Hong Kong suspended certain imports from a Brazilian meat plant after China said meat from the plant tested positive for the coronavirus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported Aug. 14. The suspension, which took effect Aug. 13, applies to imported poultry meat from the plant, which can only sell poultry products to Hong Kong. Even though only one Brazilian plant was affected, USDA said Hong Kong traders might begin importing poultry products from countries other than Brazil due to fears “that products from other Brazilian plants could be found to be contaminated with coronavirus.” The report said: “It seems that the Hong Kong food authority has not overreacted to the incident. Given that the batch in question is not available in Hong Kong, [the Hong Kong Center for Food Safety] has not issued a voluntary recall of products from the plant.”
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute released an Aug. 20 report on China’s increasing use of global talent recruitment programs to steal technology and intellectual property from universities and companies around the world. The report details how the practice helps China leverage “foreign technology and expertise” and how it can be combated, especially as China seeks to “shift the balance of power” within the technology industry away from the U.S.
China will launch a pilot “preferential” certificate of origin system for trade with certain least developed countries, an Aug. 18 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. The system, to launch Sept. 10, will issue online certificates of origin for trade with Bangladesh, Niger, Ethiopia, Mozambique and East Timor, China’s General Administration of Customs said. The system will “further promote the implementation of special preferential tariff treatment measures” for certain least developed countries “that have established diplomatic relations with China, the notice said. It will also help improve customs clearances for qualified goods.
India revised its export policies for certain textile raw materials used in mask and coverall production, the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said Aug. 18. The change removes export restrictions on eight Harmonized System codes classified under “non-woven fabrics for 25-70 GSM” and “non-woven fabrics other than 25-70 GSM,” a measure of grams per square inch. The exception for “melt-blown fabric of any GSM” continues, and it is not allowed for export.
South Korea and Iran held the first meeting of a working group to expand humanitarian trade, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, according to an unofficial translation. The meeting, scheduled for Aug. 18, aimed to establish humanitarian “trade procedures” and a “consultation on export items with priority to Iran,” the notice said. South Korea said it hopes to export more medicine and medical devices to Iran.
South Korea eliminated antidumping duties on imports of Japanese pneumatic transmission valves, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Aug. 19. Japan had raised a dispute with the World Trade Organization, arguing that South Korea imposed the duties past their scheduled five-year expiration date. “It was unfortunate that [South Korea] continued imposing the duties beyond May 30, 2020, the original deadline,” Japan said. “[South Korea] cannot be recognized as having performed its duties sincerely.” Japan said the duties were eliminated Aug. 19 and it will “refrain from taking further legal procedures … such as retaliatory measures.” The WTO Appellate Body had ruled on Sept. 10, 2019, that South Korea was not adhering to WTO tariff implementation agreements and recommended it bring its measures into conformity, which South Korea agreed to do by May 30.
China’s Foreign Ministry criticized increased U.S. restrictions on exports to Huawei (see 2008170029), and said it will take “necessary measures to safeguard” Chinese companies. The restrictions violate international trade rules and will “undermine” global supply chains, a spokesperson said during an Aug. 18 news conference. “We urge the U.S. to immediately correct its mistakes, stop slandering China, and stop suppressing Chinese companies,” the spokesperson said, according to an unofficial translation of a transcript of the press conference.
China’s Commerce Ministry began an antidumping investigation into imports of Australian wine in containers holding 2 liters or less, an Aug. 18 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. China said it expects to complete the investigation by Aug. 18, 2021.
China’s Guangdong region recently announced measures to speed up export tax rebate processing and to help divert goods intended for export to instead be sold domestically, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Aug. 17. All Guangdong tax authorities were ordered to “increase their assessment efficiency and expedite the processing” for export tax rebates to reduce the handling time from eight to five working days, the report said. The province is also collecting data on taxes and fees to create “business matching platforms” that will drive “products originally destined for export” to be sold domestically.
A range of Malaysian exporters, including traders of food and cut-flowers, no longer need a permit from the Malaysia Quarantine and Inspection Services to export their goods, according to an Aug. 13 Hong Kong Trade Development Council report. The change lifted export restrictions from items covered under 524 different Harmonized System codes in an effort to “reduce bureaucracy in the business sector,” the report said. The Malaysian government is also encouraging businesses to “report any red‑tape‑related matters of concern” to further reduce bureaucracy.