Mexico recently announced a temporary increase in tariffs on three subheadings covering steel products. Tariffs will rise from zero to 15 percent for semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel under Mexican tariff numbers 7207.12.01 and 7207.12.99, as well as for certain alloy steel ingots, primary forms and semi-finished products under subheading 7224.90.02. The tariff increase took effect Oct. 16, and will remain in place for 180 days until April 12.
Brazil modified the administrative structure of the Ministry of Economy’s Foreign Trade Chamber to prioritize trade policy and “de-bureaucratise day-to-day decisions with an impact on trade,” the Hong Kong Trade Development Center said in an Oct. 14 report. Among the changes is the addition of a “consultative council” representing Brazil’s private sector, the report said. The changes could lead to an effort “to pursue trade liberalising measures in Brazil” because of the ministry’s tendency toward market liberalization measures, HKTDC said. But there is also a belief that the creation of additional committees within the chamber “could slow down the overall decision-making process.”
Argentina is updating its safety regime on certain auto parts by requiring exporters and importers to first obtain an “approval certificate” for certain safety elements, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said in an Oct. 10 report. Traders must apply for the certificate through Argentina’s government and applications are subject to review by the country’s National Institute of Industrial Technology, the report said. Certificates granted on the basis of “certification licences issued by certification bodies recognised by the United Nations” will be valid for two years and may be renewed, the report said. Other certificates granted “on the basis of certification licences issued by … an institution accredited by Argentinean authorities” will be valid for the duration of the license, HKTDC said.
Adobe will deactivate some of its accounts in Venezuela by Oct. 29 to comply with U.S. sanctions, according to an unofficial translation of a notice released by the company. Adobe said it is working with customers and distributors to offer them refunds for “any paid license” periods. “We will carefully follow the course of events and try to restore services in Venezuela as soon as possible when the law permits,” the notice said.
Mexico’s Secretariat of Finance recently issued its 2019 edition of its General Regulations on Foreign Trade. Among other things, the new edition changes the deadline for customs clearance of disassembled machines, production lines or disassembled prefabricated buildings to 90 calendar days (previously it was a period of three months), said a circular from the Mexican Confederation of Customs Broker Associations (CAAAREM). The change takes effect Dec. 1, 2019. More information is available in a Latin American Confederation of Customs Brokers (CLAA) circular.