South Korea and Iran held the first meeting of a working group to expand humanitarian trade, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, according to an unofficial translation. The meeting, scheduled for Aug. 18, aimed to establish humanitarian “trade procedures” and a “consultation on export items with priority to Iran,” the notice said. South Korea said it hopes to export more medicine and medical devices to Iran.
South Korea eliminated antidumping duties on imports of Japanese pneumatic transmission valves, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Aug. 19. Japan had raised a dispute with the World Trade Organization, arguing that South Korea imposed the duties past their scheduled five-year expiration date. “It was unfortunate that [South Korea] continued imposing the duties beyond May 30, 2020, the original deadline,” Japan said. “[South Korea] cannot be recognized as having performed its duties sincerely.” Japan said the duties were eliminated Aug. 19 and it will “refrain from taking further legal procedures … such as retaliatory measures.” The WTO Appellate Body had ruled on Sept. 10, 2019, that South Korea was not adhering to WTO tariff implementation agreements and recommended it bring its measures into conformity, which South Korea agreed to do by May 30.
China’s Foreign Ministry criticized increased U.S. restrictions on exports to Huawei (see 2008170029), and said it will take “necessary measures to safeguard” Chinese companies. The restrictions violate international trade rules and will “undermine” global supply chains, a spokesperson said during an Aug. 18 news conference. “We urge the U.S. to immediately correct its mistakes, stop slandering China, and stop suppressing Chinese companies,” the spokesperson said, according to an unofficial translation of a transcript of the press conference.
China’s Commerce Ministry began an antidumping investigation into imports of Australian wine in containers holding 2 liters or less, an Aug. 18 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. China said it expects to complete the investigation by Aug. 18, 2021.
China’s Guangdong region recently announced measures to speed up export tax rebate processing and to help divert goods intended for export to instead be sold domestically, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Aug. 17. All Guangdong tax authorities were ordered to “increase their assessment efficiency and expedite the processing” for export tax rebates to reduce the handling time from eight to five working days, the report said. The province is also collecting data on taxes and fees to create “business matching platforms” that will drive “products originally destined for export” to be sold domestically.
A range of Malaysian exporters, including traders of food and cut-flowers, no longer need a permit from the Malaysia Quarantine and Inspection Services to export their goods, according to an Aug. 13 Hong Kong Trade Development Council report. The change lifted export restrictions from items covered under 524 different Harmonized System codes in an effort to “reduce bureaucracy in the business sector,” the report said. The Malaysian government is also encouraging businesses to “report any red‑tape‑related matters of concern” to further reduce bureaucracy.
China began a countervailing duty investigation on imports of U.S. polyphenylene ether, an Aug. 14 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. China said it expects to complete the investigation by Aug. 14, 2021. The country recently launched an antidumping duty investigation into the same imports from the U.S. (see 2008030018).
China issued import requirements for certain Ecuadorian frozen shrimp, according to an unofficial translation of an Aug. 14 notice. The notice contains inspections and quarantine requirements for the shrimp.
India revised its import policies and conditions for various chemicals, its Directorate General of Foreign Trade said Aug. 11. The revision removes certain import restrictions from 18 types of chemicals and items, and requires importers to submit a copy of the bill of entry for the item within 30 days, among other conditions.
India revised its export restrictions for certain types of rice shipments to European countries, its Director General of Foreign Trade said Aug. 10. India will require exporters to obtain a “Certificate of Inspection” for shipments of basmati rice and “non-basmati rice” to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, India will require the export certificates for rice shipments to the “remaining European countries.”