The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company declined to say whether it has stopped processing new orders for Huawei and said it is still reviewing new U.S. export restrictions issued last week (see 2005150058). In a statement, a TSMC spokesperson said the company does not comment on details relating to customer orders but said it has “always complied with the law. The company said it has hired outside counsel to “conduct legal analysis and ensure a comprehensive examination and interpretation” of the new restrictions. “The semiconductor industry supply chain is extremely complex,” the spokesperson said. “TSMC is following the U.S. export rule change closely.”

Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with some of the top stories for May 11-15 in case you missed them.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security is preparing to issue several additional export controls over emerging technologies and is finalizing a long-awaited advance notice of proposed rulemaking for foundational technologies, BIS officials said. The emerging technology controls will be released “within the next few weeks,” an official said, while the foundational technology ANPRM will soon be sent for interagency review and for feedback by technical advisory committee members before being publicly released.

The struggle the U.S. is having to manage the COVID-19 pandemic is a higher priority than what's happening at the World Trade Organization, said Dennis Shea, U.S. ambassador to the WTO. He noted that the U.S. has a third of the world's reported cases of the disease, and that more Americans have died from COVID-19 than citizens in any other country.

Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda announced increased restrictions on cargo movement due to a rise in coronavirus cases attributed to truck drivers, according to a May 18 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Truck drivers in Kenya must now undergo virus screening at border points and “fumigate” their trucks at international borders, the report said. Kenya is also “strongly” urging traders to conduct all customs-related actions online. Rwanda announced a “driver relay” system in which cargo transportation companies must employ two drivers per truck: one who will drive the truck from the departure point to the border and another who will drive to the final destination after undergoing health checks. Uganda introduced a similar relay system and is also prohibiting truck drivers from “stopping at any point of their journey in order to reduce their interaction with the public,” except for three designated stops per route.

India announced restrictions on exports of certain masks, according to a May 16 notice from the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade. The restrictions apply to “all masks except non-surgical/non-medical masks of all types (cotton, silk, wool, knitted).” The notice provides Harmonized System codes for the affected products.

China will allow imports of fresh citrus products from Chile, China said in a May 14 notice, according to an unofficial translation. The notice provides quarantine requirements for importing “Chilean fresh citrus plants,” including grapefruit, orange and lemon.

China said it respects World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevedo’s decision to resign (see 2005140053) and urged members to keep their markets open and “oppose unilateralism” as the body searches for a new leader. China promised to work with other members to ensure the WTO continues operating after Azevedo’s departure in August, a Commerce Ministry official said during a May 18 press conference, adding that members should “enhance coordination in economic and trade policies to unblock international transport and logistics.” China also said members should focus more on increasing trade of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.

China recently cleared more destinations for self-service printing of certificates of origin, according to a May 18 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The changes add self-service printing certificates for exports to Indonesia, Singapore and India under certain trade agreements. The changes took effect May 11.

China will impose a 6.9% duty on imports of Australian barley after finalizing an antidumping and countervailing duty investigation, China said in a May 18 notice, according to an unofficial translation. China said its domestic industry “suffered substantial damage” due to dumping of imported barley originating in Australia. The move was expected by Australian grain groups (see 2005110010).