The Ministry for Economic Development of the Russian Federation reports that Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Putin signed a resolution on August 5, 2010 to introduce a temporary ban on the export of some agricultural products from the Russian Federation, due to a sharp change in crop forecast. The ban is imposed from August 5 - December 31, 2010. The issue of lifting the embargo on the export of Russian grain is postponed till December, after the results of harvesting campaign are known.

In the August 6, 2010 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:

The U.S. embassy in India has announced a project entitled, "Converging Against Child Labor: Support for India." The project will be implemented by the International Labor Organization, and the U.S. Department of Labor is contributing $6.85 million to fund the project.

Xinhuanet.com reported on August 5, 2010 that China's ambassador to the World Trade Organization, Sun Zhenyu, stated the country is committed to joining the government procurement agreement (GPA) "as soon as possible", but still hopes GPA member nations including the U.S. are not "too demanding" on its revised offer.The GPA is a set of standards that grant foreign companies nondiscriminatory access to government purchases. Many expect China's procurement market to become open to foreign businesses if the country joins the GPA. Joining will also allow Chinese enterprises to enter the government procurement markets in 41 WTO member nations that have joined the GPA.

The European Commission has announced that on July 12, 2010, Canada adopted an amendment to its postal law which clarifies that Canada Post does not have a monopoly with regard to letters intended for delivery to an addressee outside of Canada (so-called outbound international mail) but that this market is fully open to competition. The EC states this ends a long standing key market access barrier and closes a lengthy period of legal action by Canada Post.

The U.S. China Business Council reports that China has submitted a revised bid to join the World Trade Organization's Government Procurement Agreement, noting that the offer is better, but much work remains.

In the August 5, 2010 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:

Xinhuanet.com reports on August 3, 2010, that China has scrapped tariffs and value-added taxes on core equipment, components, and raw materials imported and used in civilian high-tech projects since July 15, according to a circular of the Ministry of Finance and other departments.The move seeks to encourage research and development in the nation' s major strategic products, core technologies and major projects, said the circular.The projects that have been exempted from taxation include core electronics, high-end universal chips, basic software, integrated circuit-manufacturing equipment, new generation wireless mobile communication networks, and new drugs for prevention and treatment of some infectious diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis.

In the August 4, 2010 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:

On August 3, 2010, the Canada Border Services Agency revised its schedule concerning the antidumping re-investigation of certain carbon steel pipe nipples and adaptor fittings, in nominal diameters up to and including 6 inches and the metric equivalents, originating in or exported from China. The re-investigation will now be concluded on September 10, 2010. File #: 4258-119. Case #: AD/1291.