The World Customs Organization issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
Argentina launched an antidumping duty investigation on Chinese knitted gloves made of 100 percent “textile materials, coated or covered (including partially) with latex or nitrile,” the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said in an Aug. 7 report. HKTDC said the investigation could lead to AD duties for a five-year period.
Vietnam Customs recently issued guidance to its provincial departments on validation of certificates of origin under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), according to an Aug. 8 report in CustomsNews mouthpiece. The guidance includes some additional criteria for each of the nine minimum data elements required for CPTPP certificates of origin under Annex 3-B of the agreement.
Pakistan will suspend bilateral trade with India, the country’s Press Information Department said in an Aug. 7 press release. The move follows India’s decision to end Jammu and Kashmir’s special autonomous status under the Indian constitution.
The Association of China Rare Earth Industry said it supports Chinese retaliatory measures against the U.S. and accused the U.S. of “trade bullying behavior,” according to an unofficial translation of the association’s Aug. 7 press release. The association said the U.S.’s threat of increased tariffs were “for the purpose of curbing and suppressing China’s emerging developing power.” China suspended purchases of U.S. agricultural goods in retaliation (see 1908050005). The association said it must use China’s advantages in rare earth resources and “resolutely support the country's positive response and countermeasures” against the U.S. “The practice of increasing tariffs and upgrading trade frictions in the United States not only harms China’s interests, but also seriously damages the interests of US businesses and consumers,” the association said. “We express our firm opposition.”
The State Department approved a potential sale to South Korea of about $800 million worth of defense-related goods, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in an Aug. 7 press release. The sale includes MH-60R helicopters equipped with radars, sonar systems, targeting systems, GPS navigation systems, guns and more, the press release said. The sale also includes radios, transponders, personnel training and U.S. support services.
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls changed identifying information for Hitachi Kokusai Yagi Solutions Inc. and Sogeti España, S.L.U. and is waiving the requirement for amendments to change approved license authorizations because of the “volume of authorizations requiring amendments to reflect this change,” in each instance, the DDTC said. Hitachi Kokusai Yagi Solutions Inc. is being changed to HYS Engineering Service Inc. with a new address of 32, Miyuki-cho, Kadaira-shi, Tokyo, 187-8511, Japan, the DDTC said. Sogeti España, S.L.U. is being changed to CapGemini España, S.L. The DDTC said the amendment waiver does not apply to approved or pending agreements. The DDTC will not accept license applications with the old name Hitachi Kokusai Yagi Solutions after Sep. 6 and will not accept applications with the old name Sogeti España after Aug. 19, the agency said.
The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control found a U.S. company in violation of OFAC’s Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations for failing to provide information about a sale to Iran after being subpoenaed, OFAC said in an Aug. 8 enforcement notice. The violations stem from Southern Cross Aviation’s sale of helicopters to an Iranian businessman in Ecuador, OFAC said.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said a Virginia-based company violated OFAC’s Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations after providing the agency false or misleading statements during an OFAC investigation, according to an Aug. 8 enforcement notice. The violation stems from DNI Express Shipping Company’s sale of farm equipment to Sudan, which OFAC said violated the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations.
The U.S., China and 44 countries signed the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, a “cross-border enforcement mechanism” for settlement agreements on trade disputes that arise from a mediation process, the U.N. Information Service said in an Aug. 7 press release. The UNIS said the agreement promotes “sustainable” international trade relationships and will foster the use of mediation.