India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced it extended the existing Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 until March 31, 2022, in a Sept. 28 notice. The trade policy was set to expire on Sept. 30. In another notice, the DGFT also extended the existing Hand Book of Procedures until the same date.
China banned the import of cattle and cattle products from Mongolia following an outbreak of bovine nodular skin diseases in Mongolia, China's General Administration of Customs said Sept. 26, according to an unofficial translation. The World Organization for Animal Health reported that three farms in Mongolia's Dornod province were infected, prompting the ban. In particular, cattle or cattle products found to be shipped to China from Mongolia will be returned or destroyed, the customs agency said.
Australia Trade Minister Dan Tehan plans to travel to Indonesia, India, the United Arab Emirates, France, Italy, Belgium and the United Kingdom in the coming days to discuss boosting trade and investment opportunities, Australia said Sept. 28. The country also launched a “blueprint” for trade and investment with Indonesia, which will help Australian companies “grow their commercial links and develop new opportunities within the Indonesian market.” The country specifically said the blueprint highlights opportunities for Australian companies operating in the agriculture sector and energy services sector.
CBP and India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs will recognize each other's trusted trader programs under a new mutual recognition arrangement that was recently signed, Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said in a tweet Sept. 27. As a result of the MRA, goods exported by Indian Authorized Economic Operators will “enjoy enhanced trade facilitation at all the ports of entry in the USA,” the CBIC said.
Sri Lanka is now requiring a 100% cash margin deposit requirement on all letters of credit for about 600 imports, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Sept. 24. The announcement is aimed at bolstering the country’s “dwindling foreign currency reserves” by discouraging imports of nonessential items, HKTDC said. Those imported items include certain alcohols, mineral water, chocolates, butter, fruits, oats, dairy products, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, kitchenware, tableware, carpets, cosmetics, mobile phones, raincoats, watches and footwear.
The Singapore Customs TradeNet will undergo system maintenance Oct. 10 4 a.m. to noon local time, it said Sept. 15. 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.
Indonesia recently issued new regulations for imports of meat products and a new foreign meat facility registration questionnaire, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported Sept. 22. Foreign meat and pork establishments must now complete the new questionnaires to receive approval to export to Indonesia, replacing the previous single questionnaire for foreign meat establishments. Indonesia also revised some standards for meat imports and said traders must obtain import recommendations from the country’s agriculture ministry before receiving an import permit.
India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade as of Sept. 25 is permitting soya cake imports to be brought in through the ports of Ghojadanga and Kolkata, it said in a notification. The expansion to include the two ports follows an Aug. 24 change in policy for imports of crushed and d-oiled GM soya cake, which allowed them through just two other ports. That list was later expanded to include a total of five ports (see 2109080020).
India's Directorate of General Trade changed the export policy for mercury under Harmonized System Code 28054000 from free to restricted, in a Sept. 23 notification. Mercury exports will be subject to obtaining Prior Informed Consent from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the notification said. Earlier this month, an update was made to the import policy on mercury (see 2109090009).
Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade will open an investigation into evasion of trade remedies for sugar products from Thailand, the state-run CustomsNews said, after receiving a petition from the Vietnam Sugarcane and Sugar Association and other domestic cane sugar refineries. The petition claims Thai producers are skirting antidumping and anti-subsidy duties on the subject merchandise by importing it through Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar. The relevant AD and anti-subsidy duties were imposed on June 15.