South Korea recently updated its web portal used to register foreign food facilities that export to the South Korean market, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released May 19. The report contains links to the English-language version of the revised website and instructions for how to register. Registration is mandatory for import clearance, the USDA said, and must be renewed every two years.

Japan notified the World Trade Organization on May 11 that its revised quarantine pest list will take effect Nov. 11, 2020, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released May 20. The revision will impact quarantine requirements and phytosanitary measures for certain plant products, according to a WTO notification included in the report.

China is seeing “fast improvement” in its international air cargo capacity after taking measures to support cargo flights amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a May 21 report from Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency. Xinhua said China has simplified approvals for cargo flights, held additional “peak time for cargo flights at major airports” and encouraged airlines to use all aircraft, including passenger planes, for cargo transport. China is now operating 4,250 international cargo flights per week, the report said, which is a 215% increase “over the average weekly international cargo flight volume during last year.”

Cambodia recently lifted export restrictions for “all types” of masks, according to a May 19 KPMG alert. Exporters no longer are required to obtain permission from Cambodia’s health ministry before exporting masks, a restriction imposed as the country tried to maintain domestic supply. Cambodia also announced an update to its online system for a certificate of origin used for trade in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations market, effective June 1, the alert said.

China will simplify customs procedures for imports of iron ore, according to an unofficial translation of a May 20 notice from China’s General Administration of Customs. The measures aim to deregulate inspections of iron ore imports and “optimize the port business environment” by conducting on-site inspections and quarantine procedures, China said. The measure will take effect June 1.

China announced changes to electronic manifest submissions for inbound and outbound cargo on freight trains, according to an unofficial translation of a May 29 notice from China’s General Administration of Customs. The measures impact filing procedures, time limits for submissions of documents, declaration requirements, merging manifests and more. The changes will take effect July 1, China said.

China is considering additional import restrictions on Australian goods that would target Australia’s wine and dairy sector, according to a May 20 Bloomberg report. China recently placed restrictions on imports of Australian barley (see 2005180016) and beef (see 2005130013), but officials have composed a list of additional Australian goods they may target, which may also include seafood, oatmeal and fruit. Those products could become subject to stricter quality checks, antidumping investigations, tariffs or customs delays, the report said.

China’s Foreign Ministry criticized the U.S.’s May 19 decision to sanction a Chinese company for providing logistics services to an Iranian airline. A ministry spokesperson said “mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation” with Iran should be “respected” and urged the U.S. to revoke the sanctions. “I want to stress that at the crucial moment when the international community is mounting a joint fight against COVID-19, the U.S. practice of unilateralism and maximum pressure runs counter to the concerted international efforts against the pandemic and seriously violates humanitarianism.” the spokesperson said. The U.S. sanctioned China-based Shanghai Saint Logistics Limited for acting as a general sales agent for Mahan Air (see 2005190020).

Correction: Huawei's rotating chairman, who criticized the Commerce Department's increased export restrictions released last week, is Guo Ping (see 2005180032).

India announced restrictions on exports of certain masks, according to a May 16 notice from the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade. The restrictions apply to “all masks except non-surgical/non-medical masks of all types (cotton, silk, wool, knitted).” The notice provides Harmonized System codes for the affected products.