India's Directorate-General of Foreign Trade on Sept. 20 delisted 29 chambers of commerce or agencies from the list of agencies allowed to issue certificates of origin for failing to comply with the directive to onboard the DGFT's e-country of origin platform. The certificates of origin issued by these agencies were nonpreferential.

Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao met with Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov this week to discuss expanding trade between the two countries, China’s Ministry of Commerce said Sept. 19, according to an unofficial translation.

New Indian export restrictions on white rice have caused global importers to instead buy from Thailand, Vietnam and other suppliers, causing export price quotes to “surge” to the highest levels since 2008, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in a Sept. 19 report. The agency said the July restrictions on Indian rice have “sent shockwaves through the global rice market,” adding that rice prices already had been rising before the measures.

China’s commerce ministry is paying “close attention” to a decision by Mexico in August to raise tariffs on imports of steel and other items from non-free trade agreement countries, a ministry spokesperson said last week. “Although this measure does not target specific countries,” China is monitoring its impact, the spokesperson said, according to an unofficial translation. “Judging from historical experience, raising tariffs will increase the production costs of downstream industries and reduce consumer welfare," the spokesperson said, adding that China hopes Mexico "will adhere to the principles of free trade and use such measures with caution.”

India updated its export policy for vegetable saps and extracts and food preparations not elsewhere specified or included in the ITS Harmonized System code. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade said the export of food supplements with botanicals under HS codes 1302 and 2106 meant for human or animal consumption to the EU and the U.K. will "require issuance of official certificate" from the Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council. The agency is allowed to issue a certificate for a period of three months.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said his government will impose export bans on rare earth elements to ensure that the supply chain of these elements remains in Malaysia, Nikkei Asia reported Sept. 11. Speaking to the Malaysian Parliament Sept. 11, the prime minister did not provide a date on which the ban will take effect. Malaysia's rare earth elements deposits consist of monazite and xenotime, both key to high-tech products and renewable technologies.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said India will reduce tariffs on fresh, frozen, dried or processed blueberries and cranberries, and will reduce tariffs on frozen turkey and duck.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced steps meant to aid its fisheries industries following China's import restrictions in reaction to Japan's release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant (see 2308240012). The ministry said it will seek "the immediate abolition of measures that are not based on scientific grounds" and make "every effort to fully support the fisheries industry nationwide." Japan pledged an 80 billion yen (about $542 million) fund and emergency support to "disperse dependence on specific countries and regions." The ministry's plan is to "build a new supply and demand structure for marine products."

China will allow imports of beef from Nicaragua that meet certain inspection and quarantine requirements, the country’s General Administration of Customs announced Sept. 1, according to an unofficial translation. The announcement came one day after the two countries signed a free trade deal that will reduce certain tariffs, and import and export restrictions on certain goods (see 2308310020).

China’s General Administration of Customs reminded traders that its mutual recognition arrangement with South Africa took effect Sept. 1, allowing each side to recognize the other's authorized economic operators and receive other customs benefits. The arrangement, signed in June 2021, will help aid customs clearances, give priority to shipments between the two countries, lower inspection rates and more, according to an unofficial translation.