The European Commission on Nov. 12 sent its preliminary findings to Cambodia in an investigation on whether the country should keep its “Everything But Arms” trade preferences that was triggered by human rights concerns, the European Commission said in press release. Cambodia now has one month to react to the report, after which the EU will make a final decision in February 2020 on whether to temporarily end Cambodia’s tariff preferences.
India will import 100,000 tons of onions in an effort to curb rising domestic onion prices, India’s Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said in a Nov. 9 statement on Twitter. The onions will be imported for distribution from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, according to an unofficial translation of the statement. The move was directly caused by the spike in onion prices, which “have been rising for weeks,” the India Tribune said in a Nov. 7 report. To increase imports, India will relax several measures, including a condition for fumigation and endorsement of the products’ phytosanitary certificate, the report said. The onions will be fumigated in India by the importer “through an accredited treatment provider.”
China and Greece will improve ties in an agreement that includes provisions on increased trade and customs facilitation, China’s State Council said Nov. 12. The statement calls for improved “customs trade security and facilitation cooperation,” according to an unofficial translation, and encourages “air transport companies to open more flights between China and Greece.” The two sides will also coordinate on “agricultural policy,” China said, including increased Chinese imports of agricultural goods.
The Census Bureau removed a port of export code from the Automated Export System, the agency said in a Nov. 12 email. The deleted code is 2711 for El Segundo, California.
The Council of the European Union extended sanctions against Venezuela until Nov. 14, 2020, citing ongoing human rights violations and actions aimed at undermining democracy, according to a Nov. 11 press release. The sanctions include an arms embargo and ban on trade of equipment “for internal repression.” The measures also include asset freezes on 25 Venezuelan officials.
The Council of the European Union adopted a framework for sanctions against Turkey for its illegal drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean, the council said in a Nov. 11 press release. The sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes for people and entities responsible for the drilling in the territorial sea near Cyprus or who provide “technical or material” support for the drilling activities. The sanctions may also apply to “persons or entities associated” with the sanctioned people or entities. The EU Council recommended sanctions against Turkey in October after Cyprus released a statement condemning Turkey’s drilling (see 1910150024).
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with some of the top stories for Nov. 4-8 in case they were missed.
The Bureau of Industry and Security updated its Entity List by adding 22 entities, updating one entry and removing three entries, BIS said. The added entities include freight forwarding and logistics companies and a medical instrument supplier.
In the Nov. 7-8 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:
A free trade agreement between the European Union and Singapore will enter into effect on Nov. 21, the EU Council said in a press release. On that date, all of Singapore’s tariffs on EU goods will be eliminated. The EU will open its market to over 80% of all imports from Singapore duty-free and remove all other tariffs within a few years, the release said. Technical and non-tariff barriers to trade in goods will be removed in sectors including electronics, motor vehicles and vehicle parts, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, renewable energy, and raw and processed products of animal and plant origin, it said. That includes Singapore’s recognition of the EU's safety tests for cars and many electronic appliances, and acceptance of labels that EU companies use for textiles, according to another release from the European Commission.