Peru and Canada recently took antidumping duty and countervailing duty actions on products from China, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 27. Peru began an ADD investigation on certain plain weave polyester fabrics from mainland China, which could result in AD duties for a period of up to five years, the report said. Canada began an expedited AD/CV duty review of certain upholstered domestic seating exported to Canada by mainland China’s Eterno Co. and Zhe Jiang Shengli Furniture Co. Canada’s International Trade Tribunal in September found the merchandise was being dumped and subsidized, HKTDC said.

Brazil recently established or renewed tariff-rate quotas on several imports to correct a lack of domestic supply, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 27. The TRQs will affect imports of “programmable controllers,” milk protein powder, polypropylene film, nickel cathodes, aluminum alloy sheet, antenna mounting sets, polyamide fabrics for airbags, glass bottles for soft drinks, flat rolled iron and steel products plated with tin and flat rolled iron and steel products plated with chromium. The country also increased the existing TRQ for certain high tenacity polyester multifilament yarn from 2,000 to 4,000 tonnes.

Canada and Argentina recently took antidumping and countervailing duty actions on products from China, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 13. Canada renewed its AD/CVD orders on certain carbon and alloy steel line pipe, welded or seamless, from China, HKTDC said. Canada also is seeking comments by Jan. 13 about whether it should initiate an expiry review of the AD/CVD orders on mainland Chinese “oil country tubular goods pup joints.” Argentina determined that imports of certain ceramic tableware produced and exported by Indonesia's PT Indo Porcelain and imported by Argentina’s Cencosud S.A. are not circumventing the antidumping duty order on that merchandise from China, HKTDC said.

Argentina recently suspended its export authorization requirement for a range of medical care products, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 10. The country is experiencing a “lower COVID‑19 caseload” and has enough “critical medical inputs” to warrant loosening the export restrictions through the end of the year, HKTDC said.

El Salvador’s demand for specialty food products is expected to continue to rise, potentially creating opportunities for U.S specialty food exporters, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service said Jan. 5. The agency said El Salvador saw a 33% increase in imports of “consumer-oriented products” from 2020 to 2021, and some domestic companies are expanding their “U.S. foods portfolios.” The FAS report said: "Those who are working from home are using their increased savings to upgrade their purchases to high-end foods and beverages." The report said a range of U.S. products could benefit, including health foods, gourmet snacks and products, meats, and wines and other types of alcohol.

Colombia recently issued a notice clarifying its new de minimis exemption for certain postal and courier imports, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 6. The country said it will impose value-added taxes -- but not import duties -- on imports valued at $200 or less, regardless of the country of export or origin, HKTDC said. Colombia won't impose import duties or VAT if the import was sent from the U.S. and “contains fewer than six units of non-commercial merchandise.” Both import and VAT fees will apply, however, if the shipment is valued at more than $200.

Brazil added 447 items to its list of foreign capital goods and information technology and telecommunications goods subject to duty-free treatment under its Ex-Tarifario regime, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan 3. The 403 added capital goods are classified in Harmonized System chapters 73, 84, 85, 86, 87 and 90, while the 44 added IT and telecom goods are classified in chapters 84, 85 and 90. Duty-free treatment lasts through April 30. Brazil also removed 45 items from the list, HKTDC said. Brazil also established or renewed tariff-rate quotas on several imports to correct a lack of domestic supply, including infant formulas, acrylic staple fibers, ball bearings, frozen sardines, unroasted malt and rubber. The country also modified its list of exceptions for IT and telecom goods to provide duty‑free treatment for certain products.

A new Costa Rican export certificate for raw bovine parts could expand pet food imports from the U.S., USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service said Dec. 26. The certificate, published Dec. 14, “opens a new segment of Costa Rica's growing” pet food ingredients market to U.S. exporters, the agency said, and follows a record-setting year for U.S. pet food exports to Costa Rica. The exports are up 95% through October and are on pace to more than double 2020’s total shipments.

Although U.S. agricultural exports to Nicaragua soared to “new heights” this year, the country’s illegitimate presidential elections in November could “derail” future agricultural trade, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service said Dec. 14. U.S. agricultural exports through September 2021 were up 84% compared with the same period in 2020, specifically due to strong export surges of wheat, corn, soybean meal and rice. But USDA said “deteriorating economic conditions” in Nicaragua following the recent “sham’ elections “will negatively affect sales up and down the supply chain.”

Costa Rica is expected to provide “excellent” export opportunities for U.S. food and beverage exporters next year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said Dec. 10. USDA said food and beverage exports to Costa Rica have set record highs the last two years, including double-digit growth among “all major product categories” through October. USDA expects the trend to continue, partly because of Costa Rica’s stable democracy, predictable business climate and “economic growth fueled by a resurgent tourism industry.” The agency said Costa Rica doesn’t produce many bulk commodities, and U.S. exporters will likely continue to see strong import demand for wheat, yellow corn, soybeans, rice and dried beans.