China said it still plans to fulfill its commitments under the phase one trade deal with the U.S. despite rising tensions over Hong Kong and a host of new U.S. sanctions and export restrictions (see 2007150019, 2007140068, 2007010040 and 2006290063). The trade agreement will “benefit both countries and the world,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said July 16, according to an unofficial translation of a press conference transcript. “We will implement the signed agreements.”
Sri Lanka clarified and revised its import restrictions for a range of commodities as the country tries to stop the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a July 13 report. The revisions, announced June 30, apply restrictions to imported goods loaded at a port on or before June 30, the report said, including certain industrial supplies, agricultural goods and electronic equipment. The import restrictions are intended to allow for the “uninterrupted raw material supply” for domestic manufacturing and export processing while also protecting “certain local industries and production,” USDA said.
China suspended imports of sheep, goats and their products from Israel due to an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox in Israel’s Northern District, a July 13 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. Chinese customs will return or destroy sheep or goat imports from Israel, the notice said.
China announced a ban on certain animals and animal products from Rwanda due to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, a July 13 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. The import ban applies to “cloven hoofed animals and their related products,” directly or indirectly from Rwanda, including products originating from those animals that have not been processed or are “still likely to spread disease although processed.” Customs authorities will return or destroy any imports, China said.
China criticized the Trump administration’s Xinjiang business advisory (see 2007010040) issued earlier this month, saying the guidance “seriously distorts the facts” and threatens to damage cooperation between U.S. and Chinese industries. The guidance -- which outlined export control, sanctions and forced labor risks for U.S. companies doing business in China’s Xinjiang region -- “undermines the stability of the global supply chain,” a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson said July 14, according to an unofficial translation of a press release about a reporter's question on the topic. “This is bad for China, bad for the United States, and bad for the whole world,” the spokesperson said. “China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”
China will suspend imports from three Ecuadorian plants after it said packaging samples of the plants’ frozen shrimp shipments tested positive for coronavirus, an unofficial translation of a July 10 notice said. While the “shrimp body” and the “inner packaging samples” tested negative, China said the outer packaging from Pesquera Santa Priscila SA, Empacreci SA and Empacadora Del Pacifico Sociedad Anonima Edpacif SA tested positive. Chinese importers of the frozen shrimp must recall any shipments produced after March 12 and return or destroy the shrimp. A “leading Ecuadorian shrimp exporter” disputed China’s claims about the packages testing positive, Bloomberg reported July 12.
India amended its import policy for certain “cut flowers” to restrict the location of incoming shipments, the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a July 9 notice. India will accept imports of certain cut flowers including roses, carnations, orchids, chrysanthemums and lilies at its Chennai port only, the notice said.
Chinese importers of certain bulk sugar shipments will be subject to increased reporting requirements, China’s Ministry of Commerce said July 6, according to an unofficial translation of a notice. The measure, which took effect July 1, requires importers to file certain information about the shipments with Chinese authorities, which are studying the state of China’s sugar trade, the ministry notice said. China said the measure will help it better monitor and improve the competitiveness of its sugar industry and avoid “blind imports.”
Japan recently published a list of 21 proposed geographical indications for agricultural goods from the European Union, including cheese, ham, olive oil, sausage, butter, baked goods and jam, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a July 7 report. If the proposals are finalized, Japan will not “monitor compliance with product specifications for [the] GI designations in their country of origin.” The list was published July 7. Public comments are due Oct. 7.
Japan will accept U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sanitary certificates for U.S. fresh oyster exports, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said July 7. The certificate can be used for oyster exports from Oregon, Washington state, Connecticut and New York, USDA said, and U.S. exporters must be on the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List to meet Japan's sanitation standards. USDA also detailed further Japanese requirements for oyster imports intended for raw consumption.