U.S. ambassador to Japan nominee George Glass said March 13 that he would seek to ensure Japan follows through on its commitment to ramp up its purchase of U.S. liquefied natural gas to reduce its trade deficit with the U.S. and its reliance on Russia.
China’s Ministry of Commerce on March 4 launched an “anti-circumvention investigation” to examine whether American companies are evading Chinese antidumping duties on certain imported optical fiber products from the U.S., according to an unofficial translation of a ministry notice. The investigation, which will last for six months, follows a February complaint made by Changfei Optical Fiber and Cable Co., which said U.S. firms are avoiding duties on “wavelength-shifted single-mode optical fibers.”
Beijing is studying ways to retaliate against an increase to 20% in U.S. tariffs to address fentanyl smuggling (see 2502270037), state-run news outlet Global Times reported March 3. China's countermeasures likely will include a combination of tariffs and non-tariff measures, the report said, with American agricultural and food products likely to be targeted.
China used forced labor from North Korean nationals on its tuna fishing vessels, advocacy group Environmental Justice Foundation said in a report published Feb. 23. EJF found evidence that North Koreans worked on 12 Chinese vessels and were subject to "physical abuse, verbal abuse and excessive overtime."
Japan has asked the Trump administration to exempt it from new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoji Muto said during a Feb. 12 press conference.
Australia this week launched a review of its free trade agreements in Southeast Asia to assess whether it should upgrade any of those deals, including by examining whether their market access commitments are still “commercially meaningful,” the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said. It also said it’s looking at whether the FTAs support Australia's “trade diversification agenda, strengthen our economic integration with Southeast Asia, and bolster our supply chain resilience.”
The Trump administration is determined to impose tariffs on China “regardless” of any progress it makes on stopping fentanyl from flowing into the U.S., a Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson said Feb. 5 during a regular press conference in Beijing. The U.S. is “bent on levying a 10 percent additional tariff on Chinese imports under the pretext of the fentanyl issue,” the person said, adding that Beijing “firmly deplores and opposes this move and has taken necessary measures to defend its legitimate rights and interests.”
Taiwan is setting up task forces and a consultation hotline to assist Taiwanese companies overseas that may be affected by new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs announced Feb. 4. The task forces will be set up in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia and South Asia to “provide real-time support” to Taiwanese businesses.
Moments after President Donald Trump’s 10% tariffs on all Chinese products took effect Feb. 4 (see 2502030034), China announced new tariffs and export controls against the U.S. and added two American companies to its so-called unreliable entity list, including one that it accused of adopting “discriminatory measures” when sourcing products from China's Xinjiang region.
Japan recently updated its foreign end user list, which includes a list of entities that may have ties to weapons of mass destruction and which may be subject to added export license requirements. The new list takes effect Feb. 5, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said, according to an unofficial translation.