China issued guidance on its value-added tax “reduction policies” for certain anti-cancer and rare disease drugs, a Sept. 30 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. China said it will reduce VATs on those imported drugs by 3% and will allow “general VAT taxpayers” to “produce, sell, wholesale and retail” the drugs. The notice also contains instructions on how to declare the imports with Chinese customs and a list of drugs that qualify.
Vietnamese agricultural exports have increased sharply since the country implemented its free trade agreement with the European Union Aug. 1 (see 2007010009), the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency said in an Oct. 7 post. Compared with July, Vietnam exports rose by more than 11% in August and by 30% in September, the post said. The country’s agricultural minister called for more standardization among Vietnam’s agricultural producers to further take advantage of the trade deal, the post said. Although Vietnam’s agricultural sector has benefited, its wood sector has struggled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it said. Wood processors have seen “numerous order cancellations or late payments.”
Thailand recently banned imports of electronic waste, according to the Basel Action Network, an environmental justice group. The country announced the move in September, banning 428 different types of electronic scrap, BAN said in an Oct. 6 press release. BAN and Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand (EARTH), an environmental research foundation, applauded the move, saying Thailand has been a popular spot for dumping plastic and other wastes by Hong Kong and U.S. brokers. The groups called for strict enforcement of the import ban. “We must remain vigilant against actors that will ignore this new law, both inside and outside of the country,” said Akarapon Teebthaisong, an official at EARTH. BAN and EARTH also commended China for its effort to ban waste imports (see 2006030010) and called on “all countries” to do the same. Interpol recently said it is seeing a rise in illegal trash trade (see 2008280035).
Malaysia recently expanded its sales tax exemption order, KPMG said in an Oct. 6 post. Previously, the exemption applied only to certain locally manufactured goods purchased for export within six months. But the exemption order will now apply also to purchased goods that are transferred to certain “designated areas” and “special areas” and now considered an export. The change took effect Oct. 6.
India will establish “remote, anonymous assessments” of imported goods at all its ports as part of an effort to speed up customs clearance and reduce interaction between customs officials and import agents, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said Oct. 6. The system, which begins Oct. 31, will prioritize remote and paperless customs clearance procedures, self-registration of goods by imports, automated clearance for bills of entry and the digitization of customs documents, the report said. It will allow documents to be assessed remotely by officers on a randomized basis, “ensuring both objectivity and the standardisation of entry criteria across the country,” HKTDC said. India decided to roll out the system countrywide after successfully testing it at ports in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai earlier this year, the report said.
China recently announced procedures for submitting automobile and motorcycle export license applications in 2021, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said Oct. 6. Manufacturers must submit completed application forms, including details of “all their overseas after-sales repair centres and overseas workshops,” to their local commerce department, the report said. Manufacturers of “all-terrain vehicles” must also submit “quality management certificates” and other “relevant” certification to the importing jurisdiction.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations officially implemented its self-certification scheme for origin of goods to help streamline customs procedures across member countries, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said Oct. 5. The scheme will allow any ASEAN company that is approved as a “certified exporter” to self-certify the origin of its goods, the HKTDC said. Under this process, traders will not be required to obtain a certificate of origin from their local customs office, which will save time and money, the report said.
Singapore Customs’ TradeNet will undergo system maintenance Oct. 18, 4 a.m. to noon local time, an Oct. 2 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. maintenance on Sundays.
Hong Kong’s Trade and Industry Department issued a notice Sept. 29 reminding companies of its license for traders who “frequently” import or export “strategic commodities of relatively less sensitivity.” The “Approval-in-Principle Arrangement for Bulk Users of Strategic Commodities Licensing Service” streamlines and expedites processing of license applications, the agency said. The notice outlines the application process, conditions for approval and which items are eligible for the license.
Singapore Customs issued a Sept. 28 advisory on combating money laundering from illegal wildlife trade. The guidance outlines “risk indicators” for traders who may be dealing with illegal wildlife traffickers and details how to report suspicious transactions.