On March 29, 2017, the Department of State published in the Federal Register a notice [Public Notice: 9937] stating that, pursuant to Section 490(b)( l )(A) of the Foreign Assistance Act or 1961, as amended, the Under Secretary of State has determined and certified that the top five exporting and importing countries and economies of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine (Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Switzerland and the United…
On March 29, 2017, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published in the Federal Register a final rule [Docket No. 170103009-7300-02] that amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by removing seven persons under ten entries from the Entity List. This rule removes four persons listed under the destination of Germany, one person listed under the destination of Hong Kong, one person listed under the destination of India, one person listed under the destination of…
The WTO announced that WTO members discussed five new or enhanced proposals to advance services negotiations at meetings of the Working Party on Domestic Regulation and the Services Council on 14-17 March 2017. Four of these proposals aim to ensure that domestic licensing procedures and technical standards do not constitute unnecessary barriers to trade while one proposal relates to the establishment of a trade facilitation agreement for services. The WTO provided the following summaries:
The Director General of Foreign Trade has posted the Indian Trade Classification (Harmonized System) [ITC(HS)] 2017- Schedule I Import Policy. The schedule is arranged in four columns as follows:
On January 19, 2017, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published in the Federal Register a final rule [Docket No. 170104015–7015–01] that amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement the India-U.S. Joint Statement of June 7, 2016 (June Statement), which recognized the United States and India as Major Defense Partners. This rule amends the EAR by establishing a licensing policy of general approval for exports or reexports to or transfers within India of…
On November 4, 2016, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published in the Federal Register a final rule [Docket No. 160810723-6723-01] that amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement changes in controls on arms and related materiel to Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. BIS also updates the EAR to recognize the accession of India as a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
On October 14, 2016, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) published in the Federal Register a notice requesting comments [Docket Number USTR–2016–0018; Dispute Number WTO/DS510] in the WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding concerning certain measures relating to the renewable energy sector in the United States, which was initiated on September 9. 2016 by India filing a request for consultations. You can find that request at www.wto.org in a document designated as WT/DS510/1. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.
On 23 August 2016, the new UK Department for International Trade (DIT) released a “Survey to identify trade and investment barriers in 7 overseas markets”.
The UK government is planning to hold joint economic and trade committee meetings with Brazil, India, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam by the end of 2016. The aim of these dialogues is to discuss bilateral trade and investment issues and to strengthen the UK’s economic, industrial and commercial ties with these markets.
On 21 April 2016, India notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 19 April 2016 a safeguard investigation on unwrought aluminum. In the notification, India indicated as follows: “All interested parties may make their views known within a period of 30 days from the date of the notice issued (i.e. 19 April 2016) by the Director General (Safeguards) to: The Director General (Safeguards) Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan: 2nd Floor, Bhai Vir…
In Press Note No. 3 released on March 29, 2016, the Government of India (“GOI”) announced that 100% foreign direct investment (“FDI”) is now permitted in e-commerce “marketplaces” in India, subject to certain stringent caveats. India’s e-commerce sector is poised for dramatic growth over the next few years (largely driven by exploding Internet and smartphone penetration in India, among other market catalysts such as evolving e-payment systems) and continues to attract significant FDI inflows…