Data and Analysis

On February 9, 2026, Colombia implemented a new national tax on all products containing single-use plastic products which also applies to imports. While the legal obligation to declare and pay the tax rests with the Colombian importer, U.S. exporters are being asked by their customers to provide detailed information related to packaging to support importer compliance.

The European Union (EU) follows a complex, rolling system of review for active ingredients and Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) in food. For agricultural inputs, U.S. farmers must know early in the process of review to prevent or mitigate the loss of, and/or access to, chemical inputs.

China’s seed supply for marketing year 2025/26 is sufficient to meet domestic demand, with seed producers generally achieving high yields for major crops including corn, rice, wheat, and soybeans. Imports of vegetable and grass seeds are declining due to rising domestic production, though China still relies on high-end foreign germplasm for specialty seeds.

On February 5, 2026, the Israeli Ministry of Justice and the Israeli Ministry of Health published a request for public comments on the implementation of changes to the European Union regulation related to Food Improvement Agents.