@Foreign trade people, these new foreign trade regulations will come into effect in May!

New foreign trade regulations in May

24 new varieties are added to the "Catalogue of Precursor Chemicals Exported to Specific Countries (Regions)"

The China-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement will be implemented on May 1, 2024

Mexico announced temporary tariffs on 544 imported goods

The UK suspends import taxes on more than 100 goods

The United States launched a 301 investigation against China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding industries

India makes preliminary anti-dumping ruling on Chinese telescopic drawer slides

India restarts import restrictions on solar panels

India allows imports of 50 types of second-hand medical equipment

Thailand imposes value-added tax on small imports below 1,500 baht

Chile modifies preliminary anti-dumping ruling on Chinese steel grinding balls

Cuba extends duty-free import period for non-commercial items

Argentina cancels import red channel and promotes simplified customs declaration

Saudi Arabia releases technical regulations on energy consumption of electronic products

Saudi Arabia further reduces tariffs on imported raw materials

Iraq implements new labeling requirements for incoming products

Myanmar requires import and export licenses to be a necessary material before goods arrive at the port

 01  24 more varieties are added to the "Catalogue of Precursor Chemicals Exported to Specific Countries (Regions)"

In order to further improve the export management of precursor chemicals, according to the "Interim Management Provisions on the Export of Precursor Chemicals to Specific Countries (Regions)", the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Emergency Management, the General Administration of Customs and the State Drug Administration decided to adjust the "Catalogue of Precursor Chemicals Exported to Specific Countries (Regions)" and add 24 varieties such as hydrobromic acid.

The adjusted "Catalogue of Precursor Chemicals Exported to Specific Countries (Regions)" is now announced and will be implemented from May 1, 2024. From the date of implementation of this announcement, the export of chemicals listed in the attached catalogue to Myanmar, Laos and Afghanistan shall apply for a license in accordance with the "Interim Management Provisions on the Export of Precursor Chemicals to Specific Countries (Regions)", and no license is required for export to other countries (regions).

Original text of the Announcement:

http://file.mofcom.gov.cn/article/zcfb/zczxzc/202404/20240403505105.shtml

 02   China-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement will be mutually implemented on May 1, 2024

According to the relevant provisions of the "Regulations on Import and Export Tariffs of the People's Republic of China", from May 1, 2024, some imported goods originating from Ecuador will be subject to the agreed tariff rate in accordance with the "Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Ecuador".

Query the agreed tariff table implemented on Ecuador in 2024:

http://gss.mof.gov.cn/gzdt/zhengcefabu/202404/P020240419426389451413.pdf

 03  Mexico announced temporary tariffs on 544 imported goods

Mexican President Lopez signed a decree on April 22, imposing temporary import tariffs of 5% to 50% on 544 items including steel, aluminum, textiles, clothing, footwear, wood, plastics and their products, chemical products, paper and cardboard, ceramic products, glass and its products, electrical equipment, transportation equipment, musical instruments, furniture, etc. The decree came into effect on April 23 and is valid for two years.

According to the decree, textiles, clothing, footwear and other products will be subject to a temporary import tariff of 35%; round steel with a diameter of less than 14 mm will be subject to a temporary import tariff of 50%.

 04  The UK suspends import duties on more than 100 commodities

Recently, the British government announced that it would suspend import tariffs on more than 100 commodities before June 2026. Products that will be exempted from import tariffs include chemicals, metals, flowers and leather.

Some industry organizations analyzed that the abolition of tariffs on these commodities will reduce the inflation rate by 0.6% and the nominal import cost will be reduced by nearly 7 billion pounds (about 8.77 billion US dollars). This tariff suspension policy follows the principle of preferential treatment of the World Trade Organization, and the suspension of tariffs applies to goods from all countries.

 05  The United States launches a Section 301 investigation against China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding industries

On April 17, the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced the launch of a Section 301 investigation against China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding industries. China is strongly dissatisfied with this and firmly opposes it.

In the first quarter of this year, my country's ship exports increased by 113.1% year-on-year, and many ship companies exceeded their production and order plans. In addition, according to data released by the China Shipbuilding Industry Association, in January and February this year, my country's new orders accounted for 69.5% of the international market share, and the shipbuilding completion volume and backlog orders also accounted for 56.5% and 56.1% of the global total.

 06  India makes preliminary anti-dumping ruling on China's telescopic drawer slides

On April 19, 2024, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued an announcement to make a preliminary anti-dumping ruling on telescopic drawer slides originating in or imported from China, and recommended that a temporary anti-dumping duty of US$614/ton be imposed on the products involved in the case in China. The Indian customs codes of the products involved are 83024110, 83024190, 83024200 and 83024900.

 07  India restarts import restrictions on solar panels

The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced that it would restart import restrictions on solar photovoltaic panels from April 1. The Indian government's move is aimed at increasing its own related production capacity. In the previous fiscal year when the restrictions were shelved, India imported a large number of solar products from China and other countries.

Bloomberg said that in order to achieve energy self-sufficiency, Indian Prime Minister Modi encouraged local manufacturers to manufacture solar panels. The Economic Times of India believes that the Indian government's restart of ALMM is aimed at further improving domestic production capacity. People familiar with the matter said that the Indian government believes that domestic production capacity has increased and manufacturers need policy support.

 08  India allows the import of 50 types of second-hand medical equipment

Recently, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) of India announced a list of 50 types of high-end and high-value second-hand medical equipment other than critical care medical equipment, which are allowed to be imported with the permission of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of India, in accordance with the Second Amendment to Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Cross-Border Transfer) Regulations (2022) (see the table below).

Thailand imposes VAT on small imports below 1,500 baht

Deputy Minister of Finance Churaphan revealed at a cabinet meeting that he would draft a law on VAT on imported products, including products worth less than 1,500 baht, to treat domestic small and micro entrepreneurs fairly. The laws implemented will be based on international agreements that comply with the tax mechanism of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). VAT will be levied through the platform, and the platform will hand over the tax to the government.

 09  Chile modifies the preliminary anti-dumping ruling on steel grinding balls from China

On April 20, 2024, the Ministry of Finance of Chile issued an announcement in the official daily newspaper, deciding to modify the preliminary anti-dumping ruling on steel grinding balls with a diameter of less than 4 inches originating in China (Spanish: Bolas de acero forjadas para molienda convencional de diámetro inferior a 4 pulgadas), and adjust the temporary anti-dumping duty to 33.5%. The temporary measure will take effect from the date of issuance until the issuance of the measure, and the validity period will be calculated from March 27, 2024, and shall not exceed 6 months. The Chilean tax number of the product involved is 7326.1111.

 10  Cuba extends duty-free import period for non-commercial items