On December 18, 2019, the mediation committee of the lower and upper houses of the German parliament (Bundestag and Bundesrat) announced an agreement on the Government's climate legislation, which includes several tax measures.

The Swiss Government has said that from January 31, individuals and legal entitles domiciled in Germany will be able to use an online Swiss application to request a refund of Swiss withholding tax.

Nautilus, an international trade union for maritime workers, has welcomed the outcome of top-level talks on updates to the Maritime Labour Convention to include measures to address bullying and harassment and to safeguard seafarers' wages when they are held captive.

Inmarsat, together with Global Marine Networks and Network Innovations, announced on February 22 that the trial of Fleet Xpress in Antartic waters was a success. The service – the world's first globally available high-speed broadband service from a single network operator – was installed on board the adventure cruise ship Ocean Nova.

The European Commission has invited comments on commitments offered by fifteen container liner shipping companies to address concerns raised relating to concerted practices.

The organizers of last year's St Katharine Docks On-Water Exhibition have announced that they are planning an event this year, on May 4-7, that will be double the size of last year's, renamed as "The London On-Water Yacht and Boat Show."

The European Commission's ruling directing the Government of the Netherlands to repeal corporate tax exemptions benefiting six seaports will be appealed by the ports in question.

Representatives of the European Free Trade Association - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland - and the Philippines signed a free trade agreement in the Swiss capital of Bern on April 28.

The European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority has approved a Norwegian state aid scheme which grants tax refunds to ship owners.

The member states of the European Free Trade Association signed a free trade agreement with Georgia during a meeting on June 27, 2016.

The comprehensive double taxation agreement between Hong Kong and Russia, which was signed in January this year, entered into force on July 29, 2016, and will be in effect in Hong Kong for any year of assessment beginning on or after April 1, 2017.

The European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority has approved a six-month extension of the current Norwegian special tax system for shipping under the area's state aid rules.

The Seychelles Revenue Commission has issued its final Public Ruling 2016-2 to provide clarity regarding the methodology used to calculate the additional special business tax deduction allowed for marketing and promotion expenditure.

The European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority has approved a tax-based state aid scheme aimed at reducing maritime transport pollution in Norway.

The South African National Treasury has issued a discussion paper on a new diesel tax refund system, reviewing its administration and addressing anomalies related to its qualifying activities and beneficiaries.

The Financial Services Development Council released a report on March 3 on the policies, including tax measures, Hong Kong could adopt to improve its position as an insurance hub, especially in reinsurance, marine insurance, and captives.

The Greek shipping industry has agreed to renew a tax agreement under which shipping companies pay additional tax to the Government.

New chemical markers intended to be used in gas oil (diesel) and kerosene in the EU are more resilient to fraud than the one currently applied, and introducing a new marker might cost less than member states currently lose in tax revenues, a new EU report says.

Tax regime instability has been cited by Greek shipping companies as a reason why they would consider switching to an alternative jurisdiction, according to a report by EY.

Norway's reelected Conservative Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, has pledged tax cuts for companies to encourage higher investment, job creation, and economic growth.

India's Goods and Services Tax Council has proposed new GST rates for the oil and gas industry.

Having endorsed the deal, the President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has forwarded on a bill to ratify the free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association states to the Senate.

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into a Polish tax scheme for shipyards, which it says could give shipbuilders an unfair competitive advantage over rivals.

The European Free Trade Association states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), and the South African Customs Union have begun negotiations to review their existing free trade agreement.

Switzerland's Government has recently decided on a number of trade matters and reviewed its plans for changes to how it administers vehicle taxes.

The European Free Trade Association states – Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Iceland – and Indonesia have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which will slash tariffs on a majority of industrial goods.

The Hong Kong Government has published in the Gazette legislation to provide profits tax concessions to certain ship lessors and ship leasing managers.

Singapore's Ministry of Finance has announced that about 880,000 Singaporean Housing and Development Board (HDB) households will receive the next installment of the GST Voucher – Utilities-Save (U-Save) rebate in January 2018.

Singapore's tax agency has announced that the territory's new double tax avoidance agreement with Cambodia entered into force on December 29, 2017, capping cross-border withholding taxes on trade and investment.

Ernst and Young Solutions LLP, Singapore, has released its wish list for the Singapore Budget 2018, calling for reforms to sharpen the territory's competitiveness.

During a January 7, 2018, debate in the UK House of Commons, UK lawmakers discussed the country's plans to leave the EU, its customs union, and value-added tax area.

Singapore has announced that it has activated automatic exchange of information relationships with a total of 61 territories, as part of global efforts to tackle tax evasion and fiscal crime.

Sri Lanka signed its first ever comprehensive free trade agreement on January 23, with Singapore.

Singapore is engaging businesses on tweaking the design of its new carbon tax, which is proposed to be in place by 2019.

Singapore's tax agency has made two announcements recently concerning the automatic exchange of information on foreign taxpayers' affairs, on the Common Reporting Standard and the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

Singapore will hike its seven percent goods and services tax rate to nine percent some time between 2021 and 2025, Singapore's Finance Minister, Heng Swee Keat, announced in the territory's new Budget.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore on February 23, 2018, released the fifth edition of its Transfer Pricing Guidelines for income tax.

Financial institutions in Singapore are required to file information required under the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act starting April 16 by May 31, 2018.

Singapore has gazetted a law to repeal the income tax concession for intellectual property income derived by companies benefiting from the Pioneer Service Companies Incentive or the Development and Expansion Incentive schemes.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore has issued a reminder to companies that the corporate income tax return filing deadline is either November 30, 2018, for paper returns, or December 15, 2018, for electronically filed returns.

Singapore's recently released 2019 Budget included few significant tax announcements except confirmation that Singapore's carbon tax will be levied this year and the goods and services tax will be hiked in the medium term.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore is now accepting FATCA returns for the 2018 reporting year and has newly released the FATCA paper nil return for 2018.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore has released new transfer pricing guidance on determining the economic value of taxpayers' commodity marketing and trading activities in Singapore.

On July 5, 2019, Singapore's tax agency released a draft guide that includes proposals for more favorable GST rules for virtual currencies.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has released new guidance for GST-registered persons on the completion of new boxes in the GST F5 return from next year.

Switzerland's agreements for the automatic exchange of financial account information with Hong Kong and Singapore have entered into force.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore has updated its guidance on the introduction from January 1, 2020, of an obligation on Singaporean taxpayers to collect GST on imported services under a reverse charge.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has reported that revenues increased by 4.4 percent in the 2018-2019 fiscal year, in its annual report for the year.

Singapore is to add provisions to draft legislation to enhance the new GST regime for imported services and clarify new rules for virtual currencies.

Singapore and Germany have signed a protocol to their double taxation agreement, which brings the treaty into line with international standards and amends the maximum withholding tax rates that may be charged.