China reportedly has developed a supercomputer that gives it an advantage in quantum computing, an emerging technology category that the U.S. has sought to prevent China from dominating. The computer can perform certain computations 100 trillion times faster than the world’s fastest existing supercomputer, giving China a “quantum computational advantage,” or “quantum supremacy,” Xinhua, China's state-run news agency, reported Dec. 4. Chinese researchers also said the computer can perform certain processes 10 billion times faster than the quantum computer developed by Google. The Bureau of Industry and Security is considering export controls on certain technology related to quantum computers, with those restrictions in their final rule stage as of July (see 2007140027). A BIS spokesperson said the agency continues to “evaluate and identify technologies that warrant control.”
Although Thailand is one of more than a dozen countries that will benefit from reduced tariffs under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the deal will have only a “marginal” impact on U.S. agricultural exports to that nation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a Dec. 2 report. USDA said most of Thailand’s “major” commodity imports from the U.S., such as wheat and raw cotton, will be minimally affected. The RCEP eliminated duties among member states for imports of “distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS),” but U.S. exports of DDGS will be unaffected because most RCEP members are net importers of DDGS, the USDA said. U.S. fish exporters are also unlikely to be affected because “the products that will see the immediate elimination of tariffs [under RCEP] already have a low tariff rate” of 5% for imports from the U.S., the report said.
China removed inspection requirements for certain medical supply exports listed under 14 commodity numbers, a Dec. 3 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. The inspection requirements will no longer apply to certain thermometers, surgical gloves and glasses, certain bandages and “medical disinfectant.” China stressed that the inspections will still apply to certain items classified as “dangerous chemicals.”
China will require import and export licenses for certain commercial encryption products beginning Jan. 1, its Commerce Ministry said in a Dec. 2 notice. The license requirements, to be overseen by the Commerce Ministry and China’s customs authority, are aimed at monitoring and restricting the trade of dual-use encryption technologies, the notice said, according to an unofficial translation. The export requirements could capture equipment that uses commercial encryption for electric utilities and finance, Nikkei reported Dec. 3, while import controls could capture phone and fax machines with encryption features. Violators could face penalties outlined under China’s new export control law, which took effect Dec. 1 (see 2010190033).
The Singapore Customs TradeNet will undergo system maintenance Dec. 13, 4 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, a Dec. 1 notice said. The agency advised users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to the usual 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday maintenance.
China's General Administration of Customs issued a list of goods subject to zero tariffs when imported into the Hainan Free Trade Port, it announced Nov. 30, according to an unofficial translation. The tariff policy, which took effect Dec. 1 and will be in place until 2025, will exempt import duties, value-added import taxes and consumption taxes for certain “raw and auxiliary materials,” China Daily, a state-run news outlet, reported Dec. 1. The exemptions will apply to products “consumed in the importing company's own production process, for import-process-export production activities or for import-service-export work in the process of trade in services by enterprises registered as independent legal entities” in the Hainan Free Trade Port, the report said.
China revised certain procedures related to electronic submissions of freight manifests for road transport vehicles (see 2010090026), it said Nov. 27, according to an unofficial translation. The announcement updates an earlier notice, and contains more information on the changes to manifest submissions, which took effect Dec. 1.
China will allow imports of Mexican sorghum, the country’s General Administration of Customs said in a Nov. 30 notice, according to an unofficial translation. The notice includes inspection and quarantine requirements for the imports.
China criticized the U.S. decision this week to sanction the China National Electronics Import & Export Corp. (see 2011300035), saying it opposes U.S. unilateral sanctions and interference in Venezuela. The U.S. sanctioned the Chinese company for exporting advanced technologies and technical expertise to Venezuela. “The U.S. practice is nothing but another pretext to suppress Venezuela and relevant Chinese companies,” a ministry spokesperson said Dec. 1 during a regular press conference. “China will take necessary measures to uphold the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.”
China’s Commerce Ministry last week imposed steep import taxes on Australian wine, saying the wine is being unfairly dumped and effectively cutting off those imports. The temporary duties, which took effect Nov. 28, range about 107.1% to 212.1%, China’s Commerce Ministry said, according to an unofficial translation. Those rates will make Australian wine unsellable in China, Australia’s trade minister said, The Associated Press reported Nov. 27.