The U.K.’s trade agency this week released a list of products that companies are asking the government to make subject to new import duty suspensions. The list describes more than 180 duty suspension applications that the government has received for a range of products, including parts used for batteries, various metals and agricultural and food products. The U.K. said “the previous government invited stakeholders to apply for new suspensions” from May to July, and it plans to “confirm the outcome of all applications received in due course.”
China’s Foreign Ministry this week criticized Canada’s decision to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicle imports (see 2408260033), saying the measure “ignores facts” and “disrespects” World Trade Organization rules. “This typical protectionist move disrupts China-Canada trade relations, harms the interests of Canadian companies and consumers, and does little good to Canada’s green transition process and global effort for climate response,” a ministry spokesperson said during an Aug. 27 press conference in response to a question from a wire service reporter. “China will take all measures necessary to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”
House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., urged the Defense Department Aug. 28 to place Chinese electric vehicle battery producer Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL) on its Section 1260H list of Chinese military companies, citing the firm’s close ties to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its role in the Chinese Communist Party’s military-civil fusion strategy.
Some companies are struggling to meet a due diligence threshold set by the U.S. government for sales to foreign suppliers accused of illegal sales to Russia, said Anne van de Heetkamp, vice president of product management for global trade intelligence at Descartes Systems Group.
An upcoming digital service being prepared by the U.K. government is expected to modernize and simplify duty payments for alcohol trade, according to the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, a U.K. trade association.
China’s commerce ministry met with industry officials last week to discuss possibly raising import duties on large-engine cars, according to an unofficial translation of an Aug. 23 ministry notice. China said the meeting featured “representatives from relevant industry organizations, research institutions and automobile companies," where China listened to their "opinions and suggestions on increasing tariffs on large-displacement fuel vehicles." The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU said in May that Beijing was considering the tariffs, which could be imposed on exporters from the U.S. and the EU in response to increased duties recently announced by both governments on imports of Chinese electric vehicles (see 2405140008 and 2408200020).
The Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank's "Trade Guys" podcast said that the EU's tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (see 408200020) "is sort of a preview of coming attractions."
The Federal Maritime Commission is asking for public comments on an information collection related to ocean common carriers that are subject to the FMC’s regulations. The notice said controlled carriers must ensure that they don’t maintain rates or charges in their tariffs and service contracts “that are below a level that is just and reasonable; nor establish, maintain, or enforce unjust or unreasonable classifications, rules, or regulations in those tariffs or service contracts that result or are likely to result in the carriage or handling of cargo at rates or charges that are below a just and reasonable level.” Public comments are due Oct. 22.
Shipping company OL USA notified the Federal Maritime Commission last week that it has reached a settlement agreement with Maersk, which it accused in February of violating the Shipping Act by failing to keep its "automated tariff system" open for public inspection (see 2402200007).
South Africa recently imposed a $9.70 per metric ton import duty on wheat, ending more than three years of duty-free wheat imports in South Africa, the USDA Foreign Agicultural Service said in a report this week. The duties were triggered by falling global wheat prices and a 7% drop in “wheat planted area for marketing year 2024/25,” the agency said, which “represents the smallest wheat area the past seven years in South Africa.” USDA is expecting the country’s wheat imports in marketing year 2024-25 to remain steady at about 2 million metric tons.