India increased restrictions on exports of “onion seeds,” the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in an Oct. 29 notice. The notice changed India's export policy on onion seeds from “restricted” to “prohibited,” effective immediately.
China recently said it will not classify materials that meet the standards of recycling materials for brass, copper and aluminum alloys as solid wastes and will therefore allow those imports, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Oct. 30. Those materials that meet China’s national standards can be “imported freely,” China said, while others may be imported if already covered by a 2020 import license for solid wastes that can be used under certain restrictions for scrap metal.
India revised its procedures and criteria for approving export applications for certain disposable gloves, the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in an Oct. 27 notice. The notice outlines a quota for October and November 2020 for exports of “Nitrile/NBR gloves,” and details how traders can submit their applications and what conditions they must meet. India said the export licenses will be valid for three months. The country recently lifted some export restrictions on the gloves (see 2010220009).
Singapore Customs’ TradeNet will undergo system maintenance Nov. 8, 4 a.m. to noon local time, an Oct. 23 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 will impose antidumping duties on imports of certain synthetic rubber from the U.S., South Korea and the European Union, China’s Commerce Ministry said in an Oct. 23 notice, according to an unofficial translation. The duties, ranging from 12.5% to 222%, will apply to imports of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber and take effect Oct. 28.
India lifted some export restrictions on certain medical and disposable gloves, its Directorate General of Foreign Trade said Oct. 22. The notice changes India’s export policy for the sale of “nitrile/NBR gloves” from “prohibited” to “restricted.”
China plans to release an initial list of items subject to export restrictions under its new export control law (see 2010190033), its Ministry of Commerce said Oct. 22. China already has controls in place for certain dual-use, nuclear and military-related items but plans to issue more restrictions to “better fulfill relevant international obligations, adapt to the needs of export control work under the new situation, and safeguard [China’s] national security,” a ministry spokesperson said, according to an unofficial translation. “We will further improve and release the control list in due course.” The spokesperson said China learned from and modeled its regime after “international practices” of other control lists, and received more than 250 comments from companies, law firms and government agencies.
Australia is subsidizing its mango sector to boost exports. The funding will go toward “freight flights” to help export mangoes to customers in the U.S., South Korea, China and the Middle East, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said Oct. 22. “Growers have worked incredibly hard to secure export contracts and build a strong reputation for premium, safe and reliable produce that remains in high demand across the globe,” he said. “It would literally be a case of mango madness if Aussie export contracts were lost just because COVID-19 has grounded most flights.”
India lifted restrictions on exports of certain hand sanitizers, the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in an Oct. 15 notice. The move will remove all export restrictions from alcohol-based hand sanitizers “in containers with dispenser pumps.” India had announced the restrictions in June (see 2006010013).
China said the U.S. has been harassing and falsely arresting Chinese students at airports amid more U.S. export control oversight relating to university research. Nearly 300 students “experienced U.S. harassment and interrogation” from May to September, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Oct. 21. “Their cell phones, laptops and other personal belongings were arbitrarily examined and even seized,” the spokesperson said. “We lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side many times, urging it to correct mistakes and stop discriminatory behaviors against Chinese students.”