The World Trade Organization has published its 2010 WTO Annual Report. The report provides a brief summary of the organization and a detailed review of its activities in 2009. It also includes a personal message from the Director-General, who reflects on the events of 2009, the impact of the financial crisis and the challenges that lie ahead.
Xinhuanet.com reports that Australia hopes for conclusion of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks with China by the end of this year, said Chinese Deputy Minister of Commerce Chen Jian. China and Australia are scheduled to hold the 15th round of FTA talks on June 28 in Beijing.
The European Commission’s Taxation and Customs Union has issued a notice announcing that the EC is proposing to extend the current minimum standard value added tax (VAT) rate of 15% until the end 2015.
China's State Council, or Cabinet, has approved the scrapping of export tax rebates on 406 products, effective July 15, the Ministry of Finance said. The products included some steel and non-ferrous metals products, fertilizers, as well as some plastic, rubber and glass products.
The European Commission’s Taxation and Customs Union has issued a press release announcing that on June 24, 2010, the European Union and Japan signed a decision establishing mutual recognition of Authorised Economic Operators (AEOs) between the EU and Japan.
On June 17, 2010, the Canadian Border Services Agency issued an expiry determination to continue the antidumping duty orders on refined sugar, refined from sugar cane or sugar beets, in granulated, liquid and powdered form, originating in or exported from the U.S., Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and the countervailing duty orders these same products originating in or exported from the European Union. The CBSA determined that the expiry of the orders is likely to result in the continuation or resumption of dumping and/or subsidizing of the goods
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency states that effective June 21, 2010, it is accepting shipments of fresh fruits (except grapes and olives) from areas of California regulated for European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) when they are certified free of the insect. Phytosanitary certificates issued by the USDA must declare that "The consignment was inspected and found free from Lobesia botrana." At present, six counties in California contain regulated areas: Fresno, Mendocina, Merced, Napa, Solano and Sonoma.
Canada's Department of Environment is requesting applications by July 29, 2010, from persons seeking to use methyl bromide in Canada under a critical use exemption. Applications will be used by the government to determine its Montreal Protocol nominations for critical use exemptions for the years 2012 and 2013.