Japan's Ministry of Economy reports that pursuant to the sixth meeting of the Joint Committee established under the Agreement between Japan and Mexico for the Strengthening of the Economic Partnership, the two countries agreed to accelerate tariff reductions in products for certain auto parts and to introduce an approved exporter system.
The Council of the European Union adopted its first-reading-position on a draft regulation1 on food labeling rules, which would include nutrition and country of origin labeling rules, etc.
In the February 24, 2011 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted :
The World Trade Organization posted the following notices for February 22-23, 2011 (may have to click twice on source documents for proper viewing):
China's Ministry of Commerce reports that China is planning to cut import taxes on some products, including formula milk and cosmetics, as part of a series of reductions aimed at balancing international trade. In January, the ministry announced that it will cut import duties for computers, digital video recorders and cameras by between 10 and 20 percent. The announcement comes just days after the Group of 20 meeting in Paris, at which China came under pressure to increase imports and lower its trade surplus as a means of reducing global trade imbalances.
Brazil's Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade announced that effective February 21, 2011, Brazil changed its drawback regime by reducing or eliminating import taxes on raw materials used in finished products destined for export in order to help make Brazilian exports more competitive.
The World Customs Organization reports that the WCO Secretary General recently visited Nigeria, Vice Chair of the WCO West and Central Africa region, to discuss regional cooperation and capacity building. The Secretary General met the senior management to review reform efforts and stressed the importance of customs-driven reform supported by best practice enshrined in the Revised Kyoto Convention and other WCO standards, among other things.
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced that Toshihiko Fujii, METI's Director of the Multilateral Trade System Department would travel to Vietnam as part of Japan's efforts to collect information regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.
The World Customs Organization announces that the WCO Secretary General and the President of the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance the capacity of Customs administrations in West Africa to deliver more efficiently on their statutory functions and thus contribute to economic growth and development in the region.
The European Chemicals Agency is seeking comments on proposals submitted by five European Union member countries to identify seven chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC), which could make them subject to the "authorization" component of the EU’s REACH1 program.