the Minister of Science and Technology, Yin Hejun, on 25 August. This followed a 2018 agreement by the Ministry of Science and Technology that Partner SKLs in Hong Kong paired with SKLs on the Mainland could be renamed SKLs.

Mexico recently adopted updated energy efficiency standards for unitary type air conditioners as well as three-phase, alternating current, induction, squirrel cage-type motors with a nominal power between 0.746 kW and 373 kW.

CBP has reclassified certain dimmers as boards for electric control under HTSUS 8537.10.91 (2.7 percent MFN duty) rather than as radio remote control apparatus under HTSUS 8526.92.50 (4.9 percent MFN duty).

The European Commission (“Commission”) has launched a new initiative with a view to enacting the Circular Economy Act (“CEA”) to make the EU economy more circular. It aims to adopt its proposal for a regulation by the end of 2026. The Commission is currently seeking feedback from stakeholders regarding overall opinions on the initiative and how to improve it. Interested Hong Kong traders have until 6 November 2025 to submit feedback through the following link: Circular Economy Act.

The Food and Drug Administration continues to detain a broad range of food and other regulated products from Mainland China and Hong Kong as part of its mission to prevent the importation of food, drugs, biologics, cosmetics, medical devices and radiation-emitting electronic products that fail to meet the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce has banned all electronic waste import. Announced on 24 June 2025 in the Royal Gazette, the regulation replaces an earlier 2020 ban on electronic waste imports and broadens its scope, increasing the number of banned e-waste items from 428 to 463.

A new evaluation on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive was published in July, in order to assess the need for a possible revision. In general, good progress was noted on the environmentally sound handling and proper treatment of all types of WEEE in the EU. Yet, according to the evaluation, the Directive has not fully achieved its intended outcomes. Notably, the majority of Member States do not reach the collection target set out in the Directive, and the legislation has had a limited impact on enhancing material recycling and recovery. Currently, only about 40% of WEEE is reportedly recycled in the EU.

The regulatory framework governing the repairability index for consumer products in Belgium recently into force. Manufacturers and importers of targeted consumer products have to ensure that the repairability index is calculated and displayed next to their products. The provisions regarding enforcement and sanctions will, in general, take effect on 2 November 2025, although later dates apply for specific types of economic operators.

The Bureau of Industry and Security is accepting input by 6 August on two new Section 232 investigations to determine the effects on national security of imports of (i) unmanned aircraft systems and their parts and components, and (ii) polysilicon and its derivatives. These investigations could result in the imposition of additional tariffs on imports of these products.