China’s General Administration of Customs this week clarified certain customs procedures for goods traveling by water, according to an unofficial translation of an Aug. 9 notice. The notice covers information on customs application and filing procedures.

Singapore will soon impose new import restrictions on certain drones with cellular network connectivity, the country said in an Aug. 8 notice. The restrictions, which take effect Sept. 1, will require the imports to be approved by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority before entering the country. The restrictions apply to imports of drones “irrespective of the takeoff weight” operating on a cellular network, including drones using a SIM card, “eSIM” or that have the ability to insert a cellular radio module. Declaring agents must list the Harmonized System code and product code in their import application, the notice said, which includes a table of various drones and their codes. Importers planning to sell the drones must also apply for a “Telecommunication Dealer” license, Singapore said.

India amended the export policy for certain wheat flour, the country's Directorate General of Foreign Trade said Aug. 8. Effective Aug. 14, the exports will be subject to certain government approvals, India said, and must receive a “quality certificate.”

China announced phytosanitary requirements for imported fresh pomegranates from Egypt, the General Administration of Customs said in a notice released this month, according to an unofficial translation. Imports that don’t meet inspection and quarantine requirements may be returned or destroyed.

Bangladesh’s central bank in July increased restrictions on imports of luxury goods and other “non-essentials,” the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Aug. 9. The country’s banks now impose a margin of 100% and 75% on letters of credit for luxury goods and nonessential items, respectively. HKTDC said the 100% margin applies to certain household appliances, gold, furniture, alcohol, cosmetics and other luxury items. All other nonessential goods are subject to the 75% margin. The measure doesn’t apply to certain essential goods, including medicines, baby food and certain agricultural goods and “capital machinery.”

China is preparing to tighten existing import restrictions on certain goods from Taiwan, including products labeled as originating in the “Republic of China,” Bloomberg reported Aug. 5. Beijing objects to Taiwan’s use of the “Republic of China” because it considers Taiwan part of its territory, the report said.

China announced inspection and quarantine requirements on silage imports from Nepal, the General Administration of Customs said in a notice released this month, according to an unofficial translation. Imports that don’t meet the requirements may be returned or destroyed.

China imposed sanctions on U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for her visit to Taiwan last week, China’s foreign affairs ministry said Aug. 5. China said Pelosi’s visit “constitutes a gross interference in China’s internal affairs,” but didn’t specify what the sanctions entail. The measures also apply to Pelosi’s immediate family members, China said.

China’s military exercises around the Taiwan Strait last week disrupted trade routes for cargo sailing around the world, Reuters reported Aug. 5. The exercises, conducted in response to the visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to Taiwan, forced some ships to give the Taiwan Strait a “wide berth,” the report said, adding about half a day to their voyages. The delays have affected various commodity shipments, including oil.

Vietnam imposed antidumping and countervailing duties on sugar products imported from Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar that use Thai sugar materials, the state-run CustomsNews reported Aug. 4. The trade remedies are meant to target evasion of the AD/CVD on Thai sugar and amount to a 42.99% antidumping duty and a 4.65% countervailing duty, though the imports won't be subject to the duties if it can be proven that they were made with sugarcane harvested in the five countries. The tariffs will expire June 15, 2026, unless another decision from the Ministry of Industry and Trade changes the duties.