China raised its first tranche of 2023 export quotas for refined oil products by nearly half compared with the same time a year ago, Reuters reported Jan. 3. The 18.99 million tons of quotas to cover mostly gasoline, diesel and jet fuel exports is an increase of 46% from the 13 million tons allotted last year, the report said, which could be meant to "spur refinery output, capture strong export margins and adapt to slow domestic demand."

Local commercial authorities in China stopped registering foreign trade operators Dec. 30, the Ministry of Commerce announced, according to an unofficial translation. The relevant departments will no longer require foreign trade operator filing and registration materials for entities that apply for import and export licenses, technology import and export contract registration certificates, quotas, state trade qualifications and other relevant certificates and qualifications, the ministry said. The move is meant to boost trade liberalization and facilitation.

China imposed national food safety standard inspection requirements for imports of infant formula food, processed cheese and other dairy products, the General Administration of Customs announced, according to an unofficial translation. The move comes after China imposed a new national standard for these products. The customs agency said that goods made and imported before the implementation date of the new national standard but that comply with the original standard can continue to be imported and sold within the warranty period. The domestic consignee of the imported goods must fill in the "production date" when declaring the affected products.

China recently removed duties and quota limitations on more than 1,600 categories of goods from Ethiopia, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported this month. The goods include electronic equipment, certain machine parts, cameras, vacuum cleaners, sound signaling equipment, soldering irons and guns, and astronomical instruments.

China banned the import of poultry and related products from Ecuador following an outbreak of avian influenza in the country's poultry farms, China's General Administration of Customs announced, according to an unofficial translation. China said all poultry from Ecuador shipped after Dec. 21 will be returned or destroyed and goods shipped before the announcement will be quarantined, tested and released after passing inspection.

The Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (see 2212010004) took effect Dec. 29, allowing Australian exporters to benefit this week from an initial round of tariff cuts eliminating duties on more than 85% of exports to India, Australia’s trade ministry said. A second round of tariff cuts will take effect Jan. 1, while tariffs on certain agricultural goods and other items will be phased down to zero within six years. The trade ministry said a “serious window of opportunity has opened for our exporters to move into” India’s market “ahead many of our key competitors.”

U.S. beef exports to East Asia are on a record-setting pace for the second consecutive year, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in a Dec. 27 report. The exports, “both in value and volume, were outstanding” during the first half of 2022, the report said. From January through September, exports to South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other regions in East Asia reached $6.6 billion, an increase from last year’s $5.4 billion, the report said. The agency said “higher-volume shipments indicate a continued demand for beef products,” and “East Asia’s relatively stable middle class with high disposable household income has been willing to absorb the rising costs.”

South Korea may be preparing for more involvement next year in a new U.S.-proposed alliance of advanced semiconductor manufacturing and producing nations, the Korea Herald said in a Dec. 27 report. “South Korea [in 2023] will consider joining the ‘Fab 4’ alliance of semiconductor powerhouses,” also known as the Chip 4 alliance, which would look to increase trade and supply chain cooperation among South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the U.S., the report said. The Korea Herald, citing a recent report from South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said “the envisioned alliance would cover all major areas of the chips value chain.” Taiwan in October said the countries in Chip 4 have held at least one preparatory meeting but haven't set a formal agenda or scheduled an official first session (see 2210050009).

Prices of certain chips sold in China's black market have risen "by 500 times" since the U.S. announced new semiconductor-related export controls earlier this year, according to an unofficial translation of a Dec. 27 report by United Daily News in Taiwan. The report said "the demand for high-end chips in mainland China is hot, making local black market transactions hot" and "chip smuggling increasingly rampant."

The Philippines will soon cut tariffs on certain imported electric vehicles and components, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Dec. 20. The change, starting early next year, will remove tariffs on vehicles -- including cars, buses, trucks and bicycles -- for five years. The tariff elimination won’t apply to “hybrid type electric vehicles,” the report said. Tariffs will be lowered to 1% from the existing 5% rate over the same five‑year period for parts and components. The Philippines will evaluate the tariff change after one year to “evaluate its impact on the local industry,” the report said.