AGP Executive Report

UK Retail Relief Push: Authors and 200 booksellers urge PM Andy Burnham to cut business rates for small bookshops, saying emergency relief for pubs and live music left them out despite their community value. High Street Crackdown: Burnham’s wider plan to curb vape and betting shops keeps spotlight on how local rules shape small retailers’ survival. Payments Deal Watch: Stripe is in talks to buy PayPal, with a potential reshuffle of consumer payments and merchant services that could affect European SMB payment costs and tools. Energy Policy Impact: A UK campaign group warns the 2030 petrol/diesel phase-out will “cripple” the economy, arguing the grid can’t handle EV demand—an issue for energy bills and transport-dependent SMEs. EU Packaging Rules: New EU packaging laws are flagged as a compliance headache for small online retailers. Trade Compliance Risk: Brazil faces uncertainty over EU antimicrobial controls for beef and poultry exports, a potential hit to SME-linked supply chains. SME Digital Finance: Payments platforms are moving into merchant credit using sales data, signaling more working-capital options for small firms. Community Business Support: A UK garden party fundraiser in Castlederg highlights how local businesses back charities through events.

EU Packaging Rules: Small online retailers in the Netherlands and across Europe say the new PPWR packaging rules are adding registration costs and admin work that can make cross-border deliveries unprofitable, with some shops pausing international sales. Swiss-EU Wage Protection Fight: Switzerland’s Council of States rejected a measure meant to protect workers’ representatives from unfair dismissal, raising union fears it could derail the Swiss-EU deal. Apple App-Store Rematch: Apple asked a US court to allow tiered commissions on purchases made via external iOS links—up to 15%, with lower rates for small businesses—continuing its long antitrust battle with Epic. Ukraine Banking Normalisation: Ukraine’s banks saw profits drop 32% in 1H 2026 as wartime windfalls fade, with PrivatBank still dominating system earnings. Payments to Credit Push: Payments platforms are increasingly using merchant sales data to offer working-capital lending, turning transaction relationships into credit revenue. Digital Agriculture Push (Nigeria): Stakeholders urged scaling digital tools across Nigeria’s farming value chain, calling for better policies, finance access and partnerships. Trade Compliance Pressure (Brazil-EU): Brazil is waiting on EU decisions after submitting documentation to keep antimicrobial rules from disrupting beef and poultry exports. Tourism Beyond Peak Seasons (Kenya): Kenya’s hospitality sector is urged to smooth demand beyond the “harvesting season,” where tourism supports jobs and GDP but businesses still face low-season shocks. Xenophobia & Islamophobia (South Africa): Coverage highlights how anti-migrant politics is increasingly blending with Islamophobic narratives, shifting from jobs claims to “takeover” rhetoric. EAC Funding for SMEs: The East African Community secured €39.8m from Germany to boost trade and expand access to finance for small businesses.

EU Packaging Rules: Dutch and other small online retailers warn the new PPWR means extra registration in every EU market and separate packaging declarations, pushing costs and admin hours so high that some are pausing cross-border deliveries. Swiss-EU Wage Protection: Switzerland’s Council of States rejected a wage-protection measure tied to worker representatives, and unions warn they could oppose the Swiss-EU package debate next month. Apple App Store Fallout: Apple is asking a US court to allow tiered commissions up to 15% on purchases made via external iOS links, with lower rates for small-business developers—continuing its long antitrust fight with Epic. SME Finance via Payments Data: Payments platforms are moving beyond fees by using merchant payment relationships to offer working-capital credit, with lending tied more closely to sales. Trade Compliance Pressure: Brazil is seeking EU clarity after antimicrobial controls reviews could disrupt beef and poultry exports, while the EU’s stricter rules keep raising the bar for exporters. UK High Street Crackdown: UK plans to curb vape and betting shops are framed as a way to protect “hollowed out” high streets, with local businesses and communities split on the impact.

Xenophobia & Islamophobia: A BBC-linked report says South Africa’s far-right politics is shifting from anti-migrant rhetoric to claims of a Muslim “takeover,” with language about “dominance” and “Islamic invasion” increasingly used to mobilise voters. SME Finance & Payments: Payments platforms are moving from charging transaction fees to funding merchants with working capital, using sales data to link lending and repayment more tightly. EU Packaging Rules: Small online retailers across Europe warn the new PPWR is adding registration costs and admin work that can make cross-border deliveries unprofitable, risking market pullbacks. Switzerland–EU Deal Tensions: Switzerland’s upper house rejected a wage-protection measure tied to worker-representative safeguards, raising the risk unions could oppose the broader EU package. Trade & Supply Chains: Ukraine has asked the EU for a €220m grant after Black Sea port attacks left much of the harvest unsold, threatening liquidity for small and medium firms and the 2027 sowing season. Digital Business & Identity: A new “Universal Basic Compute” push uses identity verification to allocate AI capacity to citizens, schools, clinics and small businesses—aiming to close access gaps.

EU Packaging Rules: Dutch small online retailers warn the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is forcing costly, country-by-country registration and declarations, pushing some to stop cross-border deliveries. Digital Fees Fight: Apple is asking a federal court to allow a tiered 15% commission on purchases made via external links in iOS apps, with lower rates for partners and a 5% Small Business Program—continuing the Epic antitrust fallout. High-Stakes Trade Pressure: The US moves to impose sweeping 100% drone tariffs on many Chinese-made systems, with layered duties for other models and allies—raising uncertainty for European buyers and supply chains. SME Finance & Trade Support: The East African Community secured €39.8m in German funding to boost regional trade, expand access to finance for small businesses, and deepen integration. Climate Meets Competitiveness: A new push for carbon pricing is framed as essential for exporters facing EU carbon import costs, especially for carbon-intensive sectors. Cyber Resilience Act Drafts: 17 draft standards are open for comment, shaping how connected products like smart toys will meet the EU Cyber Resilience Act.

SME Digital Skills: Grab Philippines and the International Trade Centre (ITC) are rolling out Digital PINAS via Grab Asenso Learning Caravans, with masterclasses for micro, small and medium firms plus a merchant monitoring framework to track business results through end-2026. Downstream Jobs for Farmers: Papua New Guinea inaugurated upgraded cocoa processing at Paradise Foods’ Queen Emma Chocolate plant in Port Moresby, backed by an EU-funded EU-STREIT PNG programme, aiming to double output and keep more value-added cocoa inside the country. Cyber Rules for Product Makers: The EU’s Cyber Resilience Act is moving toward implementation details, with 17 draft standards now open for comment—covering higher-risk connected products like smart toys and wearables. SME Cost Pressure: Ireland’s Azets Ireland urges a pro-growth SME package: a €5bn investment fund, €350m AI training support, and a call to freeze minimum wage increases until 2030. Platform Financing in Europe: Glovo and PragmaGO extended embedded working-capital financing to Romanian merchants via PragmaCash, using transaction history for faster, fully digital applications. Tax Cliffs Hit Owners: A study says Poland’s income tax options still create “cliffs” at VAT registration and health contribution steps, pushing firms to cluster just below thresholds. Sustainability Label Risk: Research finds cocoa sustainability records were manipulated in certification systems, raising concerns for supply-chain checks under upcoming EU deforestation rules. High-Street Regulation Pressure (UK): UK plans to crack down on vape and betting shops are gaining traction, with councils set to gain more control over what appears on local high streets.

SME Skills Pressure (UK): New Federation of Small Businesses research says small firms are cutting training as higher tax bills and spiralling employment costs bite, risking a wider skills gap for young hires. Cost-of-Living Squeeze (Spain): UPTA warns July’s CPI rise plus fuel and electricity costs are crushing self-employed margins, limiting growth and investment. High-Street Policy Shock (UK): Labour-linked proposals push for tighter controls on vape and betting shops, with councils gaining more power—an issue that could reshape footfall and trading for small retailers. Rural Tourism Funding (Ireland): Airbnb doubles Ireland’s Rural Tourism Fund to €200,000 for locally led projects, including hospitality, heritage and food, with applications due Sept 16. Regulation & Compliance Burden (Ghana): ILAPI urges Ghana to relax business regulations and cut compliance steps under the 24-hour Economy policy, arguing current barriers are too costly for startups. Digital Finance for SMEs (Gaza): A new blueprint calls for a secure, closed-loop digital financial system to support everyday transactions for small businesses during reconstruction. MiCA Crypto Licensing (Spain): CNMV authorises AhoraCrypto as a MiCA cryptoasset service provider, enabling exchange and transfer services under the EU framework. Business Banking Launch (UK): MoneySuperMarket rolls out MoneySuperMarket Business Banking with integrated accounting and tax tools via partners, aiming to simplify day-to-day SME finances.

SME Finance & Banking: MoneySuperMarket has launched “MoneySuperMarket Business Banking”, a UK business current account for sole traders and small firms, built with Countingup and backed by iwoca lending, aiming to bundle banking plus accounting/tax tools in one app. Local Business Costs & Compliance: Spain’s administrative burden is under fire again, with reporting that “unbearable” bureaucracy is costing self-employed workers thousands. High Street Regulation: The UK plans to scrap the “aim to permit” rule, giving councils more power to block new betting shops and 24-hour gambling venues, as ministers cite crime and illegal activity concerns. Cyber & Growth for SMEs: Quick Heal/Seqrite appointed Rajiv Sreekantan to lead global enterprise sales, targeting expansion across small and medium businesses via partners and a broader cybersecurity portfolio. EU Trade Rules: The EU has changed its GSP+ extension mechanism: no automatic extension from January 2027, with countries needing to apply and submit action plans tied to UN conventions. Defence Supply Chains: Europe’s iMUGS2 uncrewed ground systems programme will run a three-day Norway exercise in 2028, involving 29 partners across EU countries including SMEs. Workforce & Pensions: Ireland’s pensions auto-enrolment is spotlighted after claims some large employers tried to steer workers into cheaper schemes with lower returns. Tourism & Local Economies: Edinburgh’s festivals are defended with data showing residents make up a large share of audiences, supporting the case that events help local life, not just visitors.

EU Packaging Rules: New PPWR “forever chemicals” limits for food-contact packaging kick in, with firms facing tighter standards and sustainability requirements (no recall for stock already on shelves). UK High Street Crackdown: Councils in England get more power to block new vape shops, betting shops and 24-hour gaming centres, with the government also tightening definitions to stop sidestepping. SME Compliance Pressure: Spain’s self-employed and freelancers report “unbearable” bureaucracy costs, adding to the squeeze on small operators. Digital Trust for Small Firms: A UK report flags poor digital health among a quarter of businesses, while another story warns of online reputation damage from Google business profile glitches. Export Strain in Europe: Bulgaria’s woodworking and furniture exporters report worsening conditions, with about half seeing export declines. SME Finance & Leasing: Romania shows rising appetite for operational leasing, led by small and medium firms. Energy Trade Opportunity: Germany signals interest in buying Indian green hydrogen to cut fossil fuel dependence. Product Liability Reminder: UK sellers on TikTok/Etsy are urged to check product liability cover, especially for makers/importers.

EU Packaging Rules: The EU’s PPWR packaging regulation starts applying across the bloc on 12 August, bringing immediate duties on chemical safety and compliance, tighter rules for food-contact packaging with PFAS, and new documentation requirements for businesses selling into the EU. UK High Street Crackdown: Britain’s government is moving to curb the spread of vape shops and betting outlets, including changes that give councils more control over new gambling venues and require planning permission for vape shops. SME Finance Pressure (UK): A UK debt advisory specialist warns the Iran war is pushing up borrowing costs for SMEs, squeezing margins and investment as uncertainty spreads across manufacturing, logistics, hospitality and construction. Online Business Risk (Spain): Spain’s self-employed groups say bureaucracy is crushing time and cash, with new compliance obligations and EU AI-related rules adding to paperwork burdens. Data Centre Insurance & Risk (Europe): Allianz says the AI-driven data centre boom is creating bigger construction, climate and insurance risks, with Europe’s growth accelerating in places like Spain, Finland and Denmark. Payments Deal (Canada): RBC and BMO’s Moneris is set to be sold to Francisco Partners for C$2bn, highlighting ongoing consolidation in merchant payments. Local Retail Strain (UK): A Brighton stadium supplier says rising costs forced it to end a long-running Amex Stadium supply deal.

Online Platform Crackdowns: Australia’s small business ombudsman says “community standards” algorithms are shutting down shops without clear human oversight, with platform disputes jumping to 48.3% of new cases. High Street Rules in the UK: UK PM Andy Burnham backs tougher council powers to block new vape shops and betting outlets, tighten vape-shop definitions, require planning permission for adult gaming centres, and extend closure orders to 12 months. SME Financing Stress in the UK: Hampshire SMEs face borrowing pressure as the Iran war keeps interest rates uncertain, squeezing margins in sectors like manufacturing, logistics, hospitality and construction. Digital Reputation Risk: A UK retailer says Google’s AI summaries wrongly painted its business as having “overwhelmingly negative” reviews, showing how AI can damage small firms’ reputations. Local Tourism Shock: Siem Reap vendors report foreign tourist arrivals down 30.79% (first seven months of 2026), turning to domestic visitors to stay afloat. Diaspora Cash for SMEs: Zimbabwe received US$2.45bn in diaspora remittances in 2025; the UK overtook South Africa, with transfers supporting household spending and small business activity. Tech for Business Connectivity (EU-facing): Comcast Business and Colt link ordering systems via standards-based network APIs to streamline quotes and circuit turn-ups across carriers. Cyber/Drone Compliance Watch: The US FCC is considering extending restrictions on foreign-made drones, including LiDAR and thermal imaging capabilities, affecting import and marketing for some equipment. Geothermal Startup Funding (Germany): Germany’s BMWE offers up to 60% stand-cost support for young geothermal startups to exhibit at GeoTHERM 2027 in Offenburg.

High-Street Crackdown (UK): Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to tighten planning rules to curb new vape shops and betting outlets, scrap the “aim to permit” rule that limits councils, and extend police/council powers to shut certain premises linked to organised crime—aimed at reversing “hollowed-out” town centres. Local Retail Headaches (Spain): A study flags extreme fragmentation in Spain’s commercial-hours rules—389 different regulations across regions/municipalities—driving pressure on larger stores that may face many Sunday/holiday closures. Digital Visibility Risk (Google): A reported Google Business Profile glitch is leaving some retailers’ product listings stuck in “Pending,” hitting search and Maps visibility right before back-to-school demand. Payments Policy Shift (India): India’s parliament has opened the door to merchant fees on UPI via a new legal framework (consumers won’t be charged), potentially changing costs for small merchants. SME Export Support (EU/Eswatini): The EU and ITC are backing a three-year Eswatini export roadmap to help local firms turn opportunities into sustained international sales. Security Update (Roundcube): Self-hosted Roundcube users are urged to patch emergency fixes after new remote attack paths were addressed. Crime & Rentals (Belgium): Belgium’s drug commissioner says criminals are using Airbnb-type rentals as flexible stash sites, with police reporting seizures tied to short-term lets.

UPI Merchant Fees Framework: India’s parliament has passed a bill that could allow banks and payment providers to charge merchant fees on UPI transactions, while promising consumers won’t pay and most UPI activity stays free—aimed at funding infrastructure and cybersecurity. SME Tax Relief Extension: The UAE will extend corporate tax relief for small businesses (up to Dh3m revenue) until 2029, giving early-stage firms more liquidity for hiring, marketing and growth. Cybersecurity for Small IT Shops: Roundcube has issued emergency updates (Aug 9) fixing 11 vulnerabilities, including pre-auth IMAP command injection and a plugin RCE path—self-hosters are urged to update immediately. Digital Compliance Pressure in France: France’s e-invoicing push is still catching firms out, with reports saying around 30% of businesses aren’t ready for mandatory e-billing. Climate Support Draft in Austria: Austria’s proposed €770m Klima-Sozialplan is out for consultation, with potential support for low-income households to replace fossil heating and help with renovations and transport in poorly connected areas. AI-Native Fintech Funding Race: European fintech funding is concentrating on AI-native startups that can ship fastest, even as overall deal counts hit a low. Tourism Cost Debate in the UK: Edinburgh’s visitor levy (5% on accommodation for first five nights) is drawing mixed reactions from hospitality groups worried about competitiveness and rollout. Agriculture Under Heat in Italy: Italy’s grape growers face yield uncertainty amid persistent heat and drought, with small operators struggling to fund irrigation and water infrastructure. SME Export Readiness: Bangladesh’s garment exporters face a post-LDC compliance squeeze as EU access rules tighten, with EBA benefits potentially ending around 2029. Local Business Disruption from Roadworks (UK): A pedestrianisation scheme in a UK town centre is already disrupting cafés and shops with noise, dust and reduced footfall.

Local Planning Fail: Malta’s government is being criticised for not even knowing population figures for 2026–2030, raising alarms for SMEs facing labour shortages and demand uncertainty. Extreme Weather Pressure: Italy’s grape growers are bracing for yield losses as persistent heat and drought hit vineyards, while small firms struggle to fund irrigation and water infrastructure. Town Centre Roadworks Fallout: Businesses on Sankey Street fear a £1.5m pedestrianisation scheme could push them toward closure, citing noise, dust and disruption during peak summer conditions. Digital Shift in Customer Service: Fisher & Paykel Appliances cuts 44 staff in New Zealand’s call centre as it digitises customer journeys, keeping phone support but reducing demand for calls. AI in the Shopfront: A new wave of AI-generated background music is spreading into European venues and retailers, with concerns it can undercut artist royalties and licensing norms. EV Workplace Perk Goes German: Octopus Electric Vehicles launches its salary-sacrifice EV leasing scheme in Germany, offering employers a workplace benefit and drivers cheaper access to new EVs. Skills & Startup Support Gap: Wales is urged to do more to nurture young tech founders like Olix’s James Dacombe, arguing support systems haven’t matched the region’s semiconductor strengths. Defence Supply Chain Access: Evion Group gains a direct line into the US Pentagon-backed Cornerstone Consortium, aiming to speed critical mineral projects into defence priorities. SME Growth Law Push: India’s MSMED Amendment 2026 is framed as a move to improve contract certainty and timely payments for small firms. AI Accounting for Real Numbers: Tyms rolls out an AI assistant connection to live books, letting business owners ask questions about margins, invoices and cash flow using their actual ledger data.

SME Digitalisation & Cashflow: France’s mandatory e-invoicing rollout is approaching, but about 30% of businesses still haven’t registered for compulsory electronic invoicing, even though free sign-up options are available—raising a practical risk for B2B firms that rely on approved online platforms to transmit VAT data. EV Workplace Benefits: Octopus EV is exporting its UK salary-sacrifice EV leasing model to Germany, offering employees an all-in lease via employers (including insurance, servicing and charging credit), with the pitch aimed at both large and smaller firms. AI for Small Finance Teams: Tyms’ AI-native accounting platform lets business owners connect their live books to assistants like Claude/ChatGPT/Perplexity to ask questions about balance sheets, unpaid invoices and expense breakdowns—positioning AI as a practical cashflow and bookkeeping shortcut. Cybersecurity for SMBs: Researchers warn that some Zbtlink consumer and small-business routers ship with a factory-installed remote-access backdoor, meaning devices can “phone home” for commands—an SMB risk even without a hack. Local Business Resilience: A community rallied to help keep Mount Vernon Records open as the owner fights to stay in business, showing how local support can buy time when cashflow gets tight.

E-invoicing Pressure (France): France’s mandatory electronic invoicing starts in September, but around 30% of businesses still haven’t registered, even though free sign-up options exist—accountants say the easiest route is using their own platforms. EV Workplace Benefits (UK→Germany): Octopus EV is exporting its UK salary-sacrifice EV leasing model to Germany, offering employees an all-in lease via employers and claiming big savings versus conventional leasing. AI in Small Retail (Music Rights): AI-generated music is spreading into cafes and shops as a cost-cutting move, raising concerns that it can sidestep licensing and royalties for artists. Cybersecurity for SMEs (Routers): Researchers warn that some Zbtlink consumer and small-business routers shipped with a factory-installed remote-access backdoor, potentially giving attackers a foothold. Digital Accounting for Owners (Africa/Europe): Tyms lets business owners connect their live books to AI assistants (Claude/ChatGPT/Perplexity) to ask questions like cash flow and overdue invoices—no finance team needed. Local Business Survival (UK): A community is rallying to keep a record store open after the owner asked for help paying bills, showing how small venues depend on local support. Compliance Readiness (EU): France’s e-invoicing lag highlights a broader SME risk: missing deadlines for new admin systems can stall sales and cash flow.