The Treasury and State departments issued guidance on President Donald Trump’s November decision to ban investment in Chinese firms with ties to the country’s military. Treasury issued a list of Chinese military companies and published five new frequently asked questions to offer compliance on the ban, which takes effect Jan. 11, 2021 (see 2011130026).
President Donald Trump announced his intention to appoint Juan Carlos Benitez of Guam to the President’s Export Council, the White House said Dec. 22. The announcement follows a decision last month to appoint six people to the council, which has not met for several years (see 2011180014).
The Singapore Customs TradeNet will undergo system maintenance Jan. 10, 4 a.m. to noon local time, a Dec. 28 notice said. The agency advised users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to the usual 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday maintenance.
China temporarily suspended poultry imports from Ireland due to an “avian influenza” outbreak in the country, a Dec. 24 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. All illegal imports of poultry or poultry products from Ireland will be returned or destroyed, China said. The suspension took effect Dec. 24.
China extended tariff exemptions on certain U.S. chemical and oil products, a Dec. 25 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. The exemptions, renewed through Dec. 25, 2021, cover six items, including certain lubricating oils, wax, polyethylene and polypropylene (see 1912190024). The exemptions were scheduled to expire Dec. 25.
Australia will host a virtual technology summit to discuss key technology issues with allies, including security concerns surrounding cyber and critical technologies, Australia’s foreign ministry said Dec. 23. The Sydney Dialogue, planned for the second half of 2021, will aim to bring together “political leaders, industry experts, academics and civil society representatives” to discuss “the most pressing issues” around sensitive technologies. Australia said it wants “the design, creation and use of technology to reflect our values.” The summit comes as the U.S. and the European Union grapple with how to control emerging and sensitive technologies to prevent authoritarian governments from using them (see 2012140049 and 2009300056).
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation removed Rafidain Bank from its Iraq sanctions list, a Dec. 24 notice said. The U.K. said the Iraq government owns the bank, which also has branches in the Middle East and Africa, but the London branch “is in provisional liquidation.” It is no longer subject to an assets freeze.
Although the European Union and the United Kingdom reached a last-minute trade deal Dec. 24 to avoid a hard Brexit, the agreement will not necessarily translate into a smooth U.K. exit, law firms said, and companies still should prepare for a host of trade issues come Jan. 1. “Important changes and some logistical disruption will remain inevitable,” White & Case said in a Dec. 28 alert.
The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade launched a service it said will help companies identify overseas trading barriers and find “new trade opportunities,” it said Dec. 21. The digital service will allow users to search for information on trade barriers imposed by other countries that could restrict business and investment activities, it said. The service also will highlight new areas that may present business opportunities. The “new database will be regularly updated” to show the latest barriers.
Russia recently extended its import ban on agricultural goods from countries that impose financial sanctions on Russia, including the U.S., according to a Dec. 21 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service. The ban will remain in effect through the end of 2021 with no changes to the list of covered products, FAS said, which includes various meats, seafood, dairy products and vegetables.