A Singaporean man was fined more than $1.3 million (in Singapore dollars) for avoiding duties on nearly 200 imported vehicles, Singapore Customs said in a March 2 news release. Sunil Kishinchand Bhojwani, manager of Singapore-based T Kishen and Company, negotiated with foreign suppliers to “suppress the values” of the imported vehicles on invoices, the notice said, ultimately avoiding more than $300,000 in import taxes. He also recruited and paid three vehicle traders to submit declarations and apply for duty payment permits on his behalf to avoid detection, the notice said.

Singapore Customs announced improvements to its Trader Notification service, which will now include the total amount of duties payable for “in-payment permits” that traders can use to “verify against the amount of duty” they already paid, according to a March 2 circular. The service also notifies users of changes relating to permit numbers, names of declaring agents, approval dates and whether a permit is approved, canceled or amended.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is conducting “consultations” with small and medium-size Japanese companies impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, according to an unofficial translation of a Feb. 28 notice. The “management consultation” aims to help businesses manage the outbreak’s effect on business.

Vietnamese importers are struggling to import goods from China due to delays in receiving certificates of origin because of the coronavirus outbreak, according to a Feb. 27 report from CustomsNews, the mouthpiece for Vietnam Customs. Chinese suppliers have been unable to submit the certificates within the country’s mandatory time limit, which is causing traders to be unable to prove they qualify for preferential tariff rates, the report said. Normally, Chinese suppliers provide the certificates “a few days” after exporting the goods, the report said, but some certificates have been delayed by weeks. Some importers made declarations in January and have still not received certificate of origin documents to submit to Vietnam Customs, the report said. Vietnamese companies are reportedly asking the country’s customs authority to extend the deadline for additional submissions of certificates of origin to the end of March.

China recently introduced an export value-added tax refund rate of 13% for bunkering oil on international navigation ships in its costal ports, according to a Feb. 26 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The rate, which took effect Feb. 1, will allow ships to apply for export VAT refunds through export declarations when they enter “export-supervised warehouses to refuel,” the report said.

Shanghai recently introduced nearly 30 policy measures to support trade and companies as the country battles the coronavirus outbreak, according to a Feb. 27 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The measures, which will remain in effect until three months after the outbreak ends, will provide manufacturers with a lump sum pre-tax deduction for certain equipment purchases and provide “preferential loans” to companies that produce, transport and sell infection prevention supplies, the report said. In addition, suppliers and other companies that deal in prevention supplies will be “given support” to increase production and imports, the HKTDC said.

China recently issued a series of measures to encourage foreign trade companies to resume business as the country continues battling the coronavirus outbreak, according to a Feb. 25 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Among several changes, customs authorities will simplify business registration and filing procedures, and expedite inspections and releases of imported production equipment and raw materials, including the use of “machine-assisted inspection” and “out-of-box audits.” China will also expand imports of agricultural products by increasing “the number of countries and registered companies with access to China’s market” as well as the variety of agricultural goods that can be imported. Other measures simplify and relax procedures surrounding exports, quarantine examinations and approvals, trade documentation deadlines and administrative penalties.

India and Indonesia hope to increase trade between their countries to $50 billion by 2025, which will include increased market access, a reduction in trade barriers and a commitment to improving agricultural trade, according to an unofficial translation of a Feb. 24 news release from Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry specifically requested that Indonesia allow greater market access for Indian exports of raw sugar products, buffalo meat, dairy products and rice, Indonesia said.

A Chinese technology company on the Commerce Department’s Entity List received an exemption from Commerce to buy U.S. goods to counter the coronavirus outbreak, according to a stock filing released Feb. 24. The artificial intelligence company, iFlyTek, which was placed on the Entity List in October (see 1910070076), said it applied for and was granted a “medical material exemption” from Commerce, according to an unofficial translation. The company said the exemption allows it to purchase U.S. medical supplies, along with other goods. A Bureau of Industry and Security spokesperson declined to comment.

China lifted import restrictions on certain pet foods containing “ruminant ingredients,” according to an unofficial translation of a Feb. 19 notice from China’s General Administration of Customs. The agency said it will release inspection and quarantine requirements for pet food imports in a separate notice.