China signed memorandums of understanding on e-commerce with Samoa and Vanuatu, China’s Ministry of Commerce said Oct. 21, according to an unofficial translation. China will establish an “e-commerce cooperation mechanism” with Samoa to “promote the trade of quality products … create a good cooperation environment for the development of e-commerce in the two countries, and further expand new channels for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.” China said it plans to work with Vanuatu to “strengthen policy communication and coordination in the field of e-commerce, and cooperate in corporate exchanges, personnel training, sharing best practices and innovative experiences.”

Cambodia recently adopted laws to regulate its e-commerce sector to align its e-commerce trading with “international best practices,” according to an Oct. 18 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council The regulations introduced “enhanced conditions” for regional and international trade and improved security for all electronic transactions, the report said. It also includes procedures to settle online trading disputes, the HKTDC said, and aims to help small to medium-sized businesses “connect with global supply chains.”

A recently upgraded China-Singapore free trade agreement represents China's attempt to diversify its trading relationships as the U.S.-China trade war continues, according to an Oct. 21 post from Dezan Shira & Associates. The upgraded agreement, which took effect Oct. 16, expands cooperation on rules of origin, customs procedures, trade remedies and more, the post said. “China is actively diversifying its economic relationships with new and old partners and strengthening cooperation with Belt and Road countries, including Singapore,” the law firm said. The agreement will lead to “improved trade and investment ties” between the two countries, according to the post.

The State Department approved a potential sale to South Korea of $253 million worth of defense goods, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in an Oct. 17 press release. The sale includes 120 medium range air-to-air missiles, the DSCA said, along with containers, weapon support equipment and spare parts. The principal contractor is Massachusetts-based Raytheon.

Britain's beef exporters will have “full access” to the Chinese market for the first time in more than 20 years as part of a deal between the two countries, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade said Oct. 18. China cleared four “beef sites for export” after “extensive inspections” by authorities, who “confirmed that British beef producers meet the necessary standards to export to their market, the UK said. More sites are under review, the UK said, and UK beef exports are expected to be shipped within months.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a Venezuela-related general license extending certain permitted transactions with Petroleos de Venezuela, Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, according to an Oct. 21 OFAC notice. General License No. 8D, which replaces No. 8C, authorizes certain transactions by Chevron Corp., Haliburton, Schlumberger Limited, Baker Hughes and Weatherford International until Jan. 22, 2020.

Companies are concerned about the “heavy-handed use” of export controls and sanctions by the Trump administration, which could lead to a less interconnected global trade order, said Babak Hoghooghi, a trade lawyer specializing in sanctions and export controls at Berliner Corcoran. Hoghooghi, speaking during an Oct. 18 panel hosted by American University's Administrative Law Review. He said the U.S.’s “overuse” of sanctions prompts other countries to consider decoupling from global economies and seek long-term workarounds to U.S. policies. Other trade experts have warned of similar consequences (see 1908010020). “I would venture to say that this process has already begun,” Hoghooghi said.

Google hired Scott Deutchman, previously with Neustar, as senior policy adviser-telecom, spectrum, export controls, privacy and intellectual property.

Trade experts identified many weaknesses of the World Trade Organization -- the evidentiary standard for countervailing duties: the fact that CVD in one market doesn't help the industry's economics when surplus flows to other countries; the length of time it takes to show adverse effects to domestic firms; the fact that 164 countries can't agree on trade liberalization.

South Korea and Indonesia finished negotiations for the Korea-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement, which is expected to increase “cross border flows of goods,” South Korea said in an Oct. 18 press release. Although South Korea did not release specific details, it said the agreement aims to achieve a “mutually beneficial economic partnership” by expanding existing trade. The agreement is expected to be finalized during an upcoming meeting between the two countries’ presidents.