The United Kingdom released an Oct. 29 policy paper on “arrangements for preferential trade” between the U.K. and Colombia, Ecuador and Peru after Brexit. The guidance sets out trading conditions that will apply until the U.K.-Andean countries trade agreement comes into effect.
The United Kingdom Department for International Trade released an Oct. 29 policy paper on a memorandum of understanding reached with the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago in case of a no-deal Brexit. The agreement would allow for “preferential trading conditions” until the parties ratified the CARIFORUM-UK economic partnership agreement.
The United Kingdom Department for International Trade released an Oct. 29 guidance on preparing British business to import from the European Union after Brexit. The guidance features a six-step process importers should follow, including details about import declarations, setting up a duty deferment account and checking duty rates.
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Oct. 30 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):
Foreign e-commerce suppliers selling to Taiwan must issue “cloud government uniform invoices” to their domestic purchasers starting Jan. 1, 2020, KPMG said in an Oct. 29 post. This is following a transition period to the system that started Jan. 1, 2019, and continues through the end of the year. E-commerce suppliers who do not issue the cloud GUIs may face penalties of up to “five times the tax that should have been collected” for violations of the Taiwanese value-added tax laws, the post said. Suppliers can issue cloud GUIs -- or electronic GUIs -- to customers through email, phone and other means approved by Taiwan, KPMG said.
The Agriculture Department's Agricultural Marketing Service released new rules on domestic hemp production that do not contain regulations for exports, it said in a notice. "The 2018 Farm Bill allows for the interstate transportation" but "does not affect the exportation of hemp," it said. "Should there be sufficient interest in exporting hemp in the future, USDA will work with industry and other Federal agencies to help facilitate this process."
The State Department approved a potential military sale to Japan worth about $4.5 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Oct. 29. The sale includes upgrades of 98 F-15J aircraft “to a Japanese Super Interceptor” configuration and calls for various radars, core processors and computers, the DSCA said. The prime contractors are Boeing Aircraft Company and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
In the Oct. 23 issue of the CBP Customs Bulletin (Vol. 53, No. 38), CBP published notices that propose to revoke or modify rulings and similar treatment on the application of Jones Act coastwise laws to certain merchandise and vessel equipment that are transported between coastwise points. The Jones Act limits activities by foreign-flagged vessels around the U.S. CBP said consideration will be given to any written comments received by Nov. 22 before taking this action.
The Congressional Research Service on Oct. 29 issued a fact sheet on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The sheet includes key statistics about the history of the act, how it enforces certain export controls and which countries are subject to IEEPA regulations.
A Florida resident was arrested for trying to illegally export dual-use goods to Libya, the Justice Department said in an Oct. 30 press release. Peter Sotis was charged with violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Export Administration Regulations.