The Federal Maritime Commission will seek comments on a proposal to "prevent ocean carriers and marine terminals from imposing free-time (detention, demurrage, per diem) charges when the container cannot be picked up from, or returned to, the terminal through no fault of the shipper/trucker," the Agriculture Transportation Coalition said in a Sept. 6 email. The FMC didn't comment. The trade group said carriers have made such penalties "a major cost for importers and exporters and their truckers, often threatening to lock out truckers who don't immediately pay, and making shippers' protest/challenges extremely difficult."

Canada's minister of international trade diversification said that Canada will ask for consultations at the World Trade Organization over discrimination against Canadian canola oil imports in China. Minister Jim Carr made the statement Sept. 6, saying Canada has a "robust food inspection system."

The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Sept. 6 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):

Vietnam continues efforts to crack down on the country of origin fraud and transshipment schemes that have become especially more frequent since the ramping up of U.S.-China trade tensions, according to reports in CustomsNews, the self-described “mouthpiece” of Vietnam Customs.

China, as a result of a Sept. 3 final ruling in its antidumping investigation, imposed duties on imports of phenol from the U.S., the European Union, North Korea, Japan and Thailand, China’s Ministry of Commerce said Sept. 4. China ruled that the dumping has “substantially damaged” its domestic industry. The duty rates range from 10.6% to 287.2%, and took effect Sept. 6 for a five-year period, China said.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States is seeking comments on “guidelines for determining Additionality on requests the Bank receives to support export transactions with repayment amortizing over the medium or long term,” according to a notice. Comments are due Oct. 9.

A U.S. man was sentenced to three years in prison on charges that included conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act, the Justice Department said in a Sept. 5 press release. In 2005 and again in 2010, Roger Sobrado submitted a “fraudulent application” to the Department of Defense “for access to export controlled drawings and technical data on behalf of a family member’s company,” the press release said. Sobrado said the drawings and data would only be accessed by U.S. citizens, but Sobrado allowed a family member, who was “illegally in the United States,” to download “hundreds of drawings that were sensitive in nature and that require special access.” The sentence also reflects charges of conspiracy to commit tax evasion and wire fraud.

A free trade agreement between the U.S. and the United Kingdom will increase trade between the two countries by “three or four times,” Vice President Mike Pence said, adding that the U.S. is ready to work on a deal as soon as the U.K. leaves the European Union.

The Census Bureau issued a guidance on Sept. 6 on exporting goods for humanitarian relief to areas affected by hurricanes. Shipments worth less than $2,500 are exempt from filing requirements and can use the “low value exception,” the guidance said. Certain Schedule B shipments intended for relief that are valued at more than $2,500 or shipments that require a license must be filed in the Automated Export System, the guidance said. The Schedule B shipments include “commingled food products,” “medicinal and pharmaceutical products,” “wearing apparel,” and other “articles donated for relief or charities.” Shipments of “food, medicine and clothing” do not require a license, the guidance said.

The State Department sanctioned Liviu Nicolae Dragnea, the former speaker of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, for involvement in “significant corruption,” according to a Sept. 5 press release. The State Department is also sanctioning Dragnea’s two children: Valentin Stefan Dragnea and Maria Alexandra Dragnea.