China said it respects World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevedo’s decision to resign (see 2005140053) and urged members to keep their markets open and “oppose unilateralism” as the body searches for a new leader. China promised to work with other members to ensure the WTO continues operating after Azevedo’s departure in August, a Commerce Ministry official said during a May 18 press conference, adding that members should “enhance coordination in economic and trade policies to unblock international transport and logistics.” China also said members should focus more on increasing trade of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.

China recently cleared more destinations for self-service printing of certificates of origin, according to a May 18 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The changes add self-service printing certificates for exports to Indonesia, Singapore and India under certain trade agreements. The changes took effect May 11.

China will impose a 6.9% duty on imports of Australian barley after finalizing an antidumping and countervailing duty investigation, China said in a May 18 notice, according to an unofficial translation. China said its domestic industry “suffered substantial damage” due to dumping of imported barley originating in Australia. The move was expected by Australian grain groups (see 2005110010).

China recently announced suspensions of “facilitation measures” intended to simplify customs processes for exports of medical supplies intended for COVID-19 prevention from certain cities, according to a May 15 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The measures, which featured a “simplified channel for customs clearance of small batch of goods,” can no longer be used by companies to ship medical products. Companies can still import and export the goods through “general trade” methods, the report said.

Burma's demand for U.S. soybean meal and dried distiller is expected to drop as the country’s livestock sector struggles to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released May 13. Farmers are seeing losses due to travel restrictions and decreasing demand, which has led to an oversupply of soybean meal, the USDA said. Soybean meal is the “top” U.S. agricultural export to Burma, the report said.

Singapore recently eliminated restrictions on time frames for importing frozen and processed meat products, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released May 12. Previously, meat imports were required to follow “strict timeframe requirements” and conditions, the USDA said, such as mandatory detention and laboratory testing for all frozen pork imported into Singapore three to six months after slaughter. U.S. frozen and processed meat exporters will no longer be subject to these restrictions, the report said, but time frame requirements for “chilled meat products” are still in effect.

China’s Nansha District, located in the Guangdong province, recently announced a three-year plan to improve its business environment, which features a “free trade zone requiring no certificates,” according to a May 13 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Currently, companies operating in the zone must submit “numerous certificates,” but the changes will allow companies to skip submissions of certificates, “data enquiries” and other administrative “verification” performed by the government. The government will instead use “data-sharing platforms” to “complete administrative procedures without requiring applicants to submit different certificates,” the report said.

China will allow imports of U.S. blueberries and barley, the country’s General Administration of Customs said in May 13 notices, according to an unofficial translation. China also issued quarantine and phytosanitary requirements for imports of U.S. alfalfa hay, “almond shell granules” and timothy hay. The measures, which took effect May 13, provide requirements that imports must meet for entry into China. The measures were announced as China tries to fulfill its agricultural purchase commitments under the phase one trade deal, which some say may not be possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic (see 2005130042 and 2005080010).

China recently added 46 cities and areas to its list of cross-border e-commerce pilot zones, according to a May 14 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The move is part of China’s plan to “stabilise foreign trade and investment,” the report said. The zones will promote “international trade liberalization” and include certain tax exemptions (see 1912270019).

Another round of negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will take place this month, according to an unofficial translation of a May 13 notice from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The negotiations, featuring the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as well as Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India, will take place May 15-20 via videoconference, the notice said. Countries had expected in 2019 to finalize RCEP negotiations this year (see 1911040016), but now it is unclear if the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to more delays.