The European Commission has decided to repeal its decision accepting an undertaking from China regarding imports of certain castings from China, as it has determined that China has breached the terms of the agreement. Accordingly, the AD duties imposed by Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1212/2005 on imports of the product concerned produced by the subject companies will apply effective July 15, 2010.

Xinhaunet. com reports that more postal parcels arriving in China from other countries will be subject to an import tax from Sept 1, according to the latest customs regulation. Previously, when the import tax on a parcel was calculated as lower than 500 yuan, it was made exempt from fees. That minimum threshold will be dropped to 50 yuan, as stated on the website of the General Administration of Customs.The new rule is expected to hit overseas purchasers the hardest, since they buy products on other people's behalf and earn commission from the deals.

On June 17, 2010, Health Canada has approved amendments to its regulations that permit ascorbyl palmitate and tocopherols as Class IV preservatives in (1) infant formula, at a maximum level of use of 0.001% as consumed and (2) in oils used in infant formula, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice.

The European Commission has issued a statement of extreme disappointment that the World Trade Organization panel examining the Boeing dispute (DS 353) is delaying its report. According to the EC, the time lag between this case, and the U.S. case against support to Airbus (DS 316) has constantly increased over the six years this dispute has been running, and the gap is now at nearly a year. It creates the wrong impression that Airbus has received some WTO incompatible support, whereas Boeing has not. Only when both panel reports have been issued will both sides have a more complete picture of the dispute.

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal will hold a public hearing on July 27, 2010 to consider A.M.A. Plastics Ltd. v. President of the Canada Border Services Agency, on whether blocks of rock wool, which are classified under tariff item No. 6806.10.90, are entitled to the benefit of tariff item No. 9903.00.00 as articles and materials which enter into the cost of manufacture or repair of, and are for use in agricultural or horticultural machines of heading No. 84.36.

On July 13, 2010, Gov.cn reported that the China National Textile and Apparel Council stated that half of China's textile firms may risk going bankrupt if the value of the Chinese currency yuan rises 5 percent against the U.S. dollar given the industry's thin profit margins. Profit margins for the country's textile companies stands at 3 to 5 percent, which has been squeezed by the the appreciation of the yuan, rising raw material and labor costs. The government conducted a yuan stress test in March, which showed profit margins of labor-intensive textile companies would drop by 1 percentage points if the yuan appreciates by 1 percent.

The World Trade Organization has posted a discussion forum and an article containing research and analysis regarding how the conservation of forestry is handled by WTO law, which states, among other things, that there needs to be a closer match between rules on natural resource conservation and the rules of international trade.

The Ministry for Economic Development of the Russian Federation has created a new website in English about Russian trade regulations, the customs union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, trade events. etc.

On June 30, 2010, the Canada Border Services Agency issued Memorandum D19-1-1 on Food, Plants, Animals and Related Products, which replaces Memorandum D19-1-1, Food, Agricultural Inputs and Agricultural Products, dated September 20, 2006. Both pertain to Canada's import requirements for food, plants, animals (FPA) and related products.

The Canada Border Services Agency has issued instructions for obtaining the remission of customs duties on certain renewable fuels imported between 2006 and 2009 as "ships stores" for use on-board qualifying conveyances. To be eligible the renewable fuel must have been exported either in the same condition in which it was imported or after being processed in Canada, for example mixed or blended with other fuels; have been placed on board a qualifying conveyance; etc.