The Department of Commerce published its fall 2019 regulatory agenda for the Bureau of Industry and Security. The agenda includes a new mention of its intent to potentially control certain additive manufacturing equipment, or 3D printing, used in “energetic materials” as part of BIS’s effort to restrict sales of emerging technologies (see 1911210051). The notice of proposed rulemaking aims to gather feedback from industries while “discussions are ongoing” at the Wassenaar Arrangement. BIS said it aims to issue the proposed rule in November.
Exports to China
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Nov. 22 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):
Argentina and Mexico made several antidumping determinations on products from China and Malaysia, according to a Nov. 21 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Argentina will rescind its 178 percent antidumping duties on certain “conveyor belts of vulcanised rubber reinforced only with textile materials” and introduced a 56 percent duty on certain mainland Chinese knitted gloves, the report said. Argentina also determined that certain glass plates exported to Argentina from Malaysia are evading the antidumping duty on certain ceramic, marble and glass tiles from mainland China. Mexico began a sunset review of antidumping duties on certain concrete steel nails from mainland China, the report said.
China and Cambodia will begin trade negotiations on Dec. 3 in Beijing, according to a Nov. 22 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The deal is expected to “extend beyond the benefits” in the countries’ existing trade agreement and to feature new preferential benefits associated with agricultural exports, the report said. The deal is also expected to provide an extra “boost” to companies looking to relocate production lines to Cambodia amid the U.S.-China trade war, HKTDC said.
When asked on "Fox & Friends" Nov. 22 whether he intends to sign or veto two bills on Hong Kong (see 1911200036), President Donald Trump didn't directly answer, instead saying, “We have to stand with Hong Kong, but I’m also standing with President Xi [Jinping], he’s a friend of mine. He’s an incredible guy, but we have to stand … I’d like to see them work it out, OK?"
China and Israel made “positive progress” during its seventh round of trade negotiations this week, China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a Nov. 21 press release, according to an unofficial translation. The two sides discussed issues surrounding rules of origin, customs procedures, trade facilitation, phytosanitary measures, intellectual property rights and more.
If President Donald Trump signs the bill that passed the Senate unanimously Nov. 19 and passed the House 417-1 on Nov. 20, the secretary of state will have to certify within 180 days whether Hong Kong continues to warrant special treatment under U.S. law because of its special status under Chinese rule. It also requires a report by that date on whether items exported to Hong Kong that are on export controls lists are being transshipped.
China is eliminating antidumping duties on products from India, Japan and Taiwan, China’s Ministry of Commerce said Nov. 20. China said it is eliminating antidumping duties on “methyl ethyl ketone” imported from Japan and Taiwan and “pyridine” imported from India and Japan. The changes will take effect Nov. 21.
The Commerce Department has been “slow” to complete a series of export control reviews mandated by the Export Control Reform Act, including the agency’s upcoming controls on emerging and foundational technologies, Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said.
The European Commission will allocate the equivalent of about $250 million to fund 2020 promotion activities for European agricultural goods, with more than half of the funding going toward campaigns promoting exports, the commission said in a Nov. 19 press release. The funding will raise the competitiveness of the European agricultural sector and help during “market disturbances,” the commission said. The commission will target several export markets with “high-growth potential,” including Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, Mexico and the U.S. The Commission said “eligible sectors” include dairy and cheese, olive oil and wine.