The Philippines' Department of Trade and Industry met with representatives from other Asian countries this week for the second Asian Export Control Seminar in Tokyo, where they discussed export control enforcement and implementation. The agency said participants proposed "solutions to security challenges posed by the increasingly complex methods used in the transfer of sensitive and dual-use goods and technologies with applications in the development of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery."

The European Commission on Feb. 2 imposed antidumping duties on "candles, tapers and the like" from China, following an investigation that found imports of the goods are being sold at below-market value, harming the domestic industry. The duties range from 56% to 60% and will be in place for five years.

Beijing has given approval to several of Nvidia's Chinese customers to begin buying the semiconductor firm's H200 chips, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 28. The decision came during Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's trip to China, the report said, and more than a month after President Donald Trump said he planned to allow the previously restricted exports (see 2512080059).

Chinese customs authorities have informed customs agents this week that Nvidia's H200 chips aren't permitted to enter the country, Reuters reported Jan. 14. Chinese government officials also informed domestic technology companies that they shouldn't purchase the chips "unless necessary," the report said.

China's Ministry of Commerce is beginning an antidumping duty probe on imported Japanese dichlorosilane, a precursor chemical used in the semiconductor manufacturing process. The ministry is accepting public comments within 20 days of Jan. 7, according to an unofficial translation, and expects to conclude the investigation within a year. The announcement came one day after the ministry announced new dual-use export controls against Japan, which were imposed in response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi saying that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could potentially trigger a military response (see 2601070002).

China last week released its catalog of dual-use goods that will be subject to both import and export licenses for 2026, according to an unofficial translation of a Ministry of Commerce notice. The list, effective Jan. 1, includes various chemicals that can be used in chemical weapons, items used to make drugs, encryption technology, certain aircraft technology, and more.

Japan recently launched an investigation on whether to renew its antidumping duties on certain potassium hydroxide from South Korea and China, according to an unofficial translation of a notice from the country's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The orders, which exclude imports from Hong Kong and Macau, have imposed a tariff of 73.7% on mainland China and 49.5% on South Korea since 2016. They are set to expire in August, and the investigation is expected to be completed within a year. Japan said potassium hydroxide is used as a raw material for chemical fertilizers and detergents.

Thailand on Jan. 1 will end its import duty exemption for low‑value goods, which for years exempted imports worth less than about $45, according to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. HKTDC said the average Thai tariff rate for imports is about 10% and is expected to most significantly affect major online platforms that ship small parcels, such as Amazon and eBay.

China imposed tariffs of 55% on imports of beef beginning Jan. 1, the country's Ministry of Commerce announced Dec. 31, according to an unofficial translation. The measures, which will last three years, came at the end of an antidumping investigation instituted at the end of 2024. The tariffs are levied on top of the current rate and apply to imports of beef over a set quota of 2.7 million metric tons in total from all countries. The quota for U.S. imports is 0.164 million tons in the first year and will increase to 0.171 million tons by the third year.

China this week released its catalog of goods that will be subject to import licenses for 2026, according to an unofficial translation of a Ministry of Commerce notice. The list includes certain chemicals, chemical equipment, heavy machinery, papermaking equipment, electrical power equipment, food processing equipment and more.