Iran surpassed the enriched uranium limit that was agreed to as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the country announced July 7, sparking concern from the European Union and threats of additional sanctions by the U.S.

The World Customs Organization issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:​​

The West African country of Gambia "deposited its instrument of accession" to the International Convention on the Harmonized System on June 29, the World Customs Organization said in a July 4 news release. The HS Convention will enter force in Gambia on Jan. 1, 2021, the WCO said.

In the July 5 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

Norway’s Ministry of Finance proposed the elimination of value-added tax exemptions on imports of “low value goods,” Norway said in a notice. Among several changes, the ministry plans to impose a 25 percent VAT on foreign sellers and “online marketplaces” for all goods, except food, valued under about $350, KPMG said in a July 3 report. The proposal would also create a “simplified system” for foreign sellers to register, declare and pay VATs on their exports to Norway, the ministry said. If implemented, the changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2020.

The Department of Finance Canada recently updated its list of goods covered in the U.S. Surtax Remission Order. "The latest changes to the Remission Order were made pursuant to the Order Amending the United States Surtax Remission Order, No. 2019-2 and entered into force on June 25, 2019," it said. The changes consist of:

Canadian trade officials are exploring ways to gain more foreign market access for their pork and beef exporters, specifically in China, according to a July 3 press release. Canada said it is working “to restore full market access for Canadian products to China” while also pursuing its trade diversification strategy. Canadian agriculture and trade officials met with representatives from the country’s pork and beef industry “to ensure that they will be able to sell their high quality products in as many global markets as possible,” the press release said. In a statement, Minister of International Trade Diversification Jim Carr said “re-opening market access” for Canadian meat exports to China “is a top priority.” The meeting came about a week after Canada announced it was injecting an additional $100 million into its “CanExport program,” which helps small and medium-sized businesses “access new export opportunities by diversifying into new markets,” according to a June 27 press release.

Global Affairs Canada publicly released the initial environmental assessment of the Canada-Pacific Alliance Free Trade Agreement negotiations, it said in a notice in the Canada Gazette, Part I. Negotiations for the FTA with the Pacific Alliance, which includes Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, began in 2017, GAC said. While Canada already has trade deals with those countries, a Canada-PA FTA would help modernize those agreements and add some market access improvements, it said. "Given the high quality of existing FTAs between Canada and all of the PA countries, the economic impact expected from the negotiation of an FTA with the PA is modest," GAC said. "Therefore, the environmental impact is expected to be very limited." Comments on the assessment are due by Aug. 5. "Once negotiations conclude, and prior to ratification of the agreement, a final environmental assessment will be undertaken to assess the potential impacts of the negotiated outcome on the environment," GAC said.

South Korea criticized Japan’s recent decision to increase restrictions on certain technology exports to South Korea, calling the move “a form of political retaliation” and threatening retaliatory action, according to a July 5 report from The Korea Herald posted on the Asia News Network website. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced plans to increase export restrictions on high-tech items used for smartphones and chips, effective July 4. The move will impact large South Korean technology companies such as Samsung and LG Display (see 1907010020). South Korea’s National Security Council called the move a violation of international law and “vowed active diplomatic countermeasures” against Japan, the news report said. South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki also said the country plans to take “corresponding measures,” including filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization, according to the report.

The Census Bureau posted the July issue of TradeSource, the agency's trade-focused newsletter. Among topics in this issue is a comparison of AESDirect Shipment Manager and ACE Export Reports. "Both tools were designed to assist exporters and agents in managing their export transactions, but each has its own purpose," said Maritza Torres and Mayumi Brewster of the Governments and Trade Management Division. ACE Export Reports "includes all shipment data that is found in the Automated Export System (AES)," while the Shipment Manger "is limited to shipments filed only in AESDirect." Another item in this issue examines the benefits of foreign-trade zones.