Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that beginning May 2, those who had property seized by the Cuban government after the Communist revolution can sue foreign companies "trafficking in property that was confiscated by the Cuban regime. Any person or company doing business in Cuba should heed this announcement," he said April 17. The right to sue foreign companies had been suspended for more than 20 years, and European diplomats warned Pompeo ahead of the announcement "the extraterritorial application of unilateral restrictive measures, such as the LIBERTAD Act, is contrary to international law." Trade Minister Cecilia Malmstrom said that if he went through with the plan to allow these lawsuits, the EU may launch a World Trade Organization case, and would allow EU companies to file counterclaims in EU courts against Americans bringing suit.

The executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-UK Business Council, said that even a customs union would be more complicated for U.S. exporters than the status quo. Marjorie Chorlins was speaking with reporters on a conference call April 17. "The amendment proposing a customs union came very close to passing," she said, in response to a question from Export Compliance Daily. But exactly what would be included in the customs union could vary -- it does in Norway and Turkey, she said.

The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notices as of April 17 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):

The Canadian government should increase its role in getting China to resume imports of canola, the Canola Council of Canada said in an April 17 news release. "As days have turned into weeks and a Canadian delegation has not yet been accepted by China, the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) is calling on the Government of Canada to consider all available options to resume seed trade," the group said. "While technical discussions are still required, continued delay shows that more options need to be considered."

Leaders from South Korea and Saudi Arabia discussed “economic cooperation” and signed an agreement that will increase exports of “testing materials,” according to a press release from South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on “technical cooperation in the field of energy efficiency,” which will lead to “exporting testing materials and consulting on energy efficiency,” the release said. The countries also agreed to “strengthen support in automobiles … [information and communications technology (ICT)], smart city, and airport construction,” and supported the possibility of more agreements in the future. The meeting was the second in a series for the Korea-Saudi Vision 2030 Committee, an effort by the two countries to strengthen bilateral ties.

The Philippines recently lifted certain restrictions on rice imports and replaced them with tariffs, revoking specific requirements that forced traders to apply for licenses from the National Food Authority (NFA) and allowing the country’s president to change duty rates, according to an April 11 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Indonesia revoked a regulation that would have imposed value-added taxes on luxury goods bought and sold through e-commerce, according to an April 15 notice from KPMG. The regulation was initially scheduled to take effect April 1, but Indonesia reversed the change in late March, KPMG said. Because the VAT change was withdrawn, KPMG said, the “existing income tax regulations” will continue to apply for all e-commerce transactions.

The Agricultural Marketing Service is amending it regulations on grade and size requirements for oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos grown in Florida. The final rule removes grade and size requirements for Ambersweet and Temple oranges, and simplifies tables in the regulations outlining grade and size requirements for interstate and export shipments. It does not make any substantial changes to related provisions for imported grapefruits, AMS said. The final rule takes effect May 18.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the Central Bank of Venezuela and its director, Iliana Josefa Ruzza Teran, for operating in the country’s financial sector and being used as a “tool of the illegitimate [Nicolas] Maduro regime,” OFAC said in a April 17 press release. Along with the sanctions, OFAC amended five Venezuela-related general licenses and issued two new general licenses that authorize certain dealings, bonds and transactions with Venezuela and several Venezuelan banks, including the Central Bank of Venezuela, according to an enforcement notice.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned a Nicaraguan bank and the son of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, OFAC said in an April 17 press release. Banco Corporativo SA (BanCorp) and Laureano Ortega Murillo are being sanctioned for working to support corruption within the Nicaraguan government, OFAC said.