Exports to China

China is imposing “special safeguard measures” on eight Australian beef-related agricultural products, China’s General Administration of Customs said in an Aug. 17 notice, according to an unofficial translation. China said Australian beef imports on Aug. 15, under six tax codes, exceeded the quantity that can be imported in 2019. The country resumed taxing the imports under Most Favored Nation tariffs on Aug. 17.

The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Aug. 19 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):

Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security on Aug. 19 renewed the temporary general license for Huawei and added 46 more of the company’s non-U.S. affiliates to the Entity List, bringing the total number of impacted Huawei affiliates to more than 100.

China issued clarification on import duty exemptions for certain equipment and machinery, according to an Aug. 19 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The report said imported equipment and machinery that falls within the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment’s “encouraged industries” are exempt from customs duties, but not import-related value-added taxes. VATs also still apply to all “equipment imported for direct self-use and any associated items imported with regard to said equipment within the total investment amount of an foreign-invested project,” the HKTDC said.

Non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) performing services in China no longer require a cash deposit at a Chinese bank or a supplemental bond on file with the Federal Maritime Commission to register with Chinese authorities, provided that they are licensed or registered with the FMC, according to an update emailed Aug. 19 by the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. But they don’t have to cancel existing bonds either, the NCBFAA clarified.

South Korean and Japanese officials will meet in Beijing this week amid the countries’ trade dispute over export controls, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Aug. 16. The meeting is the first between the foreign ministers of the two sides in three years, South Korea said, and will feature the foreign minister of China as well. South Korea also said it is trying to hold separate bilateral talks with both Japan and China “on the sidelines” of the meeting in Beijing. The meetings, which South Korea said will take place Aug. 20-22, come as both Japan and South Korea are entrenched in a trade dispute dating back to July 1, when Japan announced restrictions on exports to South Korea involving chemicals needed to make computer chips and other high-tech goods (see 1907010020).

In preparation for a public hearing on China's compliance with its World Trade Organization commitments, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is seeking comments at regulations,gov, docket number is USTR-2019-0010. Comments and requests to testify are due by midnight EDT Sept. 18, The hearing will be held Oct. 2 by the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee at 1724 F Street NW, Washington, D.C., beginning at 9:30 a.m.

China announced plans to improve procedures at Ningbo Customs, including “optimizing the customs clearance process” and “improving the business environment at the port,” China’s General Administration of Customs said in an Aug. 16 notice, according to an unofficial translation. The changes include China’s new two-step declaration process, aimed at allowing importers to more quickly submit declarations (see 1908150031). Ningbo Customs will also introduce an “‘advance declaration’ customs clearance mode” for imports and exports to improve clearance time, the notice said.

President Donald Trump said he doesn’t think China will retaliate for the U.S.’s planned 10 percent tariff on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods scheduled to take effect in December, Trump told reporters Aug. 15.

The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Aug. 16 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):