Vietnam recently published an updated list of Harmonized System codes for agricultural goods that are subject to “specialized inspections,” including quarantine requirements or quality examinations, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in a March report. The list includes animals, animal products, plants, plant products and feed ingredients. USDA said Vietnam recently made some “notable amendments” to its inspection procedures, including one change that will allow for a “post-clearance quality examination” of certain grains, oil seeds, oil seed meals, animal protein and other feed ingredients. The changes took effect March 20.

China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry objected to cyber-related sanctions announced earlier this week by the U.S. and the U.K., calling them “groundless.”

Lisa Su, CEO of American chip company AMD, met with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao to discuss semiconductor supply chain issues, China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a news release, according to an unofficial translation. The Chinese minister stressed that “the development of the semiconductor industry requires global cooperation,” adding that Beijing hopes the “United States and China will work together to provide companies with clear security boundaries and stable expectations.” Su during the meeting said China “is one of the focuses of AMD's global strategy,” the release said. “The company will continue to increase investment in China and work with local partners to provide better products and services for the Chinese market.” An AMD spokesperson didn't comment.

Australia will officially end its antidumping duties on certain Chinese wind towers April 16, the country’s AD Commission said this month. The announcement came after Australia and China agreed in October to resolve World Trade Organization disputes over the Australian duties as well as Chinese duties on Australian wine (see 2310230060).

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the U.S. House of Representatives’ March 13 passage of a bill to require China’s ByteDance to divest itself of social media application TikTok (see 2403130051), saying the vote falls on the “wrong side of the principles of fair competition and international trade rules.”

China said it has “expressed great concern” with the EU over a decision by the bloc earlier this month to begin customs registration for Chinese electric vehicle imports, setting them up to face retroactive tariffs if an ongoing EU investigation concludes they benefited from unfair subsidies.

Japan added another eight individuals linked to Hamas to its terrorist sanctions list March 5, the country's Ministry of Finance announced, according to an unofficial translation. The individuals are Ahmed Sharif Abdallah Odeh, Reda Ali Khamis, Mahmoud Khaled Zahhar, Ali Abed Al Rahman Baraka, Maher Rebhi Obeid, Ismail Musa Ahmad Barhum, Hassan Al-Wardian and Zuhair Shamlakh.

Chinese semiconductor innovation could become “more difficult to assess” as Beijing grows more cautious about advertising its successes, which it fears could invite new U.S. export controls, said Paul Triolo, a China and technology policy expert.

Thailand last month eliminated import duties and reduced its excise tax for wine, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in a March 5 report. The change allows U.S. wine exports to enter Thailand duty free as of Feb. 23, which is expected to reduce the Thai retail price of American wine by about 35%-40%, USDA said. The agency said Thailand imported $132 million worth of wine in 2023, and 8% came from the U.S.

Australia on March 1 issued another round of sanctions against Russian prison officials with ties to opposition figure Alexei Navalny's death (see 2402280017). The new designations apply to three Russian officials “linked to the prison” where Navalny died last month, the country’s ministry of foreign affairs said. Australia said it holds President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government “responsible for Mr Navalny’s treatment and death in prison” and called for “an independent and transparent investigation” into the issue. The announcement didn’t name the sanctioned prison officials.