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UK takes major step towards membership of Trans-Pacific free trade area

By 2 Mins Read

On 9 September 2020, the Department for International Trade (DIT) announced that the UK has taken a major step in the process of joining CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership), one of the world’s largest and most dynamic free trade areas. The press release stated in part: International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, alongside the current chair of the CPTPP Commission, Mexican Economy Minister Graciela Márquez, opened discussions between senior UK trade officials and…

WTO – European Union calls for more transparency on Coronavirus trade-related measures by WTO members

By 1 Min Read

On 24 July 2020, the European Commission announced that at a meeting of the WTO Trade Policy Review Body, the European Union, backed by ten other members of the World Trade Organization (Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Republic of Korea and Switzerland), submitted a joint communication calling for more transparency in respect of trade-related measures introduced by partners around the world in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The aim is to…

US – Treasury issues report including finding that China is not a currency manipulator

By 2 Mins Read

On January 13, 2020, the US Department of the Treasury announced that it had delivered to Congress the semiannual Report on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States. In this Report, Treasury reviewed and assessed the policies of 20 major US trading partners. Treasury also assessed developments over the last several months with China and its currency practices. The announcement said: The Report concluded that while the currency practices…

US – President signs Proclamation modifying HTS for AGOA, FTAs

By 3 Mins Read

On December 26, 2019, President Trump signed Proclamation 9974 of December 26, 2019 To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and for Other Purposes. The Proclamation takes the following actions and modifies the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the US (HTS or HTSUS) as follows: Terminates the designation of Cameroon as a beneficiary sub‑Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A of the Trade Act effective January 1, 2020;Modifies GN 16(a), Note 7(a)…

Japan – Diet approves Japan-US Trade Agreement and Digital Trade Agreements

By 1 Min Read

On December 4, 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the National Diet (Parliament) approved the Japan-US Trade Agreement as well as the Japan-US Digital Trade Agreement. The US Trade Representative commended Japan’s action and said the United States is preparing for the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement and the U.S.-Japan Digital Trade Agreement to go into effect on January 1, 2020. As agreed by President Trump and Prime Minister Abe, both Governments will begin consultations early…

US-Japan Trade Agreement

By 3 Mins Read

On September 25, 2019, he Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the United States and Japan have reached agreement on early achievements from negotiations in the areas of market access for certain agriculture and industrial goods, as well as on digital trade. USTR stated that the United States looks forward to further negotiations with Japan for a comprehensive agreement that addresses remaining tariff and non-tariff barriers and achieves fairer, more balanced trade. …

US – President issues Proclamation related to national security Sec. 232 auto/auto parts investigation – orders pursuing negotiations

By 3 Mins Read

On May 17, 2019, President Trump signed a Proclamation Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States under Section 232 the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862). The Proclamation states that the Secretary of Commerce’s (the Secretary) Section 232 report on his investigation into the effects of imports of passenger vehicles (sedans, sport utility vehicles, crossover utility vehicles, minivans, and cargo vans) and light trucks (collectively “automobiles”) and certain…

Vietnam – The CPTPP for exporters: opportunities available now

By 1 Min Read

The entry into force of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) brings with it preferential import tariff rates applicable to CPTPP originating goods. Import tariffs can amount to a substantial increase on the end cost of goods. For businesses operating in a competitive market, preferential tariff rates may afford them a comparative advantage by reducing costs. Under the CPTPP, tariff rate reductions occur automatically after the Agreement has entered into force in a member country’s territory. Accordingly, exporters of most CPTPP originating goods can enjoy preferential tariff rates immediately.

Japan – Stricter controls on exports to South Sudan

By 1 Min Read

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced that on April 9, 2019, the Japanese Cabinet approved a revision to Appended Table 3-2 of the Export Trade Control Order (Cabinet Order No.378 of 1949; the “Export Order”) and added South Sudan to the list of the areas subject to strict export control (areas against which arms and other embargoes have been imposed by the UN Security Council) in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2428.