Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has posted the 2010 Tariff Preference Level Holders List for Exports to the United States for:
In the July 17, 2010 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:
The Canada Border Services Agency has concluded, effective July 16, 2010, a re-investigation to adjust the antidumping normal values for certain hot-rolled carbon steel plate, carbon steel plate, and high-strength low-alloy plate, variously, originating in or exported from China, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania and Ukraine. A complete response was only submitted by Azovstal and the Metinvest Group of Companies (Azovstal) from Ukraine. As a result, Azovstal has been provided with updated normal values. Normal values for all other exporters will be based on the export price of the goods advanced by 80.2% (China), 74.6% (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, and Romania), and 21.3% Ukraine.
The United Nations Codex Alimentarius Commission has set new limits for the amount of melamine allowed in baby formula, other foods, and animal feed without causing health problems.
GOV.cn reports that the People's Bank of China , or the central bank, and Hong Kong's renminbi clearing bank, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, on July 19, 2010 signed a revised Settlement Agreement on the Clearing of Renminbi Businesses in Hong Kong. As a result of the agreement, "there will no longer be restrictions on banks in Hong Kong in establishing renminbi accounts for and providing related services to financial institutions; and individuals and corporations will be able to conduct renminbi payments and transfers through the banks."
China's Ministry of Commerce reports that benefiting from the full completion of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA), bilateral trade between China and ASEAN in the first half of this year grew 54.7% while the average growth of Chinese foreign trade in the same period was 43.1%.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada is advising exporters that, effective July 13, 2010, Canada has added the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) to the Area Control List (ACL), the list of countries to which the exportation of all goods and technology must be authorized by an export permit. All applications for permits to export items to North Korea will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applications to export goods or technology that do not fall into one of the described categories will generally be denied.
The World Customs Organization reports that government, business and civil society representatives gathered in Lausanne, Switzerland at the IMD Business School campus on July 7 and 9, 2010 to discuss ways in which to foster an equitable trade system, sustainable development and healthy global governance. The panel composed of trade experts agreed that as each region has its specific dynamics, the highly institutionalized European model is not necessarily applicable to other regions. In practice, what is happening is often a series of bilateral agreements or loose regional arrangements rather than EU-type regional integration.
The European Chemicals Agency is seeking comments by August 22, 2010 on the harmonized classification and labeling of 4-tert-Butylbenzoic acid and by August 5, 2010 for Leucomalachite Green. The comment request is part of the EU Regulation on Classification, Labeling and Packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP Regulation), which allows individual EU Member States and industry to propose harmonized classification and labeling of substances (e.g. as mutagenic, carcinogenic, etc.).
The World Customs Organization is organizing the Second Technology and Innovations Forum in Cairo, Egypt. In addition to demonstrating a wide range of new and emerging technologies, this year’s Forum focuses on engaging all relevant stakeholders in the discussion on the efficient use of technology at the border. The forum will be held on November 2-4, 2010 in Cairo.