Quantum Machines, a quantum control systems provider, announced agreements last week with three South Korean research and investment organizations to help foster “international collaboration” within the industry. Under the memorandums of understanding, Quantum Machines will link Korean researchers with the Israeli Quantum Computing Center to help “facilitate knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and joint research efforts,” the company said in a June 28 news release. The Korean entities include the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, the Korea Quantum Computing Industry Leaders' Alliance and Orientom.
Japan and Bolivia signed a customs mutual assistance agreement last week that will provide the customs authorities of both countries with information on illicit drug smuggling and will simplify and harmonize "customs procedures, as well as effective border controls," Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Both customs administrations will exchange information that will "contribute to ensuring the proper application of customs laws."
China last week issued a new “foreign relations law” that could bolster the country’s ability to respond to foreign trade restrictions, including sanctions. The law, adopted by the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress and effective July 1, says that China can take “law enforcement and judicial measures” to protect its national interests and those of its companies against restrictions imposed by other countries, and “has the right to take corresponding countermeasures and restrictive measures,” according to an unofficial translation of the document. The law specifically authorizes China to use “legislation, law enforcement, and judicial means to fight against acts of containment, interference, sanctions, and sabotage.”
The U.S. is “overstretching the national security concept” and “abusing export control tools,” a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry told reporters June 30, according to a transcript in English of the regular press conference where the comment was made. The spokesperson, asked about recent steps taken by the Netherlands to restrict exports of advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment (see 2306300028) and potential future controls imposed by the Biden administration (see 2306290048), said the U.S. is “using all sorts of pretexts to cajole or coerce other countries into joining its technological blockade against China.” The country will “closely monitor relevant developments and firmly defend our lawful rights and interests.”
Bangladesh will phase out import duties on 425 types of goods, covering apparel, fish, food items, chemicals and more, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported June 23. The government also plans to withdraw “between 1,200 and 1,300 types of supplementary duties” over the next three years to “reduce import‑export trade barriers,” the report said.
India placed new export restrictions on various chrome ore lumps, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a June 22 notice. The directorate placed goods traded under five different Harmonized System codes that start with 2610 under the "Restricted" export policy. The restrictions cover chrome ore lumps containing 47% Cr203 and above, those with 40% or more but less than 47% Cr203 and those below 40% Cr203, as well as "chrome ore friable and concentrates fixes containing 47% Cr203 and above," and "other."
The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration is accepting applications for an upcoming trade mission aimed at introducing U.S. exporters to East Asia's information and communication technology security and critical infrastructure protection markets. The Sept. 18-26 mission to Taiwan, South Korea and Japan will look to help exporters find “business partners and export their products and services to the region,” ITA said. Participants must certify that their products comply with U.S. export controls. The application deadline is June 23, with those received after that date “considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.”
China lifted the ban on deboned beef, under 30 months old, from Belgium and Poland, according to unofficial translations of a pair of June 15 notices. The General Administration of Customs said it will create the inspection and quarantine requirements for the beef imports in a later announcement.
China’s Ministry of Commerce criticized recent U.S. sanctions targeting companies in China and Hong Kong for helping Iran procure missile parts and technology (see 2306060043), saying the allegations lack “factual basis and due process.” The U.S. should stop its “unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies and individuals,” a ministry spokesperson said June 12, according to an unofficial translation. “China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals.”
China “firmly” opposed the U.S. additions of Chinese entities to its Entity List this week, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, calling on the Biden administration to “immediately stop using military and human rights-related issues as pretexts to politicize, instrumentalize and weaponize trade and tech issues.” The U.S. should “stop abusing export control tools such as entity lists to keep Chinese companies down,” the spokesperson said during a regular press conference June 13. The export controls targeted companies in China and elsewhere for supporting China’s military or the government’s human rights abuses in Xinjiang (see 2306120030).