Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority officers at cargo checkpoints will cease to manually endorse Cargo Clearance Permits presented for clearance at the city-state's checkpoints Feb. 1, 2022, Singapore Customs said Oct. 1. This move is meant to improve the cargo clearance process at the checkpoints and facilitate the move toward full digitalization, the customs agency said. Drivers may request ad-hoc endorsements until July 31, when the six-month transition period ends, Singapore Customs said.

Traders submitting permit applications in TradeNet should declare TZ in the "place of receipt code" or "place of release code" field to cover the movement of goods released from or received into the new Tuas Terminal Gateway (TTG), Singapore Customs said in a Sept. 30 circular. TTG is the access point for the Tuas megaport in Singapore.

Thailand and China’s Hainan province signed a mini free trade agreement that will promote trade in agricultural and industrial products and provide other benefits, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Sept. 30. The deal will remain in effect until Aug. 20, 2023, and could be the start of other agreements between Thailand and Chinese provinces, HKTDC said, as Thai officials are “keen to sign similar deals.”

India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced it extended the existing Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 until March 31, 2022, in a Sept. 28 notice. The trade policy was set to expire on Sept. 30. In another notice, the DGFT also extended the existing Hand Book of Procedures until the same date.

China banned the import of cattle and cattle products from Mongolia following an outbreak of bovine nodular skin diseases in Mongolia, China's General Administration of Customs said Sept. 26, according to an unofficial translation. The World Organization for Animal Health reported that three farms in Mongolia's Dornod province were infected, prompting the ban. In particular, cattle or cattle products found to be shipped to China from Mongolia will be returned or destroyed, the customs agency said.

Australia Trade Minister Dan Tehan plans to travel to Indonesia, India, the United Arab Emirates, France, Italy, Belgium and the United Kingdom in the coming days to discuss boosting trade and investment opportunities, Australia said Sept. 28. The country also launched a “blueprint” for trade and investment with Indonesia, which will help Australian companies “grow their commercial links and develop new opportunities within the Indonesian market.” The country specifically said the blueprint highlights opportunities for Australian companies operating in the agriculture sector and energy services sector.

CBP and India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs will recognize each other's trusted trader programs under a new mutual recognition arrangement that was recently signed, Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said in a tweet Sept. 27. As a result of the MRA, goods exported by Indian Authorized Economic Operators will “enjoy enhanced trade facilitation at all the ports of entry in the USA,” the CBIC said.

Sri Lanka is now requiring a 100% cash margin deposit requirement on all letters of credit for about 600 imports, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Sept. 24. The announcement is aimed at bolstering the country’s “dwindling foreign currency reserves” by discouraging imports of nonessential items, HKTDC said. Those imported items include certain alcohols, mineral water, chocolates, butter, fruits, oats, dairy products, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, kitchenware, tableware, carpets, cosmetics, mobile phones, raincoats, watches and footwear.

The Singapore Customs TradeNet will undergo system maintenance Oct. 10 4 a.m. to noon local time, it said Sept. 15. Singapore Customs advised users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to the usual 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday maintenance.

Indonesia recently issued new regulations for imports of meat products and a new foreign meat facility registration questionnaire, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported Sept. 22. Foreign meat and pork establishments must now complete the new questionnaires to receive approval to export to Indonesia, replacing the previous single questionnaire for foreign meat establishments. Indonesia also revised some standards for meat imports and said traders must obtain import recommendations from the country’s agriculture ministry before receiving an import permit.