More progress has been made on China’s agricultural commitments under the U.S.-China phase one trade deal, including an agreement relating to poultry exports and an updated list of U.S. facilities eligible to export beef and grain to China, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said March 24. The progress shows China is “moving in the right direction” to fulfill its purchase agreements, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement. USTR Robert Lighthizer released an update on Chinese agricultural commitments earlier this year (see 2002250055).

Companies will likely be faced with a reshuffled supply chain after the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic subsides, placing greater importance on maintaining sound trade compliance programs even as business uncertainty increases, said Kerry Contini, an export control and sanctions lawyer with Baker McKenzie. As supply chain actors struggle to stay in business and as new parties enter and leave the supply chain, companies may face a host of new suppliers or customers, Contini said, a transition that will likely affect global industries on a large scale.

The American Association of Exporters and Importers is asking the Trump administration to help importers and exporters deal with the impact of COVID-19 response measures, whether that impact is a cash crunch, the effects of telework or business decisions made in response to delays in shipments from China. The group is asking the administration to extend the time to respond to regulatory notices that are paper based, including entry filings deadlines, because telecommuting makes it more difficult to manage the paper flow. It is also asking CBP to extend the protest period for customs duties and decisions.

Boomerang Carnets hired Andrew Shiles, previously senior director of North America Trade Compliance at CEVA Logistics, as chief operating officer, Boomerang said in a news release.

The Israel Ports Company completed its pilot program that allows digital transfers of bills of lading through blockchain technology, according to a March 12 news release. The process allowed greater “distribution of information” among supply chain actors, “greatly limiting the possibility of the information being penetrated and changed,” the IPC said. Electronic bills of lading will “constitute a significant step up in advanced technology” in Israel’s ports and allow for “more rapid release of cargo” while “saving time and the cost of using courier companies,” the IPC said.

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade updated its import controls guidance March 23, according to a notice. The update removed six tariff codes and added 12 others relating to imports of aluminum extrusions from China, the notice said.

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade updated its guidance for U.K. businesses trading internationally, according to a March 21 notice. The guidance includes updated information after an announcement from Rishi Sunak, the country’s treasury chancellor, detailing the country’s support package for businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic, including relaxed measures for value-added taxes. All VAT bills through the end of June will be deferred until the end of the tax year, the guidance said.

Shanghai introduced time-limit standards for port services, detailing how long trucks, ships and other cargo may remain at port, according to a March 23 Hong Kong Trade Development Council report. Shanghai is requiring at least 90% of trucks to complete the delivery or pick-up of containers within one hour, the report said, and certain vessels, depending on their capacity, must “complete their operations” within 12 hours, 24 hours or 36 hours of berthing at the port. Shanghai also announced measures that shippers can take before arriving at the port, to speed up the process, including online appointments for picking up cargo and inspection appointments. China has reportedly increased scrutiny of incoming cargo vessels as it tries to control the coronavirus outbreak, leading to unloading delays and backlogs of hundreds of thousands of containers (see 2003190041).

China’s General Administration of Customs released a list of measures for increasing restrictions and streamlining port procedures during the coronavirus disease COVID-19 outbreak, including increased “interception and crackdown” on “unqualified anti-epidemic materials,” according to an unofficial translation of a March 19 notice. China said it has destroyed or returned more than 300,000 imports of “unqualified” protective equipment and stressed that the country needs to import “immunized materials” for domestic production of the equipment. As part of the measures, China is establishing “green channels” for agricultural products and other food imports at “key ports,” 24-hour advance clearance for certain imports and priority inspections. The measures will “simplify customs clearance procedures and reduce customs clearance costs throughout the process,” China said, which includes payment deferrals for certain taxes and reduced late payment fees for money owed to China’s GAC. China previously announced reduced penalties for delayed import declarations and other measures to ease customs procedures (see 2003120019 and 2002250031).

China’s commerce ministry recently announced plans to simplify outbound direct investment filings through a paperless procedure that will “reduce the burdens” on investors, according to a March 23 Hong Kong Trade Development Council report. Companies no longer have to submit paper documents when seeking approval for outbound investments and will instead be able to upload the documents as PDF files to the ministry, the report said. As China seeks to streamline outbound investment, the U.S. has increased restrictions on screening procedures for foreign direct investment as it tries to keep China from acquiring sensitive U.S. technology (see 2002260042).