The Biden administration on Sept. 6 released an updated version (see 2107160030) of a business advisory that highlights the sanctions and export controls risks for companies doing business in Hong Kong, including the “reputational, regulatory, financial, and, in certain instances, legal” consequences they could face. The 16-page advisory covers risks associated with trade secrets theft, the punishments they could face for violating Hong Kong’s national security law and the challenges posed by “conflicting jurisdictional requirements and liability in connection with sanctions compliance efforts,” the State Department said. “Failure to adhere to U.S. sanctions can result in civil and criminal penalties under U.S. law.”
China is beginning a review of its antidumping duties on imports of phenol from the U.S., the EU, South Korea, Japan and Thailand, but it will not review AD on phenol from the U.K., China’s Ministry of Commerce said Sept. 5, according to an unofficial translation. The ministry is accepting public comments within 20 days of Sept. 5 and said it plans to make a decision before Sept. 6, 2025. The current duties, in place since 2019, range from 244.3% to 287.2% for American companies, 30.4% for EU companies, 12.5% to 23.7% for South Korean companies, 19.3% to 27% for Japanese companies, and 10.6% to 28.6% for Thai companies. The ministry said no Chinese company requested that the AD be renewed for the U.K. China said phenol is an “important organic chemical raw material” used in synthetic fibers and for other industrial purposes.
China is launching a new online declaration process for exporters of automobiles and motorcycles beginning Sept. 5, the country’s commerce ministry said this week, according to an unofficial translation. Exporters and manufacturers will use the system to upload information about their shipments and obtain export licenses. “If it is found that an enterprise provides false materials, it will notify, warn, suspend or cancel its qualification to engage in automobile or motorcycle export according to relevant regulations,” the ministry said.
China will launch a dispute at the World Trade Organization in response to Canada’s decision to impose new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle, steel and aluminum imports (see 2408260033), the country’s commerce ministry said Sept. 3. The ministry also said it will begin separate antidumping duty investigations on imports of Canadian canola and certain chemicals after receiving requests for those probes from Chinese companies.
China won't impose provisional antidumping duties on imports of EU brandy even after determining European companies are dumping brandy in the Chinese market, the country’s commerce ministry announced Aug. 29, according to an unofficial translation. The ministry, which launched the AD probe in January, said its domestic brandy industry “was threatened with substantial damage” and that it found “there was a causal relationship between the dumping and the threat of substantial damage.” It added: “No temporary anti-dumping measures will be taken in this case.” The ministry is accepting public comments on its decision for 10 days.
China’s Foreign Ministry this week criticized Canada’s decision to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicle imports (see 2408260033), saying the measure “ignores facts” and “disrespects” World Trade Organization rules. “This typical protectionist move disrupts China-Canada trade relations, harms the interests of Canadian companies and consumers, and does little good to Canada’s green transition process and global effort for climate response,” a ministry spokesperson said during an Aug. 27 press conference in response to a question from a wire service reporter. “China will take all measures necessary to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”
The U.S. touched on export controls in talks between National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, readouts from both countries said, with the Chinese summary of two days of talks going into more detail about China's views on the issue.
China’s commerce ministry met with industry officials last week to discuss possibly raising import duties on large-engine cars, according to an unofficial translation of an Aug. 23 ministry notice. China said the meeting featured “representatives from relevant industry organizations, research institutions and automobile companies," where China listened to their "opinions and suggestions on increasing tariffs on large-displacement fuel vehicles." The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU said in May that Beijing was considering the tariffs, which could be imposed on exporters from the U.S. and the EU in response to increased duties recently announced by both governments on imports of Chinese electric vehicles (see 2405140008 and 2408200020).
Hong Kong soon will put in place a new import protocol for raw meat and poultry that will affect U.S. slaughtering, cutting, processing and cold storage facilities exporting to the region, USDA said in a report this month. Beginning Feb. 14, Hong Kong will transition from a “systems-based” approach to recognizing foreign meat and poultry establishments to an “establishment or plant-based” registration system, meaning U.S. facilities will need to register with the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety (CFS) before exporting. USDA said those U.S. facilities should review the CFS list of establishments “to verify all company information is current and accurate.”
China renewed its antidumping duties on imports of halogenated butyl rubber from the U.S., the EU, the U.K. and Singapore, the country’s commerce ministry announced Aug. 20, according to an unofficial translation. The duties, originally imposed in 2018, range from 23.1% to 75.5%. The rubber is mainly used in tubeless tires, heat-resistant inner tubes, medicinal bottle stoppers, shockproof pads, adhesives and sealing materials, Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua said.