The Council of the European Union has notified member states that the agreement between the EU and China adjusting tariff-rate quotas under GATT Article XXVIII entered into force on 31 July 2026. The agreement, signed in Geneva on 17 October 2025, modifies EU Schedule CLXXV concessions for all tariff-rate quotas following the UK's withdrawal from the Union. The notification, issued on 6 August 2026, confirms the legal effectiveness of the deal, which was published in the Official Journal of the EU (L, 2024/1077 of 18 May 2024).
The agreement rebalances the EU's WTO commitments to reflect the reduced size of the EU market after Brexit, ensuring continued compliance with GATT Article XXVIII obligations. It provides legal certainty for EU-China trade relations, particularly for traders and importing sectors that rely on the adjusted tariff-rate quotas. The modification affects all tariff-rate quotas listed in EU Schedule CLXXV, which covers agricultural and industrial goods.
The Council's note serves as a formal communication to delegations, marking the entry into force of the agreement. This follows the signing in Geneva on 17 October 2025 and the earlier publication of the agreement text in May 2024. The entry into force aligns with the EU's broader post-Brexit trade adjustments, which have included similar renegotiations with other WTO members to recalibrate tariff commitments.
For stakeholders, the agreement ensures that EU importers and exporters face predictable quota conditions, avoiding potential disputes over quota allocations. However, it also means that some sectors may see reduced quota volumes compared to pre-Brexit levels, reflecting the UK's departure from the EU's single market. The adjustment is a technical but necessary step to maintain the EU's WTO compliance and smooth trade flows with China, one of the EU's largest trading partners.
The Council's notification does not introduce new policy but formalizes the operational status of the agreement. No further institutional action is required at the EU level, as the agreement is now in force. The European Commission will continue to manage the implementation of the tariff-rate quotas in accordance with the revised schedule.