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The May 2019 edition of Baker McKenzie’s International Trade Compliance Update features the following updates:
- WTO: Australia ratifies Government Procurement Agreement; 6 regional trade agreements reviewed; Samoa and Bangladesh trade policy reviews; WTO addresses “essential security interests”; disputes
- WCO: News and events
- African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) ratified by 22 countries – enough to bring it into force
- CITES notifications and FAS GAIN reports
- Central America: Customs administrations delay new electronic goods declaration; Panama imposes agricultural safeguard under US-Panama FTA; new computer in-transit program.
- Canada: Revision of US steel and aluminum countermeasures subject to remission; safeguards lifted on 5 steel categories; CITT issues safeguard report
- United States: President announces US will not ratify UN Arms Trade Treaty; one-year delay of border closure; White House issues memorandum on counterfeit and pirated goods; extension of Somalia and South Sudan national emergencies; Australia eligible to sell goods to government agencies; new Sec. 301 exclusions; countermeasures proposed for EU aircraft subsidies; ITC issues report on USMCTA (“modernized NAFTA”); ITC seeks possible HS modifications; CBP receives domestic interested party petition; CBP published quarterly interest rates; instructions for filing entries for excluded Sec. 301 merchandise; ITRAC to ACE conversion; CBP rulings modifications/revocations; DoD restriction on acquisition of certain imported magnets and tungsten; NRC clarification on export reporting; OFAC regulations on sanctions for US election interference; US won’t renew sanctions waivers for countries importing Iranian oil; administration ends suspension of title II of Helms-Burton, allowing suits against persons trafficking in expropriated property by Cuba; additional Cuban sanctions; ITAR revisions; updated list of Cuban entities; OFAC designates Venezuelan Central Bank and Nicaraguan parties as SDNs; designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards as foreign terrorist organization; BIS revises Unverified List; FDA and CBP sign MOU; overview of SUPPORT Act; CITA requests input under US-Moroccan FTA for commercial availability request; article on WTO “zeroing” decision
- Australia: Defence and Strategic Goods List 2019 enters into force
- China: Self-serve origin certificate pilot launched; solid waste anti-smuggling operation launched; lowering of certain import duties
- Indonesia: e-commerce VAT regulation withdrawn
- Japan: Ban on North Korean imports/exports extended; South Sudan added to Export Trade Control Order
- New Zealand: Arms Act amendments; foreign cargo stink bug controls proposed; instant fines for minor offences
- Pakistan: Export Control Act
- Philippines: Import restrictions on rice replaced by tariffs and TRQs
- Vietnam: CPTPP opportunities for exporters; customs value regulations to be amended; new drug registration requirements; most customs offices stop accepting cash
- EU: Adjustment of “Byrd Amendment” retaliatory duties; commission addresses combined effects of anti-dumping/anti-subsidy measures with steel safeguards; UCC amended to extend transitional use of non-electronic systems; EU opens consultation on list of goods that may be subject to retaliatory measures under WTO aircraft case; council authorizes negotiations with US on tariffs for industrial goods and conformity assessment; Brexit extension for six months; negotiations with Indonesia and Mercosur; EU tariff classification regulations
- The Netherlands: Export control policy amended
- United Kingdom: Russia sanctions
- Morocco: Transfer pricing developments
- Russia: Expansion of sanctions against Ukraine
- Côte d’Ivoire: Launch of the unique ID certificate for businesses
- Guinea: Establishment of a commercial court in Conakry
- Togo: Creation of national cybersecurity agency
Plus the usual trade compliance enforcement news, articles and client alerts, upcoming webinars, 337 actions, ADD/CVD cases for the US, Canada, Mexico, EU, Australia, China, India, Argentina and Brazil, plus official regulations/statutory instruments from around the world.
