Taiwan repealed a measure that had required traders to secure a license before importing masks to protect against COVID-19, Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade said this month. Taiwan said the “status” of the virus “remains stable and under control,” and “implementation of general regulations has been eased,” including for the import permit.
Under a new India trade policy, the import of apples under Harmonized System code 08081000 is "Prohibited" where the cost, insurance and freight import price is less than equal to 50 ruppes per kilogram, a May 8 Directorate General of Foreign Trade notice said. The minimum import price conditions will not be applicable for imports from Bhutan.
China recently issued a new set of “industry standards,” including “risk classification” requirements, for certain imported and exported industrial products, according to an unofficial translation of a notice from the country’s General Administration of Customs. The notice, which also “abolished” five existing industry standards, covers requirements for certain imported technology, chemicals, raw materials and more.
The Singapore Customs TradeNet will undergo system maintenance May 21 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time, it said May 5. Singapore Customs advises users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to the usual 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday maintenance.
India recently imposed antidumping duties on luxury vinyl tile imports from China, Taiwan and Vietnam, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported May 5. The duties, announced last month, affect certain vinyl tiles with a minimum tile thickness of 2.5 mm and a maximum tile thickness of 8 mm, and a protective layer thickness between 0.15 mm to 0.7 mm.
China denied media reports it's exporting drones to the Russian military to be used in Ukraine, the Ministry of Commerce said, according to an unofficial translation. The ministry said China has "strict controls" on drone exports, adding that while there is no international control on civilian drones, many Chinese drone-makers have self-imposed such restrictions. China will continue looking to strengthen its export controls on drones, the ministry said.
Several “unresolved issues” surround fines imposed against companies placed on China’s Unreliable Entity List, including the maximum penalty amount China can impose and the penalty range it can choose from, Beijing-based Zhong Lun Law Firm said in an April client alert posted by Lexology.
Japan and Bangladesh signed an agreement April 26 assuring cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters. Under the agreement, the two parties will assist each other to "ensure proper application of the Customs laws and to prevent, investigate and repress any Customs offense" and "make cooperative efforts for simplification and harmonization of their customs procedures," according to an English language version of the the agreement.
Japan and South Korea held an export control policy dialogue April 18-20, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said. METI said the dialogue focused on the status of measures meant to block indirect exports to "countries of concern, including North Korea." The next dialogue will be held April 24-25 in Japan.
Companies should expect China to increase the use of its so-called Unreliable Entity List following the addition of U.S. defense companies Lockheed Martin and Raytheon to the list in February (see 2302160064 and 2304180029), Beijing-based Zhong Lun law firm said in an April client alert posted by Lexology. The firm said “we anticipate” that the “trade ban rules may be developed into a full-fledged and well-designed mechanism with increased enforcement of the UEL Provisions in the future,” saying Chinese companies should make sure they're running “effective compliance programs” to comply with the list.