China is reducing restrictions on foreign market access in certain sectors, including in the “services,” agricultural, mining and manufacturing sectors, according to a July 17 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. China is reducing the number of sectors with restrictions from “48 to 40 on a national basis and from 45 to 37 in the case of businesses operating within one of the mainland’s Pilot Free Trade Zones,” the report said. The changes were outlined in regulations issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce.

Australia recently updated excise duty rates on beer that may provide benefits for small beer manufacturers, according to a July 19 report from KPMG. Beer packaged in kegs that hold between 8 and 48 liters will now be subject to the same duty rate as beer packaged in “the standard keg size” of 48 liters, the report said. Previously, kegs that held more than 48 liters of beer were subject to lower tariff rates than smaller kegs. Australia hopes the change will “provide small and microbrewers of beer a greater chance of remaining competitive against their global and sector-dominating counterparts, due to the fact that craft and microbrewers generally use smaller kegs in their production,” KPMG said. The change also makes certain alcohol manufacturers eligible to claim a refund of “60 percent of excise duty paid within a twelve month period to a maximum of $100,000,” the report said. KPMG said the previous cap was $30,000. The changes took effect July 1.

Singapore Customs said a man was sentenced to 42 months in prison and penalized with a more than $10 million fine for “dealing with duty-unpaid cigarettes,” in a July 17 press release. Because the man did not pay the fine, Singapore said an extra 28 months was added to his sentence. Singapore Customs said the man and five others were arrested for evading about $350,000 in duties on cigarettes in 2017. The man coordinated the delivery of the cigarettes, which were loaded onto two Malaysian-registered cars “for distribution to various locations in Singapore,” according to the notice. The man is a repeat offender, previously convicted of similar offenses in 2006, and also in 2014, for being caught in 2012 and 2013 importing or delivering duty-unpaid cigarettes.

Vietnam's General Department of Customs announced several investigations into origin fraud after it discovered foreign companies “taking advantage of Vietnam origin to export to third countries to enjoy preferential treatment,” according to a July 17 report from Customs News, the customs agency’s mouthpiece. The country’s customs is investigating “six large enterprises operating in import and export of wood” products related to China, the report said. Authorities have found several customs violations relating to rules of origin, including companies using a “certificate of fake land use in the document to prove materials are produced in Vietnam.” In one case, Vietnam discovered a company “imported thousands of products from China” but recorded the production in Vietnam, the report said.

Malaysia’s recent amendments to its Customs Act includes updates to the country’s regulations for customs violations, enforcement, record-keeping requirements and more, according to a Federal Gazette notice. The amendments, detailed in a 100-page document that took effect July 9, “represents the most significant round of changes” to the country’s Customs Act, Baker McKenzie said in a July 16 post.

Vietnam is increasing enforcement on customs brokers who commit violations due to the “many” recent violations, according to a July 16 report from Customs News, the country’s customs’ mouthpiece. The announcement came from the director of the Ha Noi Customs Department, who urged the country’s department of customs and Ministry of Finance to “promptly issue decisions to terminate operation for offending Customs brokers” and “improve the legal system to effectively manage these brokers,” the report said. Violations included “not reporting as required and using digital signatures for incorrect purposes,” Director Duong Phu Dong said, according to the report.

Non-brokers can now declare goods with the Philippines Bureau of Customs, according to a July 16 report from the Manila Bulletin, a Filipino newspaper. Before being able to declare goods, non-brokers must first file an application to obtain a Certificate of Accreditation from Philippines Customs, which is valid for one year, the report said. After the non-broker is accredited, he is “responsible for the accuracy of the goods declaration and for the payment of duties, taxes and other charges of the imported goods,” the report said, referencing a statement released by the Philippines. The non-brokers are also liable for violations under the Philippines' Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the report said.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry released its 2019 White Paper on International Economy and Trade on July 16, detailing the “negative impacts” caused by certain “trade restrictive measures” and suggesting a “new rule-based international trade system,” the ministry said in a press release. The paper also examines Japan’s economic and trade relationships with other countries and the “position of Japanese companies in overseas markets,” the ministry said. The paper “presents perspectives that Japan should adopt in advancing its trade and industrial policies,” according to the press release.

China is adding more cities to the 35 already participating in its cross-border e-commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zone Program, according to a July 16 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The China State Council announced the upcoming additions after its July 3 meeting. While the additional cities have not yet been named, they are expected to benefit from the same advantages offered to other cities in the program, including no value-added taxes on exports, the report said. The zones will also be given “support” for “the establishment of a greater number of overseas warehouses and “e-commerce platforms are to be assisted in the implementation of the appropriate intellectual property safeguards,” the report said.

Exporters are no longer required to register with Laos or obtain a “domestic business license” before shipping goods into the country, according to a July 16 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Instead, exporters and businesses need to be approved by Laos’ Ministry of Industry and Commerce, which requires exporters to submit a request to the Ministry's Department of Import/Export, the report said. All applicants must provide proof they are registered as a “legal business entity” in a member nation of the World Trade Organization, the report said, and must never have “been found in breach of any relevant financial regulations.” The move is expected to “streamline export procedures” and improve Laos’ “overall business climate,” the report said.