China has seen a steady increase in demand for imports of semiconductors since January, China’s Commerce Ministry told reporters Sept. 10, according to an unofficial translation of a press conference transcript. A ministry spokesperson said China imported 15% more semiconductors from January to August compared with the same period last year, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and greater demand for computers, tablets and “medical electronics” due to distance working and learning. China has also been “actively stocking and increasing procurement efforts” of semiconductors as the U.S. has increased export restrictions on chips to Huawei (see 2008210045). The spokesperson said China’s increased demand has been “the main driving force for the growth of the global semiconductor market.”
China’s General Administration of Customs issued a “sampling method” standard for imports and exports of petroleum products, a notice released Sept. 10 said, according to an unofficial translation. The notice details 58 industry standards, including the petroleum sampling method, such as for fireworks, textiles fiber content, and electromagnetic field exposure to humans using household electrical appliances.
China plans to launch a system to electronically exchange origin and other trade information with Indonesia, China’s customs authority said in a Sept. 2 notice, according to an unofficial translation. The system, which will be launched Oct. 15, will allow for preferential treatment for exchanging certain certificate of origin documents and is designed to lead to more efficient declarations.
China will allow imports of fresh blueberries from Zambia, China’s General Administration of Customs said in a Sept. 7 notice, according to an unofficial translation. The notice includes quarantine and phytosanitary requirements for the blueberries.
China revised its import procedures for a range of batteries, the country’s customs authority said in a Sept. 7 notice, according to an unofficial translation. The changes, which take effect Oct. 1, will “optimize the quality and safety inspection and supervision methods” for 22 subheadings of batteries, China said, by allowing traders to issue self-declarations for the safety regulations required for battery imports. If traders do not choose to self-declare, China said it will continue to adopt its “current inspection and supervision method.” The batteries range from button-type, to those with various weights of mercury or alkaline zinc, or with vanadium, or possessing certain voltage.
India revised its export policies for certain finished leather goods, the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said Sept. 4. The revisions update export conditions for a range of leather products, including suede, nubuck, “goat and sheep based lining” leathers and laminated leathers. The notice details certain manufacturing norms and conditions for each product. The amendments were made “in the light of several changes that have taken place in the past 7-8 years in the tanning technology and new types of finished leather being produced now,” it said.
India is requiring all toy products, including imports, to be certified as safe by the Bureau of Indian Standards before they can be sold in the country, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said Sept. 8. The change, which took effect Sept. 1, also requires toy manufacturers and distributors to obtain a license from the Indian agency to prove their products comply with safety requirements. Toys must be classified in one of two categories before being licensed: nonelectric toys and electric toys.
China is launching a mission to set global regulations on data security as its companies increasingly face accusations of breaching foreign countries’ data privacy laws, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the International Seminar on Global Digital Governance Sept. 8 in Beijing, according to the text his speech. Wang, speaking weeks after the U.S. announced bans on transactions with the parent companies of WeChat and TikTok (see 2008070024), said Chinese companies have been forced to unfairly adapt to foreign data regulations.
China will impose countervailing measures on imports of n-propanol from the United States, a Sept. 4 Ministry of Commerce notice said, according to an unofficial translation. China said its n-propanol industry has suffered “substantial damage” due to the U.S. imports. Beginning Sept. 9, Chinese “import operators” must pay Chinese customs authorities at rates between 34.2% and 37.7%, the notice said.
Beijing will be testing all imported cold-chain food entering the Chinese capital, in a move to curb COVID-19 exposure, state-owned news service Xinhau said in a report. Other goods will be tested only if they come from high-risk countries and regions, it said.