A timber conglomerate backed by a prominent Chinese national is illegally extracting timber from Gabon and the Republic of the Congo, watchdog group Environmental Investigation Agency said in a March 25 news release. The Dejia Group is alleged to have supplied timber to the U.S. and "other countries where the importation of illegally sourced timber is a crime, including France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Greece," the EIA said. U.S. authorities are currently investigating possible Lacey Act violations related to the use of veneers from Evergreen Hardwoods Inc. (see 1903190027), which EIA said is a major importer of Dejia Group timber. “The Dejia-Evergreen case demonstrates the need for US authorities to routinely check due diligence systems, and to vigorously enforce the Lacey Act,” said Lisa Handy, director of EIA’s Forest Campaign. “Otherwise, illegal timber will continue to flow into the US, and American consumers will remain unwitting supporters of devastating forest crime.” The EU should consider all timber products from the Republic of the Congo and Gabon high risk under the EU Timber Regulations, EIA said in recommendations based on the report.
Tunisia updated its list of items that are not allowed to be freely traded, according to a March 1 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The purpose of the list is to “control the trade of subsidized products and/or products subject to internal price controls,” the report said. Items on the list include livestock, honey, poultry, vegetables, fruit, grain, “fishery products” and wine, USDA said.
South Africa recently raised its tariff on beet and cane sugar to 4.0179 ZAR ($0.28) per kilogram, according to a notice in its Government Gazette. The tariff increase applies to subheadings 1701.12, 1701.13, 1701.14, 1701.91 and 1701.99.The tariff had been 3.6957 ZAR ($0.26) per kilogram since December. "The SARS uses a variable tariff formula in order to adjust the import duty to a dollar-based reference price (DBRP)," Global Trade Alert said in a note on the tariff increase. "The DBRP represents the lowest duty-free price an importer pays in order to import goods to the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). In case the price dips below the DBRP, a duty is levied."
A trade embargo on Qatar by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt remains in effect, despite some recent reports that restrictions had been loosened, law firm Baker McKenzie said in a blog post. Those reports were based on readings of circulars from UAE ports that were “inaccurate and misconstrued,” and the UAE Federal Customs Authority says there “has been no recent development in relation to the Qatar boycott,” the blog post said. “In light of these statements and until further information becomes available or the situation is further clarified by the [UAE Federal Transport Authority] or the customs authorities in the UAE, parties should continue to operate on the basis that there has been no relief or relaxation of the boycott whether on the part of the UAE or Qatar,” Baker McKenzie said.