China will launch a dispute at the World Trade Organization in response to Canada’s decision to impose new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle, steel and aluminum imports (see 2408260033), the country’s commerce ministry said Sept. 3. The ministry also said it will begin separate antidumping duty investigations on imports of Canadian canola and certain chemicals after receiving requests for those probes from Chinese companies.

China is launching a new online declaration process for exporters of automobiles and motorcycles beginning Sept. 5, the country’s commerce ministry said this week, according to an unofficial translation. Exporters and manufacturers will use the system to upload information about their shipments and obtain export licenses. “If it is found that an enterprise provides false materials, it will notify, warn, suspend or cancel its qualification to engage in automobile or motorcycle export according to relevant regulations,” the ministry said.

China won't impose provisional antidumping duties on imports of EU brandy even after determining European companies are dumping brandy in the Chinese market, the country’s commerce ministry announced Aug. 29, according to an unofficial translation. The ministry, which launched the AD probe in January, said its domestic brandy industry “was threatened with substantial damage” and that it found “there was a causal relationship between the dumping and the threat of substantial damage.” It added: “No temporary anti-dumping measures will be taken in this case.” The ministry is accepting public comments on its decision for 10 days.

The U.S. touched on export controls in talks between National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, readouts from both countries said, with the Chinese summary of two days of talks going into more detail about China's views on the issue.

China’s Foreign Ministry this week criticized Canada’s decision to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicle imports (see 2408260033), saying the measure “ignores facts” and “disrespects” World Trade Organization rules. “This typical protectionist move disrupts China-Canada trade relations, harms the interests of Canadian companies and consumers, and does little good to Canada’s green transition process and global effort for climate response,” a ministry spokesperson said during an Aug. 27 press conference in response to a question from a wire service reporter. “China will take all measures necessary to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”

China’s commerce ministry met with industry officials last week to discuss possibly raising import duties on large-engine cars, according to an unofficial translation of an Aug. 23 ministry notice. China said the meeting featured “representatives from relevant industry organizations, research institutions and automobile companies," where China listened to their "opinions and suggestions on increasing tariffs on large-displacement fuel vehicles." The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU said in May that Beijing was considering the tariffs, which could be imposed on exporters from the U.S. and the EU in response to increased duties recently announced by both governments on imports of Chinese electric vehicles (see 2405140008 and 2408200020).

Hong Kong soon will put in place a new import protocol for raw meat and poultry that will affect U.S. slaughtering, cutting, processing and cold storage facilities exporting to the region, USDA said in a report this month. Beginning Feb. 14, Hong Kong will transition from a “systems-based” approach to recognizing foreign meat and poultry establishments to an “establishment or plant-based” registration system, meaning U.S. facilities will need to register with the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety (CFS) before exporting. USDA said those U.S. facilities should review the CFS list of establishments “to verify all company information is current and accurate.”

China renewed its antidumping duties on imports of halogenated butyl rubber from the U.S., the EU, the U.K. and Singapore, the country’s commerce ministry announced Aug. 20, according to an unofficial translation. The duties, originally imposed in 2018, range from 23.1% to 75.5%. The rubber is mainly used in tubeless tires, heat-resistant inner tubes, medicinal bottle stoppers, shockproof pads, adhesives and sealing materials, Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua said.

China this week launched an investigation on whether certain imported dairy products from the EU unfairly benefit from subsidies and should face additional duties, the country’s commerce ministry said, according to an unofficial translation. The probe will look into imports of certain fresh cheese, processed cheese and curd, including blue cheese and milk and cream with a fat content of more than 10%, China said.

China soon will impose new export controls on a set of key critical minerals, including antimony, and technology used to process those minerals, the country’s commerce ministry said Aug. 15, according to an unofficial translation. Antimony can be used in the production of certain batteries, weapons and more. The minerals and technology “have a significant impact on national security,” China said, and exports will need a license before they can be shipped abroad. The controls take effect Sept. 15.