The Week Ahead in International Trade: LITE goes into beta testing, Lib Dem conference continues and EU college of commissioners

This week’s news is set to include the implementation of a new system for export control licensing described as an “important” step for exporters of controlled items. Elsewhere, party political conference season kicks off, and we could finally get confirmation of the new-look college of EU commissioners.

LITE beta

The government’s new export licensing system will go into public beta stage tomorrow (17 September).

The Licensing for International Trade (LITE) system has been in a private beta phase for months, with only a limited number of people being invited to test it, but will be opened up to the public in a move announced 9 August.

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has been contacting traders and ‘onboarding’ them on the LITE system and its full uses. Not everyone will be required to use it and all historic or current applications using the old SPIRE system will still be available for access.

Lib Dem conference

Party political conference season sees the Liberal Democrats continue their conference in Brighton today (16 September).

The UK’s third largest parliamentary party’s conference started on Saturday (14 September), with leader Ed Davey closing things off tomorrow with his annual conference speech.

Today, deputy leader Sarah Cooper is scheduled to address the main session, while a motion on the Israel-Hamas conflict and a debate on international development are both in the running order.

With 72 MPs in the House of Commons, Davey is head of a resurgent Lib Dem party and one that is looking to make its mark on the new Parliament.

Members of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade will be in attendance, and the Daily Update will cover any developments as they’re announced.

Labour’s own party conference kicks off on Sunday (22 September), with the Conservatives’ starting the week after that (29 September). Reform UK’s national conference starts on Friday (20 September).

Von der Leyen’s big reveal?

European Commission (EC) president Ursula von der Leyen was ready to announce the portfolios of the college of commissioners tomorrow following the delay of the announcement last week.

However, incumbent French commissioner Thierry Breton has pulled out almost 24 hours before the announcement was due.

In a letter posted on Twitter/X, Breton alleged that France was offered a more attractive portfolio if it replaced Breton with another candidate:

“… in light of these developments… I have to conclude I can no longer exercise my duties in the college.”

Von der Leyen had asked each European capital to send two names – one male and one female – as a way of ensuring a gender-balanced commission.

The Elysée announced that outgoing foreign minister, Stéphane Séjourné, will replace Breton.

Its unclear what will happen next, as von der Leyen has not responded to the resignation, but it could result in a delay and mark an inauspicious start to the EC president’s second term.

Other dates for the diary

Monday – Germany’s new border controls kicks in

Tuesday – FT’s Business Book of the Year shortlist announced

Wednesday – UK monthly inflation figures and house price index released

Thursday – EU and Chinese officials meet to discuss electric vehicle tariffs

Friday – DUP Annual Conference

Saturday – Four-way summit between US president Joe Biden, Indian PM Narendra Modi, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and Australian PM Anthony Albanese in Delaware

Sunday – World Rivers Day