Members of the U.K. Parliament this week questioned whether the government should be imposing more restrictions on China, including through human rights sanctions on Hong Kong officials and export restrictions on a broader range of Chinese technology companies. They also urged the U.K. to share the results of a possible review of its arms export policies toward Israel, which at least one member said hasn’t been transparent.
The Federal Maritime Commission is adjusting its civil monetary penalties for inflation, the agency said in a notice released this week. The changes, effective Jan. 15, increase maximum penalties for various violations of U.S. shipping regulations, including failing to establish "financial responsibility for nonperformance of transportation," illegal foreign shipping practices that have an “adverse impact” on U.S. carriers, “knowing and willful” violations of the Shipping Act, and operating in foreign commerce after a tariff suspension.
USDA is accepting applications from exporters for its upcoming trade mission to India, the agency's Foreign Agricultural Service said this week. The April 22-25 trade mission will feature meetings with Indian importers, market briefings on the region, “relevant” site visits in New Delhi and opportunities to speak with USDA officials.
India altered its import policy regarding threaded screws traded under Indian tariff schedule codes 73181110, 73181190, 73181200, 73181300, 73181400, 73181500 and 73181900, the Director General of Foreign Trade announced. The import policy was changed from "Free" to "Prohibited," though the goods will be allowed to enter India if their cost, insurance and freight values are above approximately $1.55 per kg.
China again extended its Section 301 retaliatory tariff exclusion period for 12 U.S. agricultural products, including certain shrimp, whey, fishmeal, alfalfa and hardwood products, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in a recent report. The exclusions, which were set to expire Dec. 31, will continue through July 31. Beijing originally imposed the tariffs in retaliation for Section 301 tariffs announced by the Trump administration on certain Chinese goods.
The Census Bureau on Jan. 2 updated its tables of Schedule B and Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes that are no longer valid for the Automated Export System to reflect changes made to the codes for 2024, the agency said in an email to industry. AES will accept shipments with outdated codes during a 30-day grace period that began when the codes expired Dec. 31, Census said. Reporting an outdated code after the grace period will “result in a fatal error.”
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British cheese makers looking to export to their products to Canada now must check that their Canadian importer has access to an import license for "non-EU sources," the U.K.'s Department for International Trade said. As of Jan. 1, the U.K. moved from Canada's tariff-rate quota for EU member states to non-EU sources as part of a 2021 trade continuity agreement between the two nations. As a result, U.K. cheese exporters that don't have an importer with a license for non-EU sources will be subject to the full tariffs on cheese.
U.K. exports of chocolate, gin, whiskey, sparkling wine and other “festive treats” increased “significantly” last year after the country’s signing in July of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (see 2307170023), the Department for Business and Trade said Dec. 28. The agency said those goods are being “ordered en masse” by CPTPP countries, especially Singapore, Japan, Mexico and Malaysia. Exports of Scotch whiskey to Singapore have risen by 31% and to Malaysia by 43%, the U.K. said, while sparkling wine exports to Japan have increased by 140%
India extended its free import policy for urad beans and tur/pigeon peas for another year, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced. The import policy will now run until March 31, 2025, and specifically applies to urad of Indian Tariff Code (Harmonized System) 07133110 and tur/pigeon peas of ITC(HS) 07136000.