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
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.