Implementation of the Central American Single Declaration (DUCA) in several Central American countries has been delayed until May 7, according to customs agencies in Costa Rica and several other countries in the region. The new electronic declaration, which replaces the Central American Single Customs Form (FAUCA) and the Single Declaration of Goods for the International Terrestrial Customs Transit (DUT), will be used as the goods declaration by the member states of the General Treaty of Central American Economic Operation (i.e., Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama), according to an alert from the Central American law firm Arias. The new declaration had been set to take effect April 1.

Mexico’s Tax Administration Service announced the addition of several new “web services” for the electronic transmission through the VUCEM single window of permits and certificates required by COFEPRIS (the Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risk) and SADER (the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development), in a fact sheet issued April 2. Newly added permits include sanitary certificates for drugs and medical devices, as well as a web service for modifications to phytosanitary imports for imports.

Indonesia and South Korea agreed to exchange electronic certificate-of-origin data to “improve trade services” and “stop the misuse” of certificates of origin for Indonesian projects, according to an April 3 report from Antara News. The memorandum of understanding will “enhance trade and economic relations” between South Korea and Indonesia, the report said, and may lead to further cooperation. The two countries agreed to an “exchange program for employees to attend training programs and gain experience,” according to the report. Indonesian President Joko Widodo said “improvements will be made to the methods of exchanging trade information, an open telecommunication system and the development of procedures, standards and practices in keeping with trade documentation,” according to the report.

The implementation of Malaysia’s new customs declaration system, which was expected to be introduced in early 2019, has been delayed, according to a March 25 report from Baker McKenzie. Malaysia began a pilot version of the new system on March 5, the report said, which covers most imports and exports through Port Klang. While it is unclear when the new Ubiquitous Customs system will fully replace the current Sistem Maklumat Kastam, the report said the “scope of the implementation is (being) gradually expanded.”

Vietnam's General Department of Customs switched to a non-cash payment system beginning April 1, according to a report on the Vietnam Customs Department’s CustomsNews website. The change affects all “economic units and organizations” who import or export to the country and “generate State budget remittances.” Exporters and importers are required to pay a variety of charges -- including taxes, late payment fees and fines -- “in the form of a non-cash payment” or bank transfer.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a report to help U.S. companies comply with exporting laws when shipping milled rice to China. The report, released March 28, followed a December 2018 announcement by China Customs saying the country will allow imports from certain U.S. rice facilities.

A federal judge approved the civil forfeiture of nearly $150,000 that was said to be laundered "to further [business owner Tsai Hsien-Tsai's] exportation of goods for the benefit of North Korean and Syrian entities involved in the respective regimes’ weapons programs," the Department of Justice said in an April 3 news release. The complaint alleged that Taiwan-based Trans Multi and its owner, also known as Alex Tsai, had laundered U.S. money related to illegal dealings with Syria and North Korea, the DOJ said. “The Court found that these blocked funds were the product of Tsai’s attempts to sell tools to a Syrian company using U.S. Dollars and a series of front companies,” U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu said. “Sanctions laws are critical to our national security and foreign policy interests, and this case demonstrates that we will seek significant remedies against those companies that violate them.”

The House passed a bill that would prohibit the trade of defense-related products and services to the security forces of Venezuela, potentially further restricting the Nicolas Maduro regime's access to weapons. The bill, called the Venezuela Arms Restriction Act, was passed in the House on March 25. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on March 26 but has not yet seen a vote.

The International Trade Commission is accepting proposals for changes to the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized System tariff schedule for potential adoption in 2027, it said in a notice. The proposals will be reviewed by the ITC, CBP and the Census Bureau, and will be published for further comment, prior to potential submission to the relevant WCO committees by November 2022 for final WCO approval by June 2024. Proposals are due to the ITC by March 1, 2020.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently issued a regulatory issue summary to clarify requirements for annual and quarterly reporting for exports of nuclear equipment and materials. According to the NRC, “based upon discussions with exporters that did not submit quarterly reports,” exporters may be confused about the different annual and quarterly reporting requirements. Annual reporting requirements are for exports under a general license for U.S.-origin goods listed in Appendix A to 10 CFR Part 110; quarterly licenses are for exports under a general or specific license for goods listed in Annex II of the Additional Protocol to the International Atomic Energy Agency agreement. “The two reporting requirements reference two distinct lists of equipment subject to reporting which share some items in common. Thus, the export of some components” may require both an annual report and a quarterly report because they appear on both lists, the NRC said. “Reporting under one of these requirements does not obviate the need to report under the other if both apply.”