China confirmed it will waive some import tariffs on U.S. soybeans and pork after receiving applications from Chinese companies, according to a Dec. 6 report from Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency. China's Customs Tariff Commission will “dedicate a range of goods” to benefit from tariff exemptions, adding that companies will buy the products through “independent negotiation.” Chinese companies can import U.S. soybeans and pork “as they see fit” and “bear the related profits or losses,” Xinhua said. China released its first batch of tariff exemptions on U.S. goods in September, exempting 16 items (see 1909110051). Soon after, China added certain agricultural products, including pork and soybeans, to the list of exempted goods (see 1909130013).
Scott Glabe is now the Department of Homeland Security's assistant secretary, Border, Immigration, and Trade Policy, according to the DHS leadership page. The new assistant secretary was also introduced during the Dec. 4 Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee meeting. Michael Dougherty, who previously held that role at DHS, is now the Citizenship and Immigration Services ombudsman.
Senegal customs authorities at the Port of Dakar are imposing “severe and unpredictable” fines on cargo shortfalls for bagged and bulk shipments, according to a Dec. 5 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Port authorities are disproportionately sanctioning “substantial shortage or excess of cargo recorded by their own surveyor,” according to a letter sent to the Swedish Club -- a marine insurance company -- by TCI Africa, an independent consultant to the marine insurance sector. The fines have “significantly increased over the last few weeks,” the Oct. 30 letter said. In one instance, a company was fined about $336,000 for mistakes on its cargo manifest, the report said. Dakar customs declarations “should be prepared carefully prior to berthing,” the report said.
The United Kingdom's Department for International Trade updated the holiday hours for its imports and exports helpline, the agency said in a Dec. 5 notice. The helpline will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, and closed Dec. 25, Dec. 26 and Jan. 1. The helpline provides information about customs declarations and procedures, tariffs, importing and exporting goods, transporting goods to and from the European Union, and product safety regulations.
The United Kingdom's Department for International Trade issued new and amended open general export licenses and open general trade control licenses to stop new registrations for certain licenses to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates, according to a Dec. 5 notice. The DIT is also no longer approving export licenses to Turkey for goods that may have military uses in Syria, the notice said. The changes are in effect “until further notice.”
Argentina revoked its “non-preferential origin documentary requirements” for goods whose origin needs to be determined for statistical reasons, according to a Dec. 5 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. This includes certificates of origin requirements for certain textiles, apparel and footwear, the report said. Goods subject to antidumping, countervailing or safeguard measures and goods imported from countries that do not benefit from Most Favored Nation status remain subject to the non-preferential origin documentary requirements, HKTDC said. Argentina is rescinding the requirements “in light of the substantial advances made in the international trade arena in recent years,” the report said, which have caused the requirements to lead to “unnecessary delays and higher costs.”
Japan and South Korea agreed to hold an export control policy dialogue Dec. 16, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Dec. 5. The two countries will discuss “circumstances and challenges” of “critical technology control,” the implementation of both countries' export control system and other topics yet to be announced. The meeting will feature the director general of Japan’s Trade Control Department and the director general of South Korea’s International Trade Policy. The consensus on a meeting date was the result of a “preparatory” meeting held by the two sides Dec. 4 (see 1912040012). The two countries have been locked in a trade dispute (see 1908120036) since July.
China stood by its position that tariffs must be reduced if it reaches a phase one trade deal with the U.S., despite recent comments from President Donald Trump (see 1911080042) that the U.S. has not agreed to lift any tariffs. “China believes that if the two parties reach a first-phase agreement, tariffs should be reduced accordingly,” a China Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said Dec. 5, according to an unofficial translation. The spokesperson said the two sides “have been maintaining close communication.”
Texas voters send 36 members to the House of Representatives, and 18 attended a press conference Dec. 5 to say they want a U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement vote as soon as possible. But only one of the 13 Democrats in the Texas delegation attended -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, who represents Laredo and McAllen. Cuellar, the biggest booster of the new NAFTA in the Democratic caucus, said he'd been updated about the state of play between Mexicans and the U.S. trade representative at 9:30 a.m. that day, and “we're very, very, very close,” he said, but he said Mexicans tire of what they feel is a “one-more-thing”-style of negotiating from the Americans.
The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for 19 chemicals under significant new use rules. The proposed SNURs would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of a new use by importers, manufacturers or processors. Importers of chemicals subject to these proposed SNURs would need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements should these proposed rules be finalized, EPA said. Exporters of these chemicals would become subject to export notification requirements. Comments on the proposed SNURs are due Jan. 6.