Canada stopped issuing new permits for exports and brokering of controlled goods and technology to Belarus due to concerns about the country’s fraudulent presidential election and reports of human rights violations under the new regime, Canada said in a Nov. 9 notice. Canada issued sanctions on Belarusian officials Sept. 29 (see 2009300011). Canadian exporters that were issued permits before Nov. 9 may continue to export during their “period of validity,” the notice said. The country said it will “continue to monitor the evolving situation and may reassess” the decision.

Argentina announced a tariff-rate quota for six months for up to 1,000 units of certain “electric, hybrid and hydrogen motor vehicles,” the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Nov. 24. All in-quota imports will benefit from either duty-free treatment or reduced duties of 2% or 5%, “depending on the product,” HKTDC said.

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notices as of Nov. 23 (some may also be given separate headlines):

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notice as of Nov.18 (some may also be given separate headlines):

Brazil recently issued a “normative instruction” meant to “facilitate” imports of genetically modified corn and soybeans from the U.S., although it remains unclear how much the instruction will benefit U.S. exporters, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a Nov. 9 report. Brazil’s move, made Nov. 3, changes what information importers must provide on the import licenses for the products intended to be used in animal feed or for veterinary use, but does not establish approval for GMO corn and soybean products that are not already approved by Brazil’s National Technical Biosafety Commission, FAS said. “As such, asynchrony in biotech approvals may still present a hurdle to U.S. corn and soybean exports to Brazil,” the report said.

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notices as of Nov. 11 (some may also be given separate headlines):

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notices as of Nov. 9 (some may also be given separate headlines):

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notices as of Nov. 6 (some may also be given separate headlines):

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notice as of Nov. 4 (some may also be given separate headlines):

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notice as of Oct. 30 (some may also be given separate headlines):