The World Customs Organization's "supreme decision-making body" recently adopted the 2022 version of the Harmonized System, the WCO said in a June 29 news release. During the June 27-29 meetings, the WCO Council discussed the changes to the HS, including "new headings or defining Notes for new or major technologies (3D printers, smartphones, drones and novel tobacco products), electronic waste (e-waste), various gases with high global warming potential, rapid diagnostic kits for Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, new fentanyl opioid derivatives, cultural articles, edible oils produced by microbes, edible insect products and minimally processed quinoa," it said.

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

The Canada Border Services Agency signed Mutual Recognition Agreements with the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department and with the New Zealand Customs Service, the CBSA said in a June 29 news release. The MRAs allow for participant countries to consider Trusted Trader programs administered by other countries as part of customs processing. "Each MRA signifies that the CBSA’s Partners in Protection program members will be recognized by, and receive trade facilitation benefits from, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department’s Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme and the New Zealand Customs Service’s Secure Exports Scheme (SES) program, respectively," the CBSA said. "The CBSA will reciprocate by providing similar benefits to members of Hong Kong’s AEO programme and New Zealand’s SES program." The countries signed the MRAs while at a World Customs Organization Council session in Brussels, Belgium, the agency said.

China recently adopted new requirements on importation of medicines that will take effect at the beginning of 2020, according to an alert from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Key changes include the removal of some restrictions on ports that may be used to import medicinal materials. China will also allow importation of medicines that comply with standards set by its provinces and autonomous regions if no national standards apply, HKTDC said. China is also simplifying clearance procedures for medicinal materials that are not being imported for the first time, according to an unofficial translation of a press release from the Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is implementing more restrictions surrounding licensing policies and procedures for exports of certain “controlled items” and technologies to South Korea, the ministry said in a July 1 press release. Japan said its relationship of trust with South Korea “in the field of export control and regulation” has been “significantly undermined.” Japan said it will “apply more stringent procedures over certain controlled items and their relevant technologies” to “ensure appropriate implementation of Japan’s own export control and regulation.” Some “sensitive items” have been exported to South Korea “with inadequate management by companies,” the press release said. The changes will take effect July 4, Japan said.

John Peterson and Brunella Zuppone were arrested June 26 and charged with "conspiracy to violate and attempted violations of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida said in a June 28 news release. The pair are alleged to have tried to "illegally export to Argentina defense articles, specifically, parts and components for AR-15 assault rifles, which were smuggled across international borders by a transnational weapons trafficking group in Argentina," the Justice Department said. Neither had required licenses from the State Department for exporting such goods, it said.

Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security banned export privileges for a man who was convicted of illegally exporting gas turbine parts in 2018, Commerce said in a June 28 order. Commerce said the man, Olaf Tepper, violated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act after he exported parts to Germany that were intended for an end-user in Iran. Tepper did not have the proper export license from the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Tepper was sentenced to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine in addition to the export ban, which included revoking all of Tepper’s BIS-related licenses. The ban will last 10 years after his conviction date of Aug. 3, 2018, Commerce said.

The State Department is maintaining a foreign terrorist organization designation on Jundallah, an Iran-based militant organization, according to a notice scheduled to be published July 2 in the Federal Register. The State Department said the circumstances that warranted Jundallah’s original sanctions “have not changed in such a manner as to warrant revocation of the designation.” The State Department is scheduled to publish another notice that lists several new aliases for Jundallah, also known as People’s Resistance Movement of Iran (PMRI), including the Army of God and the Baloch Peoples Resistance Movement.

the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a reminder for all “holders of blocked property” to submit their Annual Report of Blocked Property by Sept. 30, OFAC said in a July 2 notice. The list should contain all blocked property held as of June 30, 2019, the notice said. Blocked property is that which is blocked "pursuant to OFAC regulations." The reports must be filed using OFAC’s new form TD-F 90-22.50, which is available for download in the notice. Those who do not submit required forms are subject to violations in OFAC's Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations.

Instex, the European payment system designed to allow countries to trade with Iran despite U.S. sanctions, is now “operational and available” to all European Union member countries and is processing its “first transactions,” according to a United Kingdom press release. The announcement was made by the U.K., France and Germany at a June 28 joint commission meeting on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran.