Certain Vietnamese companies exporting to the European Union, Switzerland or Norway under the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program have until June 30 to obtain authorization from Vietnam’s commerce and industry authority, according to an April 29 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Vietnamese companies exporting goods valued at more than $6,500 must obtain an EU Registered Exporter number, the report said, but lesser-value exporters will be allowed to “self-issue” their certificates of origin without a registered exporter number.

China adopted new cybersecurity review measures that may impact purchases of foreign technology, according to an unofficial translation of an April 27 notice from China’s Cyberspace Administration. The rules, which will take effect June 1, require certain “critical information infrastructure operators” to undergo a review when importing goods that may impact China’s national security, the notice said. That review includes the submission of a “declaration form,” an “analysis report” on the impact of the purchase on China’s national security, procurement documents and “other materials,” China said. The review will “generally” be completed in 45 days. The rules could place foreign technology products at a “disadvantage” in the Chinese market, according to an April 27 report in The Wall Street Journal. Industry is also worried the review procedure could justify excluding U.S. businesses from Chinese supply chains, the report said.

China announced it will temporarily waive interest on deferred payments for “processing trade goods sold domestically” between April 15 and Dec. 31, according to an April 27 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The measure is aimed at supporting the “development of processing trade” and to ease pressure on foreign trading.

China announced requirements for importing U.S. avocados, according to an unofficial translation of an April 26 notice from the country’s General Administration of Customs. The notice contains new phytosanitary requirements for the imports, which took effect April 26.

China introduced new export regulations of medical goods to reduce shipping delays, according to an April 27 press release from China’s Ministry of Commerce. The measures -- which apply to “non-surgical face masks” and “medical supplies,” including testing reagents, protective suits, ventilators and infrared thermometers -- will allow exporting companies and the importer to submit a “joint declaration” that the goods are compliant with Chinese standards or standards of the importing country, China said. The declaration must also confirm that the goods will not be used for “medical purposes.” After receiving the declaration, China’s customs authority will “inspect and release the products.” The measures could help ease recent shipping delays on medical equipment (see 2004170039) by allowing manufacturers to bypass a previous rule that required exporters to obtain a certification from Chinese regulators, according to an April 26 report from The Wall Street Journal.

Vietnam recently announced postponements on collections of value-added taxes for up to five months, according to an April 23 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The measure will apply to a wide range of Vietnamese sectors, including agriculture, textile, computer manufacturing, automotive and medical services. Companies must apply to the country’s tax offices before July 30 to qualify for the postponement.

Myanmar recently announced relaxed measures for traders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including an exemption from paying license fees for imports of medicine, according to an April 22 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Myanmar also eliminated import license requirements for surgical masks, personal protective equipment, medical beds, ventilators and more, the report said. In addition, car dealers are permitted to extend automotive import permits for up to two months.

Cambodia recently announced changes to its list of prohibited and restricted goods, according to an April 22 alert from KPMG. The changes include additional prohibited goods, a list of goods that require export or import permits, a list of goods that require permits from the exporting country, a list of goods that require international transit permits and further trade guidance, KPMG said. Cambodia added that it may place controls on other items if they present “risks that require urgent measures,” and those controls would be in place for a maximum of six months.

Australia recently announced a US$70 million support program to help agricultural and seafood exporters reach international markets during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released April 22. The program will benefit exporters in the country’s red meat, dairy, horticulture and seafood sectors that ship “high-value perishable” products, the USDA said. The program will help exporters ship to China, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates but does not include support for goods shipped by sea, the report said. The list of countries may be expanded.

China is examining ways to speed up purchases of U.S. agricultural goods, including a potential purchase of 10 million tons of U.S. soybeans for state reserves, according to an April 23 Bloomberg report. China, which is hoping to reach its commitments under the phase one trade deal with the U.S., is also considering buying as much as 20 million tons of U.S. corn, the report said, which would surpass the country's corn import quota. Discussions surrounding those purchases are still ongoing, the Bloomberg report said, and some Chinese officials have raised doubts about whether China should be helping U.S.’s agricultural sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on China’s own economy. Despite expectations that the virus will impact China’s ability to purchase U.S. agricultural goods (see 2002120043), the Trump administration said it expects China to begin fulfilling its commitments by this summer (see 2003040029), and has touted the progress made toward those purchases (see 2003240041).