China announced revised standards of origin for some commodities for trade with Macau, it said Dec. 24, according to an unofficial translation. The changes take effect Jan. 1.
Country of origin cases
The Office of Foreign Assets Control fined a Saudi bank more than $650,000 for violating U.S. sanctions against Sudan and Syria, a Dec. 28 notice said. OFAC said Saudi Arabia-based National Commercial Bank (NCB) illegally processed 13 transactions worth nearly $6 million.
Although the European Union and the United Kingdom reached a last-minute trade deal Dec. 24 to avoid a hard Brexit, the agreement will not necessarily translate into a smooth U.K. exit, law firms said, and companies still should prepare for a host of trade issues come Jan. 1. “Important changes and some logistical disruption will remain inevitable,” White & Case said in a Dec. 28 alert.
The United Kingdom and Canada agreed to transitional measures to maintain the flow of goods after the U.K. leaves the European Union Jan. 1, the U.K. said Dec. 22. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding that will maintain tariff-free trade for companies exporting goods that are eligible for preferential treatment under the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA), which is expected to take effect early in 2021, the U.K. said. The MOU will also maintain tariff rate quotas and rules of origin for products covered under the TCA.
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Dec. 23 (some may also be given separate headlines):
Mexico recently proposed revising its organic import procedures for special certification, including changes to certain regulations, inspection methods and other import processes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported Dec. 21. The FAS report said “Mexico has not yet notified the World Trade Organization Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of these changes. Notably, agricultural imports into Mexico requiring certificates of origin, such as organics, would be affected.” Industry can submit comments to the National Commission for Regulatory Improvement through Dec. 28.
The Bureau of Industry and Security reduced licensing restrictions for certain exports to Ukraine, Mexico and Cyprus by revising their Country Group designations in the Export Administration Regulations (see 2011230010), according to a final rule released Dec. 23. The rule moves Ukraine from Country Group D to County Group B and adds Mexico and Cyprus in Country Group A:6, making more license exceptions available for each country. The changes take effect Dec. 28.
The U.S. sanctioned eight people and 10 entities for being members of or supporting the Syrian government, the Treasury Department said Dec. 22. The sanctions designate two people and 10 entities by Treasury and six people by the State Department. Treasury also issued three new frequently asked questions related to Syria.
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Dec. 21 (some may also be given separate headlines):
China released details for its upcoming free trade agreement with Mauritius, which it said will take effect Jan. 1, 2021, according to an unofficial translation of a Dec. 16 notice. The notice contains technical provisions of the deal, including measures surrounding rules of origin.