Israel and the United Arab Emirates recently implemented a free trade deal that will lower tariffs on about 96% of traded goods between the two countries, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported April 12. Israel and the UAE signed the deal last year (see 2204260019).
Turkey this month lifted the remaining export bans it had placed on agricultural products last year to counter “skyrocketing food inflation” (see 2202020032), USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in a March 14 report. The country lifted restrictions on red meat, certain pulses, sunflower oil and tomatoes, USDA said, noting the ban on tomatoes had “triggered a backlash” within Turkey's tomato industry, which “depends on exports for its survival.” Turkey has gradually lifted its food export restrictions over the past year (see 2203170012 and 2207210009).
The container ship MSC Istanbul was refloated after running aground in the Suez Canal, the Suez Canal Authority announced March 5. The ship got stuck heading north but was freed by tugboats. The authority diverted northbound traffic from the western to eastern channel to pass, it said.
Madagascar initiated a safeguard investigation covering wheat or meslin flour and imposed a provisional measure Feb. 18, the country told the World Trade Organization's Committee on Safeguards, the WTO said. Madagascar said that interested parties should contact the ANMCC, its National Authority Responsible for Trade Corrective Measures, within 30 days from the investigation's start date.
Saudi Arabia recently announced an initiative to reduce customs clearance procedures at all sea, air and land ports to two hours, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Feb. 10. Customs clearance could have previously taken as long as 12 days, the report said, adding the country hopes to improve customs productivity and boost its competitiveness as a global logistics center. Saudi Arabia aims to reach the two-hour target by increasing cooperation with private and public “customs counterparts” and through more training for customs employees.
Ghana this month officially approved the use of a U.S. export certificate for American pork and other meat products, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in a Jan 18 report. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service in October requested market access for U.S. pork through the use of FSIS’ 9060-5 export certificate, the agency said, adding Ghana “will accept the proposed export certificate” to “cover all U.S. meat products.” Those products include pork, beef, goat, lamb and poultry. Ghana’s pork market is currently dominated by the EU, USDA said, with the U.S. “not being a significant player.”
The United Arab Emirates will ban imports of most single-use plastics, including biodegradable plastic bags, beginning in 2024, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 18. The country plans to impose an import ban on most other single-use plastic products beginning in 2026, the report said, covering soft-drink cups, eating utensils, plates, straws, food containers and more. Certain exceptions apply, including for items “clearly labeled” for reexport.
A ship hauling grain to China from Ukraine that ran aground in the Suez Canal and disrupted traffic has been refloated, the Suez Canal Authority said Jan. 9, according to an unofficial translation. The M/V Glory -- a ship just over half the length of the Ever Given, which blocked the canal in 2021 -- had prevented about 20 ships from traveling south through the canal. The Suez Canal Authority said the Glory experienced a technical failure that stalled it for four hours.
Nigeria recently imposed a 0.5% tax on all imports from outside Africa, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 3. The change, which took effect Jan. 1, is in addition to existing customs duties and is meant to “lower Nigeria’s public debt” and boost government revenue, the report said. Some experts believe it also may raise the costs of imported goods for consumers.
A large Israeli trade delegation arrived in Turkey Dec. 5 to meet with exporters, representing a thaw in relations between the two nations, Bloomberg reported. The two-day meeting will see representatives from around 60 Israeli companies meet with the Turkish exporters, hosted by the Turkish Exporters' Assembly. “The recent normalization of Turkey’s relations with Israel reflects positively on the trade relations of the two countries,” the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly said in a statement.