The Eurasian Economic Commission plans to extend an export restrictions on sunflower seeds, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a June 22 report. The restrictions, which will apply to exports outside the Eurasian Economic Union, will be extended through Aug. 31 to stabilize domestic prices for sunflower oilseeds, the report said. The restrictions would allow exports of the seeds on a “permit basis.” The EAEU includes Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The EEC is its regulatory body.

The Canadian government issued the following trade-related notices as of June 24 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):

Peru is aiming to digitize all of its trade operations to avoid COVID-19 exposure and to speed up cargo clearances, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said in a June 23 notice. Peru issued regulations that will no longer require trade operators to obtain “different signatures and approvals” at ports, warehousing facilities, shipping line warehouses and maritime agency offices throughout the country, HKTDC said. Peru also emphasized that customs officials cannot require original copies of a document if it has been “properly submitted” through the country’s single window for trade. Peru hopes the regulations allow “all operations linked to the international trade logistics chain” to be conducted electronically, the HKTDC said.

China extended until Dec. 31 an exemption on port construction fees for incoming and outgoing cargo, according to an unofficial translation of a June 4 Ministry of Finance notice. The measure comes as part of Beijing’s effort to help companies resume business and bolster exports during the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters said in a June 24 report. The exemption was to expire June 30.

The Democratic National Committee chairman, and progressive star Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., described President Donald Trump's trade war with China as a failed attempt at getting tough on China that hurt Pennsylvania exporters and manufacturers. “China smelled Trump's desperation and played him like a fiddle,” DNC Chairman Tom Perez said on a video conference call with reporters June 24. “He lost the trade war that he started.”

The Senate’s 2021 Intelligence Authorization Act would require the director of National Intelligence to assess U.S. export controls on critical technologies, according to a June 17 Senate report on the bill. The bill, which was passed by the Senate Intelligence Committee earlier this month, calls for a review of U.S. controls on artificial intelligence, microchips, advanced manufacturing equipment and “other AI-enabled technologies,” the report said. It would also require the administration to identify areas for export control cooperation with “international partners.” Another provision in the bill requires the CIA, the Treasury Department and the FBI to submit a report to Congress on Chinese and Russian officials that could be targeted with U.S. sanctions.

Cambodia and South Korea plan to begin negotiating a free trade deal next month, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said June 23. South Korea is hoping to diversify its export destinations away from its two largest export markets: China and the U.S., which are embroiled in a trade war, the report said, adding that the novel coronavirus outbreak has been an added incentive to go outside its usual supply chains. Cambodia is hoping to expand on its trade with South Korea, which included exports of nearly $335 million in 2019. The two sides agreed to begin negotiations after concluding a trade feasibility study started last year (see 1912120018).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the captains of five ships used by Iranian shipping lines to deliver Iranian gasoline to Venezuela, OFAC said in a June 24 news release. The ships belong to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and the National Iranian Tanker Company, both of which are sanctioned by OFAC. The sanctions target Ali Danaei Kenarsari, of the Clavel tanker; Mohsen Gohardehi, the Petunia; Alireza Rahnavard, the Fortune; Reza Vaziri, the Forest; and Hamidreza Yahya Zadeh, the Faxon.

U.S. and Chinese trade tensions could last for years and require a more clear, consistent approach from the U.S., experts told the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission June 24. The U.S. should not address competition challenges through decoupling, they said, but should instead invest more heavily in technology research, pursue more involvement at international standards bodies and work with trade partners to counter China’s rise.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Aluminum Association reacted with dismay June 23 to a Bloomberg report that the U.S. could re-impose 10% tariffs on Canadian aluminum on July 1, because of an alleged surge in imports since tariffs were lifted. The U.S. trade representative told senators last week that he is in consultations with Canada on the issue.