On July 14, 2010, the ASEAN Secretariat and the European Union began cooperative activities in protecting and promoting intellectual property rights in the ASEAN region. ECAPIII, a co-funded project to the amount of EUR 5.1 million over the period 2010-2013, will support ASEAN cooperation and integration in IPR as a means to further economic development. ECAPIII is envisaged to deepen cooperation between the EU, the European Patent Office and ASEAN and supplement national efforts by individual ASEAN countries to strengthen their IP regime.
In its recent evaluation of the U.S. economy, the International Monetary Fund states that U.S. recovery from the “Great Recession” has become increasingly well established, but many challenges remain such as restrained private sector spending, high public debt, and the need to increase government revenue.
In the July 14, 2010 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:
The European Commission has decided to repeal its decision accepting an undertaking from China regarding imports of certain castings from China, as it has determined that China has breached the terms of the agreement. Accordingly, the AD duties imposed by Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1212/2005 on imports of the product concerned produced by the subject companies will apply effective July 15, 2010.
Xinhaunet. com reports that more postal parcels arriving in China from other countries will be subject to an import tax from Sept 1, according to the latest customs regulation. Previously, when the import tax on a parcel was calculated as lower than 500 yuan, it was made exempt from fees. That minimum threshold will be dropped to 50 yuan, as stated on the website of the General Administration of Customs.The new rule is expected to hit overseas purchasers the hardest, since they buy products on other people's behalf and earn commission from the deals.
In the July 10 and July 13, 2010 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:
The World Trade Organization has posted a discussion forum and an article containing research and analysis regarding how the conservation of forestry is handled by WTO law, which states, among other things, that there needs to be a closer match between rules on natural resource conservation and the rules of international trade.
On June 17, 2010, Health Canada has approved amendments to its regulations that permit ascorbyl palmitate and tocopherols as Class IV preservatives in (1) infant formula, at a maximum level of use of 0.001% as consumed and (2) in oils used in infant formula, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice.
On June 30, 2010, the Canada Border Services Agency issued Memorandum D19-1-1 on Food, Plants, Animals and Related Products, which replaces Memorandum D19-1-1, Food, Agricultural Inputs and Agricultural Products, dated September 20, 2006. Both pertain to Canada's import requirements for food, plants, animals (FPA) and related products.
The Canada Border Services Agency has issued instructions for obtaining the remission of customs duties on certain renewable fuels imported between 2006 and 2009 as "ships stores" for use on-board qualifying conveyances. To be eligible the renewable fuel must have been exported either in the same condition in which it was imported or after being processed in Canada, for example mixed or blended with other fuels; have been placed on board a qualifying conveyance; etc.