China will hold an import fair in Shanghai this week to showcase Chinese companies, trade policies and address criticism of trade restrictions amid U.S.-China trade negotiations. China said more than 190 U.S. businesses will attend, an 18 percent increase from the previous year, even as U.S. officials are opting to skip the event. A U.S. embassy spokesperson said no senior officials plan to attend, according to Reuters.

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls on Oct. 31 released two forms for public comment relating to disclosures of violations of the Arms Export Control Act. The first document is the disclosure form issued by the State Department, and the second document is instructions for completing the form. The agency asked for public comments on Oct. 28, and comments are due Nov. 27 (see 1910280029).

Four men were sentenced in Singapore after evading more than $1 million in duties on cigarettes, Singapore Customs said in an Oct. 31 press release. Singapore said the men were given prison sentences and fined “between $8 million and $34 million.”

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for 26 chemicals under significant new use rules. The proposed SNURs would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of a new use by importers, manufacturers or processors. Importers of chemicals subject to these proposed SNURs would need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements should these proposed rules be finalized, EPA said. Exporters of these chemicals would become subject to export notification requirements. Comments on the proposed SNURs are due Dec. 4.

The U.S. is continuing sanctions against the Sudanese government because of a continued national security threat to the U.S., the White House said Oct. 31. The White House said “despite recent developments, the crisis” in Sudan has not been resolved. The national emergency with respect to Sudan was first declared Nov. 3, 1997.

The State Department imposed sanctions on Iran’s construction and nuclear sector, restricting sales of certain items, according to an Oct. 31 press release.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control extended the expiration dates of two Ukraine General Licenses and expanded an authorization for certain activities, OFAC said in a Nov. 1 notice. General License No. 13M and No. 15G, replacing No. 13L and No. 15F, respectively, extend the expiration date of authorized transactions necessary to the wind-down of operations with GAZ Group until March 31, 2020. No. 15G also expands authorizations for certain “safety-related activity” and introduces a new authorization for “certain activities to comply with environmental regulatory requirements,” OFAC said.

Because the U.S. did not fix antidumping calculation methods after it lost a case in 2017 regarding 25 Chinese products, China will soon be authorized to levy tariffs on about $3.58 billion in U.S. goods, the World Trade Organization announced Nov. 1. China will have to formally request the right to retaliate at the next Dispute Settlement Body meeting, scheduled for Nov. 22.

Notable international barriers to U.S. exports include Chinese food restrictions and inconsistent standardization laws, Brazil’s strict telecommunications requirements, Thailand’s discriminatory customs procedures and Europe’s value-added tax system, trade groups said in comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The comments, due Oct. 31, were in response to USTR’s request for input for its upcoming National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers.

A variety of export subsidies, which allowed certain industries to avoid paying sales taxes, customs duties, or reduce income tax liability have been ruled illegal by a World Trade Organization panel. The ruling was released Oct. 31. India, unless it appeals the ruling, has 90, 120 or 180 days to stop the programs at issue.