China: Suspension of China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue

On May 6, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced it will indefinitely suspend all activities under the framework of the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue jointly held by the NDRC and the Australian Commonwealth Government.

EU-India: Free Trade Negotiations

Following EU-India leaders' meeting held on May 8, representatives of the two delegations released a joint statement announcing a resume of free trade negotiations between the EU countries and India. Specifically, the leaders agreed to:
  • resume negotiations on a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial free trade agreement
  • find quick solutions to long-standing market access issues
  • launch negotiations on a stand-alone investment protection agreement
  • start negotiations on an agreement on geographical indicators
Moreover, a new connectivity partnership was established, aimed at supporting sustainable digital, transport and energy networks, and the flow of people, goods, services, data and capital and centered on the principles of equity and inclusivity

EU-US: EU Suspends Additional Duties on Cranberries until November

On May 31, the European Commission published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/866 of 28 May 2021 suspending commercial policy measures concerning certain products originating in the USA imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/886.
 
Under this Regulation, the EU suspends the application of additional ad valorem duty of 25% on imports of US dried cranberries (20089391) until November 30, 2021.
 
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/866 of 28 May 2021

US-Japan: Trade Agreement, Third Year of Implementation

According to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) GAIN report, the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA), ratified in 2019, entered “Year 3” of ratification on April 1, 2021. Consequently, the following tariffs are now applying for several US nuts and nut products exported to Japan.
 
Product Name Japan Customs
HS Code
Base Rate Year 3 (2021)
Almonds (fresh or dried/roasted, no sugar) 080211200, 080212200/200819222 2.4% / 5.0% Free
Walnuts (shelled, fresh or dried) 80232000 10.0% Free
Pecans (fresh or dried/roasted, no sugar) 080290300, 200819223 4.5% / 5.0% Free
Hazelnuts or filberts (shelled, fresh or dried) 80222000 6.0% Free
Peanuts (shelled, other than seed) 120242091 10.0% Free
Flour, meal and powder of fruit and nuts (excl. bananas) 110630200 15.0% 5.0%
Peanut butter (contain sugar/no sugar) 200811110/200811210 12.0%/10.0% 4.0%/3.3%
Other nuts (roasted, no sugar) 200819228 5.0% Free
Cashew nuts (prep. or preserved, contain sugar) and other roasted nuts (contain sugar) 200819191, 200819192 11.0% 3.6%
Ground nuts (excl. peanut butter, prep./preserved, contains sugar) 200811120 23.8% 7.9%
Ground nuts (shelled, roasted/prepared or preserved), no sugar 200811292/200811299 21.3% Free
Macadamia nuts (fresh/dried, prep./preserved, no sugar) 080262000, 200819221 5.0% Free
Other nuts (prepared or preserved, no sugar) 200819229 12.0% 4.0%
Cashew nuts (prepared or preserved, no sugar) 200819225 10.0% Free
Preserved nuts (contain sugar) 200819199 16.8% 5.6%
Coconuts, brazil nuts, paradise nuts and hazelnuts (prepared or preserved, no sugar) 200819224 10.0% Free
 
Link to the USDA GAIN report can be found here.

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