The Department of Commerce should develop a strategy to expand the export market for recycled materials, Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., said in a letter to other lawmakers seeking their support on May 24. Takano said China’s decision to accept “less than one percent of America’s recyclable goods” -- along with more than “180 countries moving to increase regulations on waste exports” -- presents an “economic opportunity” for the U.S., if Commerce develops a plan and uses it for the country's benefit. Takano called for Commerce to “stimulate the development of markets for recycled materials and encourage the development of new uses for these materials,” as required under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service released a report on Turkey’s decision to reduce tariffs on U.S. products in response to the U.S.’s May 16 decision to reduce tariffs on Turkish steel imports. In the report, USDA includes the current tariff levels for certain U.S. agricultural products, including nuts, rice, tobacco and “fuel wood.” Turkey’s tariff changes took effect May 21, the report said (see 1905220047).

The U.S. and Japan are moving quickly in trade talks and "trade-wise, I think we will be announcing some things, probably in August, that will be very good for both countries," President Donald Trump said in May 27 remarks before meeting with Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. Asked about that announcement during a press conference following the meeting, Abe said the two sides have agreed to "accelerate the talks between the ministers." Trump highlighted that Japan recently opened up its markets for U.S. beef (see 1905170042) and said "we hope to have even more to announce on the trade very, very soon."

Travelex Ltd., a currency-exchange company, was fined about $12,600 for violating the European Union’s Egypt financial sanctions regime, the United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said in a May 24 press release. The company “dealt with funds” of about $250 “belonging to a person designated” by the sanctions, the OFSI said in an enforcement notice.

Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with some of the top stories for May 20-24 in case they were missed.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a “finding of violation” against U.S.-based State Street Bank and Trust Co. (SSBT) after it violated U.S.-imposed sanctions on Iran, OFAC said in a May 28 notice. The bank was not fined, OFAC said, partly because the bank’s managers were likely unaware of the violations and because the bank cooperated with OFAC and improved its compliance program.

The Mexican Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit is proposing a new draft customs law that would streamline current requirements and take measures against corruption in the Mexican General Administration of Customs, according to a May 28 report in the Mexican newspaper El Economista.

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

In the May 24 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

Recent editions of Mexico's Diario Oficial list trade-related notices as follows: