Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry decided to extend the ban on all exports to North Korea and all imports originating in or shipped from North Korea, starting April 14 until April 13, 2025. Goods that are exported to North Korea for humanitarian purposes are exempt from the restrictions.

The Singapore Customs TradeNet will undergo system maintenance April 23 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time, it said April 6. 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.

China’s General Administration of Customs published a list of “biosecurity” related goods and other “special items” along with their corresponding commodity numbers, according to an unofficial translation of an April 2 notice. The list includes imports subject to quarantine and inspection requirements, including certain nucleic acids, “pathogenic microorganisms,” “diagnostic or laboratory reagents” and more.

Japan this week released new guidance on how companies can make sure their supply chains don’t involve human rights violations. The “practical reference materials” include “detailed explanations and examples” of supply chain due diligence steps companies can take to help them identify any potential “negative impacts on human rights,” according to an unofficial translation of an April 4 notice from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. “Specifically, we provide examples and explanations of items to be included in human rights policies, explanations of steps to identify high-risk areas in the supply chain, and reference materials for them," the agency said.

China and Singapore this week completed negotiations on an “upgrade” for their free trade agreement, according to an unofficial translation of an April 2 Ministry of Commerce news release. The new deal addresses market access, transparency issues and more. The two sides plan to “complete their respective domestic procedures so as to sign the agreement as soon as possible.”

India extended until Dec. 31 the transition period for the mandatory filing of applications for Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin via its electronic certificate of origin platform. The online process will not be mandatory until Dec. 31, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade said.

China held its eighth round of free trade agreement negotiations with Israel March 20-23, the Ministry of Commerce announced, according to an unofficial translation. The talks centered on trade in goods, rules of origin, customs procedures and trade facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, trade remedies, e-commerce, environmental regulations, intellectual property rights competition, government procurement and dispute settlement, the ministry said. The FTA talks started in 2016.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry released a "watch-list" of 70 goods barred from being exported to North Korea via a third country in response to North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on March 16. The goods, according to an unofficial translation of a ministry notice, include items related to the construction and development of military reconnaissance satellites. South Korea also sanctioned four former and current North Korean officials and six entities for involvement in North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, illegal financial activities and sanctions evasion.

India recently revised certain required health certificates for imported milk and milk products, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in a report this month. The new “integrated veterinary health certificate” requires the exporting country of origin to certify that the milk product includes “specific information and attestations” and will help clear up “confusion that various stakeholders (i.e., exporting countries and food importers) have encountered in attempting to meet India’s import requirements,” USDA said. The new certificate took effect March 3 but includes a 60-day transition period “to help facilitate trade.”

A new Container Track and Trace Service allows Singapore's Networked Trade Platform users to get a greater glimpse into trade between Singapore and China, Singapore Customs announced. Singapore-based traders and logistics supply chain partners can now "quickly and easily" monitor the status and location of a given container to "facilitate their supply chain and logistic planning." The service starts with tracking between Singapore and two ports in China, at Shanghai and at Guangxi.