U.S. vegetable exporters may benefit from Japan’s record-breaking summer heat, which has delayed the planting of autumn and winter vegetables in the country, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in a report in September. Although the agency said Japan is “nearly self-sufficient for fresh vegetable consumption,” it may increasingly turn to imports to make up for supply shortfalls. U.S. exporters of onions, celery and lettuce could benefit, USDA said.
Singapore Customs fined Hydronav Services, a Singapore-based exporter, over $1.1 million for shipping strategic goods without the required permits in violation of the nation's Strategic Goods (Control) Act, the agency said. Two Hydronav employees were also fined for their involvement in the scheme -- one for $35,000, the other for $45,000.
China and the EU held the "10th EU-China High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue" on Sept. 25, discussing the effect of Russia's war in Ukraine on global economics, food and energy security. Also discussed were "EU concerns on access to the Chinese market," prospects for rebalancing the EU-China trade relationship "on the basis of transparency," and predictability and reciprocity, the European Commission said.
China condemned the Treasury Department's additions of 28 entities, including various Chinese entities, on the Entity List for their acts violating U.S. national security. The U.S. "abuses unilateral sanctions" to undercut international trade rules, hinder normal trade exchanges and curb the "legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," the Ministry of Commerce said, according to an unofficial translation.
China recently updated the list of products whose foreign production facilities are required to register under Decree 248, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service said in a Sept. 20 report. China removed from the list 14 products and added 15 products, impacting certain dairy products, poultry products, fruit and vegetable juice, canned fruit, aquatic products, sweets and chocolates. It said: "Some of the updates are not complete removals of the products, but additions of the same products with different Customs, Inspection, and Quarantine (CIQ) codes created for China Customs’ use."
Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao met with Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov this week to discuss expanding trade between the two countries, China’s Ministry of Commerce said Sept. 19, according to an unofficial translation.
India's Directorate-General of Foreign Trade on Sept. 20 delisted 29 chambers of commerce or agencies from the list of agencies allowed to issue certificates of origin for failing to comply with the directive to onboard the DGFT's e-country of origin platform. The certificates of origin issued by these agencies were nonpreferential.
New Indian export restrictions on white rice have caused global importers to instead buy from Thailand, Vietnam and other suppliers, causing export price quotes to “surge” to the highest levels since 2008, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in a Sept. 19 report. The agency said the July restrictions on Indian rice have “sent shockwaves through the global rice market,” adding that rice prices already had been rising before the measures.
China’s commerce ministry is paying “close attention” to a decision by Mexico in August to raise tariffs on imports of steel and other items from non-free trade agreement countries, a ministry spokesperson said last week. “Although this measure does not target specific countries,” China is monitoring its impact, the spokesperson said, according to an unofficial translation. “Judging from historical experience, raising tariffs will increase the production costs of downstream industries and reduce consumer welfare," the spokesperson said, adding that China hopes Mexico "will adhere to the principles of free trade and use such measures with caution.”
India updated its export policy for vegetable saps and extracts and food preparations not elsewhere specified or included in the ITS Harmonized System code. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade said the export of food supplements with botanicals under HS codes 1302 and 2106 meant for human or animal consumption to the EU and the U.K. will "require issuance of official certificate" from the Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council. The agency is allowed to issue a certificate for a period of three months.