China released a plan this week for its Hainan free trade port, aiming to turn it into a global trading hub by eliminating tariffs and other trade barriers. The port will serve as the “frontline of China's integration into the global economic system,” according to a June 1 report from Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency. The island province also will be given “more autonomy in reform … thus clearing institutional obstacles hampering the flow of production factors.” China said it hopes to establish the port by 2025. The announcement comes less than a week after the U.S. certified that Hong Kong no longer qualifies for special customs treatment under U.S. law (see 2005290047).
China recently passed a law to further reduce imports of solid waste, according to a June 3 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The law, which takes effect Sept. 1, includes provisions to help China reach its goal of zero imported solid waste, including permit requirements for certain activities and the introduction of a “domestic waste sorting system.” China previously expanded efforts to combat solid waste smuggling (see 1904120045 and 1903250021).
Three men were arrested in Singapore after importing more than $1 million worth (in Singapore dollars) of counterfeit cigarettes, Singapore customs said in a June 2 notice. Authorities discovered the illegal imports after the customs agency seized three cigarette containers that had been awaiting reexport to other countries, the notice said. The containers contained more than 1.5 million packets of counterfeit cigarettes, the notice said. Singapore officials also raided “multiple locations” linked to the three men, and said investigations are ongoing. Each of the men faces a maximum $100,000 fine and a five-year prison sentence, or both.
Singapore will update its “Strategic Goods (Control) Regulations,” including changes to record-keeping requirements, brokering activities, certain technology transfers and more, Singapore Customs said in a June 1 notice. The changes take effect Aug. 3.
India announced restrictions on certain alcohol-based hand sanitizers “in containers with dispenser pumps,” according to a June 1 notice from the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade. The notice contains Harmonized System codes for the restricted products. India previously restricted exports of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, (see 2005060023), but this notice, “with immediate effect,” only prohibits exports with the dispenser pump packaging.
Cambodia is close to adopting an anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism legislation to reduce domestic crime and terrorist financing, according to a June 1 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The legislation, which has received Cabinet approval and next goes to the lower house of the legislature, before undergoing final review by the country’s Senate and its king, aims to bring Cambodia’s laws in line with international best practices, the report said. Cambodia’s money-laundering and terrorist financing controls have been called inadequate by the regional body Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering and the Financial Action Task Force, of which Cambodia is a member, HKTDC said.
Singapore Customs’ TradeNet will undergo system maintenance from 4 a.m. to noon local time on Sunday, June 14, it said in a May 28 notice. The agency is advising users to avoid submitting applications “involving amendment, cancellation, refund and stock related permit applications” during this time. This is in addition to usual maintenance on Sundays from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m.
India lifted export restrictions on the painkiller paracetamol, the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a May 28 notice, effective immediately. India previously lifted export restrictions on formulations made of paracetamol but kept restrictions on the paracetamol active ingredient (see 2004200021).
China will ban imports of Indian pigs, wild boars and their products due to a recent outbreak of African swine fever in India, China’s General Administration of Customs said May 27, according to an unofficial translation. China said it will destroy all imported Indian pigs, boars and pig products, and if incoming ships or aircrafts have pigs or boars from India on board, they will be “sealed up” and not opened “without customs permission” during the cargo’s time in China. Violators of the ban will face customs penalties, China said.
Vietnam will only allow certain temporary imports of goods for reexport at certain border checkpoints beginning in 2021, according to a May 26 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The checkpoints, which will be designated as “international border gates or main border gates,” will allow imports of all goods that are stored in a bonded warehouse before being reexported. Use of other border gates for temporary imports will be “strictly prohibited,” the report said.