China is not requiring consignors and consignees to be present during customs inspections of imports and exports in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus, according to a Feb. 24 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The measure is also aimed at increasing the speed of inspections and releases of goods, the report said.

China’s General Administration of Customs will allow imports of U.S. fresh potatoes that meet certain inspection and quarantine requirements, according to an unofficial translation of a Feb. 21 notice. The notice includes an attachment with the specific requirements that all U.S. potato imports must meet.

China lifted import restrictions on certain pet foods containing “ruminant ingredients,” according to an unofficial translation of a Feb. 19 notice from China’s General Administration of Customs. The agency said it will release inspection and quarantine requirements for pet food imports in a separate notice.

Singapore Customs is allowing certain dutiable goods to be temporarily stored in free-trade zones for up to 30 days before being moved to a licensed warehouse or factory, according to a Feb. 21 circular. The change will mainly impact liquor and tobacco products, which were previously not allowed to be stored in FTZs, the circular said. The change is aimed at improving “the quick turnaround for tran[s]shipment and encourage entrepot trade,” Singapore said. The company will impose penalties for traders who fail to move the goods to a “licensed premises” after being stored in the FTZ for 30 days.

Japan and South Korea will hold another export control policy dialogue March 10 in Seoul, according to an unofficial translation of a Feb. 21 notice from Japan. During the dialogue, the two countries will “proceed with discussions to contribute to resolving the pending issues” and seek “further improvements in export control systems and operations,” the notice said. The countries have held a series of dialogues (see 1912160011) and have been locked in a trade dispute stemming from Japan's export restrictions on South Korea imposed last year (see 1907010020).

Two Japanese auto trade associations and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry launched a council to address coronavirus impacts on the country’s auto supply chain, according to an unofficial translation of a Feb. 20 ministry notice. The “New Coronavirus Countermeasures Automobile Council” will help Japanese industry and government share information on “anti-epidemic measures, supply chain and logistics” with “a view to ensuring that measures can be taken to prepare for the possible impact of the new coronavirus on the automotive supply chain in the future.”

China recently introduced plans to streamline imports of auto parts by allowing companies in eight cities to take “direct delivery” of the imports and arrange on-site inspections by customs officers at a later date, according to a Feb. 21 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The on-site inspections may also include “random checks,” the report said. The measure was introduced for Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Ningbo, and covers imports of certain seat belts, sunroofs, brakes and parts of tractors, brakes and parts of “large passenger vehicles” and “other parts and accessories of bodies (including cabs),” the report said.

Vietnam introduced tax exemptions for certain imports related to coronavirus prevention, according to a Feb. 20 report from CustomsNews, the mouthpiece for Vietnam Customs. The exemptions, announced this month, apply to companies importing raw materials to make virus-fighting goods, the notice said, such as raw materials used to make medical masks. If companies import raw materials using the tax exemption but do not use the goods for purposes related to preventing the spread of the coronavirus, they must submit a new customs declaration and pay “all taxes” on the import, the notice said.

While auto parts, LCD panels and pharmaceuticals are most concentrated in the Chinese province where the coronavirus epidemic began, a recent Congressional Research Service report noted that quarantines are affecting port staffing, which can affect all shipments from China. “Business reopening has been uneven across sectors and locations in China. Many firms are awaiting government approvals to reopen and are facing difficulties in meeting new operating requirements, such as providing masks for employees,” the report said. Because passenger air traffic has been curtailed to and from China, there is much less space for air cargo shipments.

Indonesia officially ratified its free trade agreement with Australia (see 2001220042) and the two countries have discussed a 100-day implementation plan for the deal to take effect during the first half of 2020, according to a Feb. 18 post from KPMG. Under the deal, more than 99% of Australian agricultural goods to Indonesia will benefit from duty-free access or “significant preferential treatment,” KPMG said. The deal will also “virtually” eliminate tariffs on Australian exports of energy goods, and Indonesia will “guarantee the automatic issuance of import permits” for Australian agricultural and steel goods. In addition, Australia will eliminate all duties on Indonesian goods, KPMG said.