Japan’s External Trade Organization issued an “Overseas Successful Collection of Case Studies” detailing Japanese companies that are increasing exports and business in foreign countries, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in an Oct. 1 press release, according to an unofficial translation. The case studies are based on interviews with 100 Japanese companies “that worked on overseas expansion,” the press release said. The case studies are available for download.

Japan’s trade minister said the recently signed U.S.-Japan trade agreement is “powerful” and lauded its reduced tariff measures, according to an unofficial translation of a transcript of a Sept. 27 press conference. “I think it was of great significance that we broadly eliminated protectionist measures that would distort the global supply chain,” Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry ‎Isshu Sugawara said. He said the agreement will take effect after it is reviewed by Japan’s “Legal Bureau” and approved by Japan’s legislature, echoing U.S. comments that the two sides plan to conduct more trade negotiations on a comprehensive agreement.

The State Council Information Office of China released a white paper titled “China and the World in the New Era” on Sept. 28, detailing what it said is its new “trade and investment liberalization” regulations, increased protection of intellectual property rights, its additional free trade zones and more. The paper also includes a section titled “China will never seek hegemony,” saying it does not want to “threaten, challenge or replace any other country” in its process of becoming stronger through its own development, but says other countries should not expect China to “trade its core interests or to accept anything that is damaging to China’s own sovereignty, security and development interests.”

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement is expected to be finalized this year, China’s vice minister of commerce said, adding that talks are “accelerating” and little obstacles remain.

The U.S. has been heavily involved in finding a solution to the Japan-South Korea trade dispute (see 1909260019), a senior State Department official said Sept. 26, but “it’s going to take some time.”

Japan said it allowed exports of hydrogen fluoride to South Korea in August, disputing what it called “incorrect” media reports that said Japan stopped all such the exports, according to a Sept. 27 press release from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Japan said “certain amounts of controlled hydrogen fluoride” have been released for export to South Korea, and that it will grant export licenses for fluorinated polyimide, resists and hydrogen fluoride if the exports of those items of concern are “verified as legitimate civil transactions.” In July, Japan added restrictions on exports to South Korea of the three chemicals commonly used in smart chips and other high tech goods (see 1907010020).

A top South Korean official asked a State Department official to continue to help with South Korea’s ongoing trade dispute with Japan, saying during the United Nations General Assembly that the U.S. should “continue to play a role” in the negotiations.

China’s Foreign Ministry criticized the passage of a bill in a House committee that could change Hong Kong’s special status in customs and export controls. The bill, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act (see 1909250053), would also require the Trump administration to assess whether Hong Kong is “adequately” enforcing U.S. export control and sanctions regulations.

China criticized the U.S.’s decision to sanction Chinese companies and people for transferring oil from Iran, saying it will take “necessary measures” if the sanctions are not revoked. “We strongly urge the U.S. to immediately correct its wrongdoing,” a China Foreign Ministry spokesperson said during a Sept. 26 press conference, according to a transcript in English released by the Chinese Embassy in Washington. “China has taken and will continue to take necessary measures to safeguard the legal rights and interests of its businesses.”

New regulations for customs valuation in Vietnam will take effect Oct. 15 and will include a hierarchy for valuation methods, a change in valuation of certain software and a change in valuation of borrowed goods, according to a Sept. 25 post by Baker McKenzie.