The European Commission implemented provisional antidumping duties on imports of mono ethylene glycol from the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, according to a June 11 notification. The duties range from 8.5% to 52%, with the U.S. companies receiving the higher antidumping rates. The following is a list of the companies, their provisional dumping duties, country of origin and TARIC code.

An investigation will be conducted into the alleged dumping of hot-dipped galvanized steel wire from China and South Korea into the Japanese market, the nation's Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced in a June 14 news release. Following a petition from Nichia Steel Works, NS Hokkai Seisen Co., Galvart Japan Co. and Wire Techno, the ministries determined an investigation was warranted, and will conclude it within a year of the announcement. The two ministries will conduct the investigation.

The commerce secretaries of the U.S. and China agreed to promote trade and investment ties during a phone call June 10, China’s Commerce Ministry said in a statement. Both Gina Raimondo and Wang Wentao, respectively, “exchanged views frankly and pragmatically on relevant issues and mutual concerns,” the ministry said, according to an unofficial translation. “The two sides stated that dialogue and exchanges in the field of Sino-U.S. business are very important and agreed to promote the healthy development of pragmatic cooperation in trade and investment and properly handle differences.”

India imposed export restrictions on injections of amphotericin-b, an antifungal medication used to treat certain infections, the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said June 1. The injection falls under the Indian Trade Classification Harmonized System codes 30049029 and 30049099.

China’s General Administration of Customs issued a revised list of imported and exported commodities that must be inspected, in a notice issued June 3, according to an unofficial translation. The revised inspection requirements affect certain electrical products, metals, chemicals recycled raw materials, “artificial ornaments,” pig iron, billets and more. The changes took effect June 10.

China began allowing imports of Chilean horses May 26, the country’s General Administration of Customs said in a notice issued late last month, according to an unofficial translation. The notice includes quarantine and sanitary requirements for those imports.

Russia imposed a travel ban on nine Canadian citizens for their roles in placing sanctions on Russia for its arrest of opposition leader Alexey Navalny, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a June 7 news release. Canada's sanctions are unlawful and have "contributed to the deterioration of our bilateral relations," the release said.

The Korea Customs Service signed a memo of understanding with Korean e-commerce company Coupang to develop an efficient e-commerce customs clearance and logistics mechanism at the customs office in Seoul, the customs agency announced in a June 7 news release, according to an unofficial translation. The intent is to create computerized systems and laws for the rapidly developing e-commerce market. The mechanism includes the expansion of a public-private consultative forum and a pilot project for sharing customs information. For instance, when an e-commerce company shares transaction data with the Korea Customs Service, that data will be used for pre-verification and data collaboration to ensure expedited customs clearance.

A law designed to counteract foreign sanctions has been submitted to China's legislature for a second reading, China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported June 7. The draft was submitted to China's top legislative body, the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress. The law would strengthen China's “legal toolkit with focus on moves against sanctions and interference and countering long-arm jurisdiction to cope with challenges and risks,” the report said. It said the law responds to an uptick in Western sanctions used as “part of their pretexts to spread rumors on and smear, contain and suppress China.” China recently issued regulations for its unreliable entity list (see 2009210017) and an export control regime (see 2010190033). Former U.S. officials say more trade restrictions laws are likely on the way (see 2012170041)

Bangladesh recently waived import duties on “emergency products and raw materials” used to produce test kits and COVID-related medical items, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported June 8. All “approved” importers will be exempt from import duties as well as “supplementary duty, regulatory duty,” value-added taxes and other taxes associated with 46 emergency products and 16 raw material items used to produce the medical goods. The exemptions, along with the country’s existing import duty waiver on personal protective equipment, will last until June 30, 2022, HKTDC said.