The European Union imposed a provisional antidumping duty on calcium silicon imports from China, following a complaint from Euroalliages, the European Commission said. The AD duty rates will apply to the following companies: Ningxia Ketong New Material Technology Co. Ltd., Hongguozi Industrial Zone, Huinong District, Shizuishan City, Ningxia Province -- 31.5%; Ningxia Shun Tai Smelting Co., Ltd., Zhongwei Industrial Park, Zhongwei City, Ningxia Province -- 43.3%; Shaanxi Shenghua Metallurgy-Chemical Co. Ltd, Yangxian EcoIndustrial Park, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province -- 32.8%; and all other companies -- 50.6%. The individual rates are conditional on the presentation to the EU member states' customs authorities of a valid commercial invoice, signed by the customs authority, that declares that the applicable company made the imports. If the invoice isn't presented, the all-others rate applies. These provisional duties will be in place for a period of six months.
Hong Kong’s Trade and Industry Department on Oct. 11 issued an updated list of officers authorized to sign delivery verification certificates and trade licenses for imports and exports of “strategic commodities.”
China will impose temporary anti-subsidy deposits on U.S. imports of polyphenylene ether, beginning Oct. 15, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement, Reuters reported Oct. 14. The countervailing duty deposits will be 17.7% and apply to SABIC Innovative Plastics US LLC and other U.S. companies.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently received a letter from China’s customs agency about Decree 248, which includes upcoming changes to certain customs procedures for overseas producers and customs registrations, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service said Oct. 11. Although China hasn’t yet issued implementing regulations for the decree, USDA said the letter includes a “Catalogue of Imported Foods with Historical Trade,” a registration application for overseas manufacturers of imported foods and a sample of a “Competent Authority Conformity Declaration.” USDA said China hasn’t “answered U.S. industry or the U.S. Government questions on the draft measure” but said it expects the measures to be implemented Dec. 31. The letter was originally sent to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing last month.
China will likely slash its fuel exports throughout October as the nation keeps more oil for domestic use amid a coal shortage-related power crisis, local industry consultant JLC predicted, Bloomberg reported Oct. 13. Oil product output on goods such as diesel and gasoline are expected to drop due to tighter nationwide balances, which have raised retail prices and margins from domestic sales, JLC said. This trend will likely continue through the fourth quarter, with aviation fuel standing as the lone exception, the consultant said. Chinese diesel exports are expected to drop to about 310,000 tons -- their lowest level since March 2015, JLC said. This drop may be especially stark since countries throughout Asia are set to consume more diesel as economic recovery continues, added Yawen Lu, an oil market analyst at FGE.
China adjusted its catalog of import and export commodities that must be inspected, its General Administration of Customs said in an Oct. 11 announcement, according to an unofficial translation. China added the 29 10-digit customs commodity codes relating to the export of chemical fertilizers, which include such goods as urea, ammonium chloride for fertilizer and ammonium nitrate.
Vietnam's Hai Phong City People's Committee issued a decision requiring the city's Customs Department to coordinate with Hai Phong Inland Waterway Port Authority and its port, warehouse and yard businesses to collect seaport toll fees, the state-run CustomsNews said Oct. 13. The agreement will also monitor subjects that are exempt from fee collection and toll-fee collection levels based on the Port Authority's request. Further, the Customs Department has proposed and coordinated with relevant units to implement a system of automated management and control of toll collection at the port supporting online fee declaration and payment using e-invoices, CustomsNews said. The tolls are to be directed to improvements to seaport infrastructure.
The State Department approved a potential $985 million military sale to Australia, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Oct. 8. The sale is for “MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters,” related defense services and related equipment. The aircraft will be provided from U.S. Navy stock. The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems.
Vietnam's Customs Enforcement Team, a part of the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department, discovered hundreds of boxes of smuggled goods Oct. 6, the state-run CustomsNews reported Oct. 8. Imported by Vietseatrust Food Import-Export Trading, the shipment was declared as having more than 21 metric tons of frozen whole blood cockles (clams) originating from Indonesia. An inspection found hundreds of cartons of undeclared goods such as swallow bird nest, dried seahorses, dried snouted pipefish, some bones, animal horns, auto parts and motorcycles, CustomsNews said.
The European Commission recently confirmed that Pakistan will retain its Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus status through 2023, allowing it to benefit from a range of tariff exemptions, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Oct. 7. The commission had considered suspending Pakistan’s status due to human rights concerns, and the country will need to comply with several conditions to continue GSP+ status beyond 2023, HKTDC said, including steps to eliminate child labor and organized crime, as well as making climate change standards commitments.