Vietnam is reportedly reducing tariffs on imported American liquefied natural gas, ethanol, automobiles and other goods as part of a bid to reduce its trade surplus with the U.S. and avoid facing increased duties imposed by the Trump administration (see 2502130030).
Japan imposed provisional antidumping duties on graphite electrodes from China after determining the imports caused a "material injury to domestic industry," the Ministry of Finance announced March 25. The duty rate is set at 95.2% and takes effect March 29 and is in effect through July 28.
China this week published new rules, effective March 23, for the implementation of its anti-foreign sanctions law, clarifying what types of property Beijing can freeze in response to people and companies that violate the law, who China can target with the restrictions, and more.
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.”