China introduced new export regulations of medical goods to reduce shipping delays, according to an April 27 press release from China’s Ministry of Commerce. The measures -- which apply to “non-surgical face masks” and “medical supplies,” including testing reagents, protective suits, ventilators and infrared thermometers -- will allow exporting companies and the importer to submit a “joint declaration” that the goods are compliant with Chinese standards or standards of the importing country, China said. The declaration must also confirm that the goods will not be used for “medical purposes.” After receiving the declaration, China’s customs authority will “inspect and release the products.” The measures could help ease recent shipping delays on medical equipment (see 2004170039) by allowing manufacturers to bypass a previous rule that required exporters to obtain a certification from Chinese regulators, according to an April 26 report from The Wall Street Journal.

Australia recently announced a US$70 million support program to help agricultural and seafood exporters reach international markets during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released April 22. The program will benefit exporters in the country’s red meat, dairy, horticulture and seafood sectors that ship “high-value perishable” products, the USDA said. The program will help exporters ship to China, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates but does not include support for goods shipped by sea, the report said. The list of countries may be expanded.

Cambodia recently announced changes to its list of prohibited and restricted goods, according to an April 22 alert from KPMG. The changes include additional prohibited goods, a list of goods that require export or import permits, a list of goods that require permits from the exporting country, a list of goods that require international transit permits and further trade guidance, KPMG said. Cambodia added that it may place controls on other items if they present “risks that require urgent measures,” and those controls would be in place for a maximum of six months.

Myanmar recently announced relaxed measures for traders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including an exemption from paying license fees for imports of medicine, according to an April 22 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Myanmar also eliminated import license requirements for surgical masks, personal protective equipment, medical beds, ventilators and more, the report said. In addition, car dealers are permitted to extend automotive import permits for up to two months.

China is examining ways to speed up purchases of U.S. agricultural goods, including a potential purchase of 10 million tons of U.S. soybeans for state reserves, according to an April 23 Bloomberg report. China, which is hoping to reach its commitments under the phase one trade deal with the U.S., is also considering buying as much as 20 million tons of U.S. corn, the report said, which would surpass the country's corn import quota. Discussions surrounding those purchases are still ongoing, the Bloomberg report said, and some Chinese officials have raised doubts about whether China should be helping U.S.’s agricultural sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on China’s own economy. Despite expectations that the virus will impact China’s ability to purchase U.S. agricultural goods (see 2002120043), the Trump administration said it expects China to begin fulfilling its commitments by this summer (see 2003040029), and has touted the progress made toward those purchases (see 2003240041).

Vietnam recently announced postponements on collections of value-added taxes for up to five months, according to an April 23 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The measure will apply to a wide range of Vietnamese sectors, including agriculture, textile, computer manufacturing, automotive and medical services. Companies must apply to the country’s tax offices before July 30 to qualify for the postponement.

Vietnam’s 400,000 ton rice export quota for April was filled in three hours, leading to “chaotic developments” and “disappointed” rice exporters, according to an April 20 report from CustomsNews, the mouthpiece for Vietnam Customs. The quickly filled quota, introduced by Vietnam to maintain domestic supplies of rice during the COVID-19 pandemic (see 2004140029), left rice shipments stuck at ports as exporters were unable to file any more declarations with the government, the report said. Vietnamese rice exporters complained that the government did not give “prior notice” before opening up its customs system for rice export declarations, which was opened at midnight on April 11, according to an April 14 report from Viet Nam News. Industry is “collecting opinions” to deliver to Vietnam’s trade and customs agencies, saying the system rollout “in the middle of the night was extremely unfair,” the report said.

Japan will temporarily suspend “strict monitoring” of “non-critical” food labeling due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on Japanese supply chains, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released April 17. The measure aims to ensure Japanese consumers have a “sufficient supply” of food products, the USDA said. Food labeling requirements usually include a list of ingredients, country of origin and nutrition information.

Myanmar extended its electronic export and import license application system to cover more items in response to social distancing requirements instituted to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an April 20 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The system will now cover animal feed supplements, vegetable cooking oil, instant coffee, “bird’s nest,” certain pharmaceutical products, “herbal medicines,” veterinary medicines, fertilizers, certain medical devices and certain dairy products, the report said.

India reduced restrictions on exports that include the painkiller paracetamol, India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said April 17. The announcement lifts restrictions on medicines and other “formulations made of paracetamol,” India said. But “paracetamol [active pharmaceutical ingredients] will remain restricted for export,” India said.