China this week banned certain Chinese companies from purchasing products from U.S. semiconductor company Micron, saying they are a national security risk and shouldn’t be used in “critical information infrastructure” projects. The country’s cyberspace regulator said its infrastructure operators “should stop purchasing Micron products” after a Chinese government review found they have “relatively serious potential network security issues, which pose a major security risk” to China, according to an unofficial translation of a May 21 notice. “The purpose of this network security review of Micron's products is to prevent product network security issues from endangering the security of the country's key information infrastructure, which is a necessary measure to maintain national security.”
Hong Kong’s Trade and Industry Department last week issued a notice to update its export and import controls to cover items regulated under the multilateral Arms Trade Treaty. The effective date of the changes, which outlined goods that will require licenses, will be announced at a later date, the notice said.
China will allow exports of timber from Australia to enter the country after over two years of restrictions, said Xiao Qian, China's ambassador to Australia, according to a May 17 Reuters report. China halted trade in timber in 2020 after China said it found pests in some shipments (see 2011120007), but Xiao said these concerns were remedied following a study of materials provided by exporters. The lifting of the restrictions follows Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell's visit to Beijing last week.
The Hong Kong Trade and Industry Department May 16 issued the latest version of signatures of agency officers authorized to sign and issue Delivery Verification Certificates, and import and export licenses covering strategic commodities.
China denounced recent U.S. enforcement actions by the Disruptive Technology Strike Force against various Chinese and Russian individuals for allegedly violating sanctions by conspiring to export technology, trade secrets and aircraft parts 2305160047). A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said May 17 the U.S. "has kept stretching the national security concept to abuse export control regimes and its leading technological advantage," according to a transcript in English of the regular press conference the spokesperson holds with media in Beijing. The spokesperson urged the U.S. to stop suppressing China in the field of technology and using judicial power to target Chinese researchers, adding "China will do what is necessary to firmly safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens."
Under a new India trade policy, the import of apples under Harmonized System code 08081000 is "Prohibited" where the cost, insurance and freight import price is less than equal to 50 ruppes per kilogram, a May 8 Directorate General of Foreign Trade notice said. The minimum import price conditions will not be applicable for imports from Bhutan.
Taiwan repealed a measure that had required traders to secure a license before importing masks to protect against COVID-19, Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade said this month. Taiwan said the “status” of the virus “remains stable and under control,” and “implementation of general regulations has been eased,” including for the import permit.
China recently issued a new set of “industry standards,” including “risk classification” requirements, for certain imported and exported industrial products, according to an unofficial translation of a notice from the country’s General Administration of Customs. The notice, which also “abolished” five existing industry standards, covers requirements for certain imported technology, chemicals, raw materials and more.
The Singapore Customs TradeNet will undergo system maintenance May 21 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time, it said May 5. Singapore Customs advises users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to the usual 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday maintenance.
India recently imposed antidumping duties on luxury vinyl tile imports from China, Taiwan and Vietnam, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported May 5. The duties, announced last month, affect certain vinyl tiles with a minimum tile thickness of 2.5 mm and a maximum tile thickness of 8 mm, and a protective layer thickness between 0.15 mm to 0.7 mm.