Turkey recently updated its import tariffs for certain nuts, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported Jan. 22. The country raised duties on in-shell and shelled walnuts to 15% for all origins, excluding countries with which Turkey has a free trade deal. FAS also said Turkey imposes an additional 10% duty on tree nuts imported from the U.S. in retaliation for U.S. tariffs on Turkish steel.
Country of origin cases
The Office of Foreign Assets Control extended a general license authorizing certain transactions involving securities of companies that “closely” match the name of a company identified as a Chinese military company (see 2011130026), a Jan. 27 notice said. General License No. 1A, which replaced General License No. 1 (see 2101120026), authorizes the transactions through 9:30 a.m. EDT May 27 and past the original expiration date of Jan. 28. OFAC also added language to the license to specify that it does not authorize transactions with securities of entities listed on OFAC’s Non-Specially Designated Nationals Communist Chinese Military Companies List or Defense Department-issued lists (see 2101150006). The agency updated frequently asked questions 878 and 879 to reflect the change.
China and New Zealand updated their 12-year-old free trade agreement to increase trade in goods, revise certain rules of origin and address technical barriers to trade, China’s state-run news agency Xinhua reported Jan. 26. The deal's provisions include addressing trade barriers on certain wood and paper products and requiring New Zealand to lower its threshold for reviewing Chinese investments.
Electronics industry association SEMI called for industry input on a review of Trump administration export control policies, in a Jan. 25 letter to secretary of commerce nominee Gina Raimondo. The trade group said the prior administration made drastic changes to export control regulations without allowing enough industry input, and said the new administration should formally hear industry concerns.
Ghana recently postponed a planned 20% increase in registration fees and customs charges for certain imported goods and services, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 21. Fee increases that were scheduled to take effect Jan. 1 were delayed for at least three months amid criticism from importers, shippers and freight forwarders that the increased charges would lead to higher prices and “damage to the economy,” the report said. The fees -- which would affect imports including office equipment, plastic goods, auto parts, telecommunication equipment, pharmaceutical products and furniture -- originally were scheduled to take effect last year but were pushed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the HKTDC said. Ghana will reassess the situation and the fees at the end of this year’s first quarter.
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Jan. 22 (some may also be given separate headlines):
Vietnam recently launched an online platform that provides information and details on the country’s free trade agreements, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 20. The portal will serve as an “online reference tool” covering rules for trading with Vietnam, including information on import duties, rules of origin, technical standards and other trade restrictions, the report said. It will also provide overseas traders with market updates and information on import and export procedures.
The Bureau of Industry and Security announced new controls on technologies and activities that may be supporting foreign military-intelligence end-uses and end-users in China, Cuba, Russia, Venezuela and other “terrorist-supporting” countries. The agency also will bolster controls to prevent U.S. people from supporting weapons programs, weapons delivery systems and weapons production facilities, BIS said in an interim final rule issued Jan. 15. The changes take effect March 16. Comments are due March 1.
The Bureau of Industry and Security removed certain license restrictions for Sudan (see 2012080003) to reflect the U.S. decision to rescind Sudan’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism (see 2012170015). The final rule, effective Jan. 14, will amend the Export Administration Regulations by removing anti-terrorism controls on exports to Sudan and by removing Sudan from Country Group E:1, which makes the country eligible for a 25% de minimis level, BIS said. Sudan also was added to Country Group B and will be eligible for several new license exceptions.
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Jan. 13 (some may also be given separate headlines):