China Publishes Decree 248 HS Codes in GACC Single Window Website
According to one of the latest USDA Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports on recent developments regarding the implementation of Decree 248, the list of Harmonized System (HS) codes is available at the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) Single Window website.
The report notes that since the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) downloaded the list of HS codes on November 30, the list of codes and data have been updated numerous times. The report urges direct consultation of the codes on the official website of the Chinese government.
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The report notes that since the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) downloaded the list of HS codes on November 30, the list of codes and data have been updated numerous times. The report urges direct consultation of the codes on the official website of the Chinese government.
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China Pursues Revised Standard on Nut and Seed Food
As stated by the USDA, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) is in the process of modifying the current General Standard for Roasted Seeds and Nuts (GB/T 22165-2008), establishing new terms and classifications of nuts and seeds. The revised draft includes technical requirements, inspections methods and rules, along with labeling, packaging, transportation, and storage requirements.
The period for comments ended on December 8, 2021.
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The period for comments ended on December 8, 2021.
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EU-Andean Free Trade Agreement Preliminary Interim Results
The European Commission’s Directorate for Trade (DG TRADE) organized a Civil Society Dialogue Meeting to present to civil society members the interim report of the ex-post evaluation of the EU-Colombia/Ecuador/Peru FTA. Outcomes of the report include strong positive sectoral employment results in the vegetable, fruits and nuts sector, along with further agri-food sectors.
The evaluation also stressed that reduced tariffs under the FTA enabled increased imports by the EU of certain products such as fruit and nuts from the Andean partners.
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The evaluation also stressed that reduced tariffs under the FTA enabled increased imports by the EU of certain products such as fruit and nuts from the Andean partners.
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EU: Global Gateway Initiative to Boost Trade and Help Fight Climate Change
On December 1, the European Commission presented the new European strategy that will mobilize up to €300 billion in sustainable investments between 2021 and 2027. As part of the COVID-19 recovery, the project conceives to tackle the most demanding global challenges, such as climate change, and strengthening connections with the EU partners.
The Global Gateway will bring together different stakeholders and seek to mobilize the private sector in order to leverage investments for a transformational impact. New financial tools will help to secure public and private investments in priority areas, including connectivity.
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The Global Gateway will bring together different stakeholders and seek to mobilize the private sector in order to leverage investments for a transformational impact. New financial tools will help to secure public and private investments in priority areas, including connectivity.
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EU: Imports of Organic Products from Non-EU Countries
The European Commission adopted the Commission Delegated Regulation of October 21, supplementing Regulation (EU) 2018/848 with rules for inspection certificates and official controls of organic products originating in third countries.
Main points of concern:
- rules on the inspection certificate that must be issued by control authorities and bodies in non-EU countries to enable producers to export their products to the EU,
- official controls to be carried out by EU countries on organic products entering the EU,
- control authorities’ and bodies’ obligations if non-conformities are found during official controls.
EU: Monitoring Agri-Food Trade, Developments until August 2021
The European Commission’s Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) recently published its latest report “Monitoring EU agri-food trade: developments until August 2021”. The report stresses that for the period January-August 2021, the overall rate of EU27 agri-food imports increased by 2.4% compared to the same period in the previous year. Among the highest decreases in import values, one of the most affected categories is reported to be for tropical fruit, nuts and spices (↘€669 m, ↘7%).
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EU: Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 on the Financing, Management and Monitoring of the Common Agricultural Policy
This Regulation settles rules on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy (CAP), for the period 2023-2027, and in particular on:
- the financing of expenditure under the CAP;
- the management and control systems to be put in place by the Member States;
- clearance and conformity procedures.
EU: Update of How Regional Farming Data will be Collected
The Parliament and the Council reached an agreement on how should Member States start reporting regional agricultural data to the Commission. Together with the new common agricultural policy (CAP), this circumstance represents the European Union's efforts to modernize the European agricultural statistics system.
It will enter into force in 2023.
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It will enter into force in 2023.
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UN Report Warns of the Consequences of Shipping Costs on Consumer Products
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released a new report on November 18, under the theme “Review of Maritime Transport 2021”. The report presages that due to shipping supply chain disruptions, worldwide consumer prices will rise considerably in the next year.
UNCTAD urges nations to adopt a portfolio of measures to combat this phenomenon, as well as urgently calls on governments to monitor markets to safeguard a just, transparent and competitive commercial setting. It emphasizes the need of all stakeholders to collaborate and increase data sharing among actors along the maritime supply chain.
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UNCTAD urges nations to adopt a portfolio of measures to combat this phenomenon, as well as urgently calls on governments to monitor markets to safeguard a just, transparent and competitive commercial setting. It emphasizes the need of all stakeholders to collaborate and increase data sharing among actors along the maritime supply chain.
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USA: Increased Assessment Rate for Pistachios
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) established a proposed rule that would implement a recommendation from the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for 2021-22 and subsequent production years.
This new measure would increase the assessment rate from $0.00015 per pound of pistachios, the rate established for 2020-21 and subsequent production years, to $0.0007 per pound of pistachios for 2021-22 and subsequent production years.
Deadline for comments is January 5, 2022.
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This new measure would increase the assessment rate from $0.00015 per pound of pistachios, the rate established for 2020-21 and subsequent production years, to $0.0007 per pound of pistachios for 2021-22 and subsequent production years.
Deadline for comments is January 5, 2022.
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Uzbekistan: Advances in Digital Technologies to Simplify Custom Procedures
According to EastFruit, new mechanisms to check phytosanitary certificates were set in place on December 1, 2021. The new “Single Window” data system will replace the stamping and registration of trade documents by phytosanitary authorities. These technological advances will allow improving the efficiency and organizational structure of customs authorities.
More measures will come into force on January 1, 2022.
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More measures will come into force on January 1, 2022.
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Vietnam-Malaysia-India: Inauguration of New Shipping Route
According to Vietnam+, a new container-shipping route linking these three countries was inaugurated on November 25, 2021. The Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC) announced this on November 23, stressing that next year they would invest in high-technology modern container ships and expand cooperation with developing partners.
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WTO Members Agree on New Services Domestic Regulation
Negotiations in Geneva from the 67 World Trade Organization (WTO) members participating in the Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation concluded with an agreement on rules for services.
In September 2021, members managed to establish a uniform set of regulatory disciplines. The initiative seeks to create a more transparent operating environment for service providers eager to do business in external markets.
As part of this joint initiative, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the WTO released on November 26, 2021, a policy brief outlining the potential benefits that implementing a new services domestic regulation would have.
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In September 2021, members managed to establish a uniform set of regulatory disciplines. The initiative seeks to create a more transparent operating environment for service providers eager to do business in external markets.
As part of this joint initiative, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the WTO released on November 26, 2021, a policy brief outlining the potential benefits that implementing a new services domestic regulation would have.
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