China will continue to impose antidumping duties on imports of “single-mode optical fibers” from India, an Aug. 13 Ministry of Commerce notice said, according to an unofficial translation. The duties will continue for five years from Aug. 14.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service on Aug. 5 updated its guidance on China’s retaliatory tariffs and tariff exclusion process for U.S. products. It outlines procedures for applying for exclusions and provides U.S. exporters “a clear picture of the current status of China’s retaliatory tariffs.”
Singapore Customs’ TradeNet will undergo system maintenance on Sunday, Aug. 30, 4 a.m. to noon local time, an Aug. 12 notice said. The agency advised users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to usual 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. maintenance on Sundays.
Hong Kong’s Monetary Authority and Securities and Futures Commission warned entities to assess whether recent U.S. sanctions could affect them (see 2008070039), warning that financial institutions should be “fair” in dealing with their customers. The SFC Aug. 8 said entities should “carefully assess any legal, business and commercial risks that they may be exposed to.” The HKMA said institutions should “assess all risks involved and endeavour to treat customers fairly.”
China set inspection and quarantine requirements for imports of dairy products from Serbia, an Aug. 12 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. The notice outlines requirements for Serbian dairy production facilities and specifies which dairy products are allowed, including milk, cheese, cream, milk powders and milk formulas.
China’s General Administration of Customs issued new procedures to promote paperless customs operations for “transport vehicles” traveling between Hong Kong and Macao, an Aug. 11 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. The notice includes details for electronic filing procedures, saying “there is no need to submit paper certificates for inspection.” The change is effective Dec. 1.
Huawei plans to stop production of its flagship Kirin chipsets next month due to pressure from U.S. export restrictions and license requirements, Reuters reported Aug. 8, citing financial magazine Caixin. Reuters quoted by way of Caixin coverage of an industry event, Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei’s customer business unit, who said U.S. restrictions have made it “impossible” to keep developing the chipsets, which are used in mobile phones. “From Sept. 15 onward, our flagship Kirin processors cannot be produced,” Yu said while speaking at the recent event in Shenzen, China. “Our [artificial intelligence]-powered chips also cannot be processed. This is a huge loss for us.” Huawei did not comment.
China issued and implemented revised protocols for customs procedures related to dairy trade with Russia, an Aug. 10 Chinese customs notice said, according to an unofficial translation. The protocols include revised inspection and quarantine requirements.
Indonesian palm oil exports and soybean imports are expected to decline due to weakening demand from soy-food producers and less demand in major export markets, including China and India, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released Aug. 5 said. Demand for palm oil imports is expected to particularly decrease in China as the country increases soybean imports for crushing, the report said. Less demand for soybean imports in Indonesia will likely affect the U.S., which is the largest supplier of soybeans to that country. “U.S. soybean shipments to Indonesia have declined by 14 percent to 1.4 million tons from October 2019 to May 2020, compared to same period last year,” the report said. Canada, however, has steadily increased soybean shipments to Indonesia in recent years, “more than doubling to 155,000 tons in 2019/20. The recent spike in shipments to Indonesia occur as Canada’s soybean exports to China, previously its largest market, have declined sharply.”
India lifted its export controls on ventilators about four months after imposing the restrictions (see 2003240045), India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said Aug. 4. Export restrictions no longer apply to “all ventilators,” India said, including “any artificial respiratory apparatus … or other breathing appliance.” The measure was first introduced to maintain India’s domestic supply of ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic.