The European Union is beginning an antidumping duty investigation on aluminum extrusions from China, the European Commission said in a Feb. 14 notice in the EU Official Journal. Preliminary duties on Chinese aluminum extrusions imposed in connection with this investigation could come in seven to eight months, the notice said.
Singapore Customs’ TradeNet will undergo system maintenance from 4 a.m. to 12 p.m. local time on March 8, Singapore said in a Feb. 17 notice. The agency is advising users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to usual maintenance on Sundays from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said he doesn't think the Trump administration will ever levy an additional 25% tax on imported autos, even as President Donald Trump continues to mention that threat in an effort to get European negotiators to open up to American agriculture exports. Grassley, who was responding to a reporter's question on how to get the European Union to bend during a conference call Feb. 18, said he doesn't think the EU will negotiate much on ag.
China will accept exemption applications for retaliatory tariffs on nearly 700 U.S. products -- including a range of agricultural goods, metals and oils -- beginning March 2, China’s Finance Ministry said in a Feb. 17 notice, according to an unofficial translation. The 696 exempted items include beef, pork, seafood, soybeans, crude oil, certain types of alcohol and more. In their applications, Chinese importers can apply for exemptions for additional goods that are not included on the exempted list, the notice said. China said it will respond to applicants in a “timely manner.”
Venezuela asked the International Criminal Court to investigate the U.S. for “crimes against humanity” due to sanctions against Venezuela, the ICC said in a Feb. 17 statement. The request was received by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, who said the ICC will determine if the “situation referred warrants an investigation.” The U.S. is not a member of the ICC, so it is unclear if the ICC will begin an investigation because the court does not usually rule on inter-state disputes, according to a Feb. 17 report from Venezuelanalysis.com.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned a subsidiary of Rosneft Oil Company and designated its president for supporting the Nicolas Maduro-led regime in Venezuela, Treasury said Feb. 18. OFAC also issued a new general license and two new frequently asked questions that address the “significance” of the designations and clarifies the wind-down period.
The European Union renewed its arms embargo and asset freezes agent Zimbabwe Defence Industries, the European Council said in a Feb. 17 press release. The EU renewed the embargo and the asset freeze until Feb. 20, 2021.
The European Union renewed sanctions against Belarus for one year until Feb. 28, 2021, the European Council said in a Feb. 17 press release. The sanctions include an embargo on arms and goods that could be used for “internal repression” and an asset freeze against four people. The council also extended an exemption to allow exports of “biathlon equipment” and certain sporting rifles and pistols to Belarus, the council said. Those exports remain subject to a case-by-case review.
The European Council added eight people and two entities to the European Union's Syrian sanctions list, according to a Feb. 17 notice. The sanctions target eight businessmen and two companies that contribute to Syria’s Assad regime, the council said.
Australia’s parliament recently published the submissions it has received from its inquiry into the use of a sanctions regime to target human rights abuses. Australia announced the inquiry Dec. 4 (see 1912050026). The country extended its submission deadlines and is now accepting submissions from Australia until March 2 and international submissions until March 23.