India amended its import policy for certain types of silver, according to a May 13 notice from the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade. The update will loosen certain restrictions on imports of powdered silver, unwrought silver, silver sheets, pipes, strips, tubes and more, the notice said. India said silver imports “under Advance Authorization and supply of silver directly by foreign buyers to exporters” under the country’s Foreign Trade Policy “are exempted.”

Hong Kong’s Trade and Industry Department issued a May 12 notice to traders about the U.S. Commerce Department’s upcoming elimination of license exceptions for civil end-users (see 2004270026), which will affect exports, reexports and transfers of U.S.-origin goods from Hong Kong. Hong Kong informed industry that exports usually allowed under the license exception will now require a U.S. authorization, adding that it will specifically impact shipments of electronics, computers and telecommunications products. Although the U.S. exemption will be eliminated, Hong Kong will make “no change” to its “import and export licensing control on strategic commodities,” the country said. Traders exporting or importing U.S. goods no longer covered by the exemption “are advised to liaise and check with their U.S. exporters/manufacturers, particularly to obtain the necessary and applicable US export authorisation,” the notice said.

China temporarily banned beef imports from four Australian beef exporters after “repeated violations of inspection and quarantine requirements,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said during a March 12 press conference. The spokesperson said China will no longer process import declarations for those four Australian companies and asked Australia “to conduct a thorough investigation to find the cause and address the issue.” The measure banned imports from Kilcoy Pastoral Company, the Northern Cooperative Meat Company and two plants belonging to JBS Australia, which are among Australia’s “largest” beef meat processors, according to a May 12 Reuters report.

Japan plans to place more of an emphasis on attracting and keeping semiconductor manufacturing and its supply chains, according to an unofficial translation of a transcript of a May 12 press conference held by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Japan said it will put more money into research and development of semiconductors to attract high-tech chip making. “It is extremely important for Japanese industry to secure the cutting-edge semiconductors needed for post-5G,” a ministry official said. “[W]e are aware that we have to work on these things, and in terms of the coronavirus [pandemic], think about how to firmly reorganize the supply chain.” The U.S. also wants to attract semiconductor supply chains as the administration steps up export restrictions with regard to China (see 2005060017 and 2005050035).

China and the European Union are making progress during their investment negotiations and hope to wrap up a comprehensive investment agreement “as early as possible within the year,” according to an unofficial translation of a May 11 notice from China’s Commerce Ministry. Previous reports indicated the talks might last through 2021, according to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, particularly because of EU concerns that China’s investment market is “considerably less open than the EU’s” and investment in a “number of sectors is restricted or prohibited.” China said it is “willing to accelerate investment agreement negotiations” to “jointly boost confidence” between the two countries and increase cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. planned to lobby the EU to increase scrutiny of foreign investment involving sensitive technologies, including investment from China (see 2002260042).

Vietnam recently withdrew export restrictions on medical masks, according to a May 8 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Previously, exports of medical masks required a license and total exports were capped at “25% of an individual domestic manufacturer’s output capacity,” the report said. The restrictions were imposed to maintain domestic supply amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which Vietnam has now “largely contained,” the report said.

Japan revised its foreign user list, which contains foreign entities that may be involved in weapons proliferation or other illegal activities, according to an unofficial translation of a May 8 notice. Japanese exporters must apply for an export license when shipping goods to entities on the list “unless it is clear that the cargo will not be used for the development of weapons of mass destruction, etc.,” Japan said.

Thailand’s ban on paraquat and chlorpyrifos will take effect June 1, restricting imports of food products containing either of those chemicals, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released May 4. The USDA said it expects a “zero-tolerance” approach by Thailand toward goods with residues of those chemicals, adding that shipments of U.S. bulk commodities, specifically soybeans and wheat, will be impacted.

Singapore recently revised its procedures for U.S. beef and offal suppliers to export to Singapore, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released May 5. The revisions, which were intended to “streamline trade” and protect domestic food security, USDA said that the Singapore Food Agency reported, will allow U.S. suppliers to skip the registration and approval process with the SFA if they already participate in Singapore’s Agricultural Marketing Service’s export verification program. Previously, exporters were required to go through an “onerous registration and approval process for each product,” the report said.

Myanmar recently announced an aid package to help industry mitigate the impacts of the COVID-10 pandemic, according to a May 7 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The measures include a waiver for a 2% withholding tax on exports, a reduced “Specific Goods Tax” on medical supplies and the elimination of customs duties on medical imports. The country is also allocating $100 billion for trade financing for domestically produced goods and will prioritize “mobile payment platforms” to encourage online trade.