COVID-19 pandemic recovery efforts, straightening supply chains and increasing trade were discussed as the United Kingdom held its first economic talks with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Aug. 26. The U.K. said it wants to work with ASEAN to increase trade in essential goods -- including food, medicine and medical devices -- and is committed to “free trade” during the pandemic. “We are determined to build on this partnership and explore opportunities for collaboration,” the U.K. said.
The United Kingdom launched 11 new trade advisory groups to seek input from industry as the country pursues trade deals after Brexit, the U.K. said Aug. 26. Feedback from the groups will be used to inform U.K. negotiations, especially as discussions with the U.S., Japan, Australia and New Zealand “intensify,” the U.K. said. “Talks with Japan, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand are entering their crucial latter stages,” U.K. Trade Secretary Liz Truss said, “so it is only right that we step up engagement with vital industries to utilise their technical and strategic expertise.”
The Canada government issued the following trade-related notices as of Aug. 26 (some may also be given separate headlines):
Singapore Customs’ TradeNet will undergo system maintenance Sept. 13, 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time, an Aug. 26 notice said. The agency advised users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to the Aug. 30 extended downtime (see 2008120025) and usual 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. maintenance on Sundays.
The Trump administration is granting $1 billion to create 12 new research and development institutes to study emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum information science. The funding -- announced by the White House, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy -- includes $140 million over five years to seven NSF-led research institutes at U.S. universities, the White House said Aug. 26. The Energy Department will grant up to $625 million over five years to five national laboratories for the QIS centers, with $300 million in funding for them coming from universities and the private sector.
Five people are facing federal charges over allegations of illegal filing of drawback claims, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California said in a news release. An Aug. 12 grand jury indictment, which was unsealed Aug. 25, charged Dale Behm of Shell Knob, Missouri; Yong Heng Liang of Daly City, California; Joshua Stanka of Katy, Texas; Joshua Clark of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas; and Michael Choy of Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, “with conspiracy, wire fraud, and related charges related to an alleged scheme to submit fraudulent claims for refunds on import duties,” the release said.
HSBC is maintaining bank accounts for individuals subject to U.S. sanctions on China while blocking credit card and account access of pro-democracy advocates, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an Aug 26 statement. HSBC is maintaining relationships with people sanctioned for “denying freedom for Hong Kongers,” Pompeo said, while restricting account access for Hong Kong-based executives at Next Media, a “well-known publisher of pro-democracy publications.”
The Bureau of Industry and Security released its long-awaited pre-rule for foundational technologies (see 2005190052), asking for industry feedback on the types of technologies BIS should target for potential export controls. The effort, which BIS is pursuing alongside restrictions for emerging technologies, seeks to pinpoint technologies that the agency said may warrant more strict controls.
The Bureau of Industry and Security added 60 entities to the Entity List, including 24 entities for helping the Chinese military build artificial islands in the South China Sea. BIS also designated entities in France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates for a range of activities, including illegal exports to Iran, submitting false information to BIS, contributing to Russian biological weapons programs and more. BIS also revised five existing entries under Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran and the UAE.
Global Affairs Canada released a “statement of implementation” for the USMCA, or CUSMA, as it is known in Canada, in the Aug. 22 Canada Gazette, Part I. The statement is meant “to explain the basic rights and obligations in the Agreement so that Canadians have a clearer understanding of the substance and benefits,” GAC said. “It also clearly sets out how Canada interprets the Agreement and intends to pursue the rights and obligations contained therein.”