China recently published a list of Harmonized System codes that “reportedly” represent the scope of goods covered by Decree 248, which changes customs and registration procedures for some foreign food production facilities (see 2111040018 and 2110130022), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said Dec. 1. While the scope of Decree 248 has so far been mostly unclear (see 2110130022), the agency said U.S facilities should review the list to determine if they need to comply with the new registration requirements.

China and Senegal signed a memorandum of understanding on e-commerce cooperation during the 8th Ministerial Conference on the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation, China's Ministry of Commerce said in a Dec. 1 news release, according to an unofficial translation. The memorandum establishes that both parties will bolster their policy communication, back business cooperation, promote the import and export of high-quality specialty products through e-commerce and encourage the exchange of new and emerging technologies, the ministry said. China and Senegal set up a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, and this memorandum builds on the deepening ties between the nations, the release said.

China imposed new quarantine and inspection requirements for imports of flour from Poland, the General Administration of Customs said in a Nov. 26 notice. The requirements include ensuring that flour shipped to China be registered with the Polish National Phytosanitary and Seed Inspection and Supervision Agency along with China's General Administration of Customs, and be free of pests including trogoderma granarium (khapra beetle) and prostephanus truncatus (larger grain bore).

China banned the import of poultry and related products directly or indirectly from Norway amid an outbreak of the H5N1 avian influenza in the Scandinavian country, the General Administration of Customs said in a Nov. 24 notice, according to an unofficial translation. Any poultry imports from the Norway will be returned or destroyed. If Norwegian poultry is discovered on inbound transportation vehicles, the vessels will be sealed for storage -- a seal that may not be opened unless permitted by Customs.

The Singapore Customs TradeNet will undergo system maintenance Dec. 12 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time and Dec. 19 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time, it said Nov. 29. Singapore Customs advised users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to the usual 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday maintenance.

Hong Kong’s Trade and Industry Department on Nov. 26 issued an updated list of officers authorized to sign delivery verification certificates and trade licenses for imports and exports of “strategic commodities.” The list was updated in October (see 2110130014).

The U.S. has “repeatedly stretched the national security concept and abused state power to hobble Chinese companies,” a Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson said last week. The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security on Nov. 26 added 27 foreign organizations and individuals to its Entity List, including eight technology entities based in China, to prevent U.S. emerging technologies from being used for Beijing’s “quantum computing efforts that support military applications" (see 2111240014). The BIS action “severely hurts the interests of Chinese companies, recklessly undermines the international trade order and free trade rules, and gravely threatens global industrial and supply chains,” the ministry spokesperson said. “China reserves the right to take necessary countermeasures,” he said. “We will firmly defend Chinese companies’ legitimate rights and interests with all necessary measures.”

An increasing Japanese effort to promote agriculture in urban areas coupled with an emphasis on consumption of locally produced goods may help prospects for U.S. seed and vegetable exporters, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said Nov. 23. USDA said the Japanese government plans to “increase food self-sufficiency and reduce farmland loss through tax incentives,” which could lead to more farmers. If Japan has more farmers, they are likely to import more U.S. vegetable seeds, and the country could develop an affinity for U.S. vegetables, USDA said. “By exposing Japanese urban farmers to the range of seed and nursery products available in the United States, Japanese consumers may also increase their familiarity with U.S. vegetable varieties.”

India alloted an extra 303 metric tons of raw sugar for export to the United States under its tariff rate quota for fiscal year 2021, India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade said Nov. 23. The move brings the total sugar allotment up to 8,727 metric tons under the TRQ. If a certificate of origin is needed for any would-be exporter, the Additional Director General of Foreign Trade in Mumbai will issue the certificate. FY21 ends Dec. 31, the DGFT said.

China's General Administration of Customs will allow imported frozen fruits from Central and Eastern European countries that meet certain inspection and quarantine requirements, the agency said in a Nov. 22 notice, according to an unofficial translation. Conditions include freezing requirements and testing procedures. The imports will be allowed as of Feb. 1, 2022.