Trade updates at noon 18th September 2015

Nestlé must prove four-finger wafer shape along is distinct to KitKat rules CJEU
Legal experts say CJEU ruling yesterday will make it difficult for them to register their four-finger shape in the UK. Mondelez is trying to block the trademark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Italy budget

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was Friday putting the final touches to a budget which could inject 27 billion euros into Italy's sickly economy next year - if he can get it past Brussels.

Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA)

The Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) is a trade agreement currently being negotiated by 25 members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), including the EU. Together, these countries account for 70% of world trade in services. 
TiSA is based on the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), which involves all WTO members.  The key provisions of the GATS – scope, definitions, market access, national treatment and exemptions – are also found in TiSA .
The talks are based on proposals made by the participants.  TiSA aims at opening up markets and improving rules in areas such as licensing, financial services, telecoms, e-commerce, maritime transport, and professionals moving abroad temporarily to provide services.
The European Commission negotiates based on a mandate issued by the governments of the EU's 28 member countries.

Transport 

Big change to add Smartwitness

Telematics entrepreneur Martin Port has teamed up with SmartWitness in-vehicle CCTV cameras to add video functionality to his BigChange mobile workforce technology system

Volvo's new tandem axle lift 

Volvo Trucks is now launching a new function – Tandem Axle Lift – which makes it possible to disengage and raise the second drive axle. This gives better road grip and up to 4 per cent lower fuel consumption when the truck is driven unladen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Road Haulage Association launches National Lorry Week

The Road Haulage Association will be staging a national awareness campaign, ‘National Lorry Week’ from October 26-31. This has been developed to demonstrate to the public and politicians the vital role that lorries and road freight play in moving the economy and daily life. The theme of the week is ‘Love the Lorry’

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fit to drive?

There have been a number of issues raised recently by the national press with regards to the DVLA self-declaration and discovery of relevant health issues process as this has raised a number of questions for all professional HGV drivers; their employers and driver agencies to ensure they remain legal and compliant as well as improving the safety for all roads users.

For HGV drivers, the obvious question they should ask themselves is: “Am I fit to drive for a living?” This may seem a simple question to answer but it is clear from recent news that drivers may hide important health information to stay on the road.

Shipping News

Armed police close Mombassa port.

PARAMILITARY police offers sealed off Mombasa port last night and began an investigation of the cargo of Höegh Transporter, which arrived at the port on Thursday evening.The officers were part of a joint operation with regular police officers and soldiers from Kenya Defense Force

 

 

 

 

 

  Maersk Tankers' is spending $300m on nine new product tankers.

The new medium range product tankers news believes its fleet will become attractive to charterers.

Shipping Trade & Transport News 18th September 2015

Port of Felixstowe

The Port of Felixstowe is creating an environmental corridor as part of the Go Green campaign launched by Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) and a number of other global port operators. The initiative at Felixstowe will include the refurbishment of part of a system of dykes within the port. The work will include the improvement of habitats for wildlife as well as enhancing green areas within a busy industrial complex by planting a mixture of trees, grasses and wild flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Port of Rotterdam

Broekman has opened its fully modernised Offshore & Heavy Lift Centre at the Broekman Breakbulk Terminal on the Waalhaven in Rotterdam.In addition to a massive renovation, the Centre on the former RDM site has been expanded to cover 16,000 square metres

Port of Singapore 

Singapore has clinched the top spot on an index of global shipping centres for the second year in a row

Shipping Law

Dubai court issues landmark judgement recognising and reinforcing a foreign arbitrary award

Thomas Miller acquires specialist marine law farm

Thomas Miller the international insurance, professional and insurance services provider announces the acquisition of the partners and staff of specialist marine law firm, Davies Johnson & Co of Plymouth. The acquisition brings an additional six fee earners to the Thomas Miller Law Ltd (TM Law) team. The firm will operate from Plymouth and London in addition to TM Law’s main office in Newcastle, where it forms part of the Group’s claims handling and risk management consultancy business. 

In Rem Claims in The English Court - A Reminder Not to Fall Foul Of Procedural Pitfals

A recent judgment handed down by the Admiralty Court in London, The Styliani Z [2015] EWHC 2153 (Admlty), has highlighted the importance of using the correct claim form when issuing an in rem claim in the English courts. English law draws a distinction between claims against a person, company or legal entity (known as an in personam claim) and claims against property, e.g. a vessel (referred to as in rem claims). The types of claims which may be brought in rem against a vessel or other property are set out

Law of Contract 

In the recent case of Sang Stone Hamoon Jonoub Co Ltd v Baoyue Shipping Co Ltd ([2015] EWHC 2288 Comm), Mr Justice Males provided direction on the potential liability of cargo owners to shipowners where they do not take delivery of the cargo and the recompense such shipowner may expect in return. In this case, the unpaid FOB seller of the goods (who held the bills of ladings) was found liable to the shipowner for storage charges greater than the value of the unpaid cargo.

To Lien or not lien when bunkers are supplied to a vessel

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit considered whether a supplier of necessaries had a valid maritime lien despite a “no lien” clause and stamp. In World Fuel Servs. Trading, DMCC v. Hebei Prince Shipping Co., 783 F.3d 507 (Fourth Cir. 2015), a bunker supplier arrested the vessel M/V HEBEI PRINCE, while she was anchored at the port of Norfolk, Virginia, for unpaid bunkers provided to the vessel in United Arab Emirates. The bunker order confirmation identified the bunker supplier as the “seller” and the charterer, the owners and operators of the vessel as the “buyer.” The confirmation also included language that: “Any disclaimer stamps placed by vsl on the bunker will have no effect and do not waive the seller’s lien.” The charterer due to financial problems failed to pay for the bunkers. Therefore, the supplier arrested the vessel and demanded that the vessel owner payed the outstanding amount.

Commodities

Grains, wheat eases on forecast of beneficial U.S rains, corn falls.

Chicago wheat futures lost more ground on Thursday, giving up 2.8 percent in three consecutive sessions of decline, due to forecasts of helpful rains for the U.S. winter crop. Corn dipped as harvest of a near-record crop gathered pace across the Midwest and demand remained sluggish, while soybeans ticked higher after closing marginally lower on Wednesday. Chicago Board Of Trade December wheat fell 0.2 percent to $4.87-1/4 a bushel by 0245 GMT, having closed down 1.3 percent on Wednesday. December corn slid 0.3 percent to $3.85 a bushel and November

Steel

Safeguard duty will improve capacity utilisation of steel firms, says industry

The industry expects the safeguard duty of 20 per cent imposed by the Centre to provide a major relief for steel companies, which are reeling under rising costs, especially after huge capital investment and aggressive bidding for coal blocks. The industry feels capacity utilisation will increase gradually from the current level of 80 per cent, with increasing demand in the domestic market. TV Narendran, Managing Director of Tata Steel (India & South-East Asia) said the safeguard duty should help curb surging imports and predatory pricing, which has seen an increase

Taiwan flour millers commit to major wheat deal

The Taiwan Flour Mills Association has agreed to purchase 1.7 million tons of U.S. wheat over the next two years, much of which will come from Montana. The Billings Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/1Qjdj6R ) that the association committed to the purchase Wednesday while meeting with state lawmakers in Washington, D.C. Officials say the deal is worth $544 million. Taiwan purchases roughly 441,000 tons of wheat from Montana annually. The Taiwanese delegation visits the United States every two years to renew a letter of intent between the association and the United States

European Commission

Press release European Brussels, 17 September 2015 The European Commission has today adopted a legislative proposal offering additional temporary access for Tunisian olive oil to the EU market to help support Tunisia's recovery in the difficult period being faced by the country
 Investment Plan for Europe
European Commission - Press release Berlin, 17 September 2015 Over 15,000 start-ups in Germany will benefit from this €1 billion agreement signed today The European Investment Fund (EIF) and the German promotional bank KfW Bankengruppe have signed a €1 billion agreement for start-ups in Germany under COSME– an EU funding