All unit packets of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco manufactured in or imported into the European Union must meet new requirements by May 20, Malta Customs said in guidance announced May 10. That includes unique identifiers on packaging, five specific security features, and scanning at certain points in the supply chain, the guidance said. The new requirements do not apply to unit packets of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco manufactured in the EU before May 20, or to unit packets that are imported into the EU and have left duty suspension before May 20, 2019. This existing stock may remain in free circulation until May 20, 2020, after which it too must comply with the new requirements. From May 2024, these requirements will apply to all products containing tobacco, Malta Customs said.
The Canada Border Services Agency provided details in a May 10 Customs Notice on filing requirements for goods that are subject to the final safeguard tariffs on steel products (see 1904300218). The safeguards on heavy plate and stainless steel wire don't apply to goods from multiple countries, including the U.S., Korea, Chile, Columbia, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Israel. Canada also released a notice to importers on the tariff rate quotas.
Japan has requested World Trade Organization consultations with India, accusing it of imposing tariffs “inconsistent” with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and “in excess” of its WTO commitments, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade said in a May 10 notice. Japan said India raised tariffs on various products, including information and communications technology products, nine times since 2014, calling them violations of the WTO and GATT. Japan said it has “repeatedly” asked India to withdraw the tariffs during trade talks and WTO committees, but “the two sides have been unable to settle the dispute.” Japan specifically mentioned tariffs on six products that it disputes: “feature phones,” smartphones, “base stations” for cell phones, “digital microwave communication equipment,” “printed-circuit board assemblies” and LCD modules for smartphones.
China will raise tariff rates on 5,140 tariff lines of U.S. goods in response to the latest escalation in the trade war, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced May 13. It is not increasing tariffs on the U.S. imports that have not yet been part of retaliation. Instead, it is increasing the previously imposed punitive tariffs from 10 percent to 20 or 25 percent, and increasing other tariffs from 5 percent to 10 percent.
The U.S. trade war with China and the stalled revision of NAFTA have severely limited their export markets, filling their warehouses with unmovable products and slashing their revenues, farmers said during a House hearing on the state of the farm economy. The farmers called for a quick resolution of trade disputes with China and ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and suggested another market facilitation program similar to the relief package the Trump administration authorized in 2018 to aid farmers suffering from ongoing sparring over tariffs.
In the May 8 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:
The Mexican Tax Administration Service issued a notice May 8 amending the country’s Foreign Trade Regulations. Changes include the addition and removal of tariff subheadings -- all involving textiles, apparel and footwear -- from several annexes that list goods subject to import permits, goods that are prohibited from transit, and goods that may be moved through certain ports, among other things, according to a Confederation of Mexican Customs Broker Associations (CAAAREM) circular posted by consultancy AJR Comercio Exterior. The notice also makes changes to requirements for Mexican customs brokers.
Canadian Minister for International Trade Diversification James Carr said Canada is "following with great interest" what the Senate Finance Committee chairman and other Republicans senators are saying about Section 232 tariffs. "We will see how they decide to work that out," he said at the Council of the Americas conference May 7. He said that even though none of the countries got everything they wanted in the new NAFTA, Canada's government wants to see it ratified. "We negotiated for 14 months in good faith, we found alignment with our trading partners, we want to see it ratified. There are irritants, though, and the 232 tariffs on the steel and aluminum -- which we believe to be unwarranted -- are a real problem. It's going to be difficult to ratify the agreement as long as those tariffs are in place." He said Canadians are talking with U.S. counterparts about the tariffs, "and we hope they will be removed."
The Philippines Bureau of Customs recently issued guidance on the processing, approval and payment of duty drawback, refund and abatement, BOC said in a May 7 press release. The new guidelines loosen restrictions on cash refund payments, and provide that tax credit certificates may not be assigned or transferred. The guidance also codifies “all existing rules and regulations pertaining to Duty Drawback, Refund and Abatement in the BOC, consistent with the provisions of the” Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, enacted by the Philippines in 2016.
China will take “necessary countermeasures” if the U.S. follows through on threats to increase tariffs on Chinese goods, according to an unofficial translation of a statement released by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on May 8. “The escalation of trade friction is not in the interests of the people of the two countries and the people of the world,” the statement said. “The Chinese side deeply regrets that if the US tariff measures are implemented, China will have to take necessary countermeasures.”