Algeria: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a GAIN report on January 24, 2021, providing information on export certificates required by the Government of Algeria. Effective on December 31, 2021, this new regulation requires Algerian importers to have an electronic trade register for each single sub-group of products they import.
| Product (s) | Certificate’s Title | Purpose | Requested Ministry |
| Tree Nuts |
|
Food Safety Food Quality |
Ministry of Agriculture Phytosanitary Directorate (DPVCT) |
China-New Zealand: FTA Upgrade Enters into Force in April
The upgrade is set to provide better conditions for services exporters, improved market access for goods, a reduction in other barriers affecting exports and new areas of cooperation, among other things. Improvements include new chapters in cooperation on competition policy, e-commerce, government procurement, environment and trade.
A new chapter will be added to the agreement to promote environmental protection and that environmental standards are not used for trade protectionist purposes. It builds upon and complements the existing environment cooperation agreement that was negotiated alongside the original free trade agreement. The chapter also provides for New Zealand and China to engage on a range of environment issues.
It will enter into force April 7, 2022.
A new chapter will be added to the agreement to promote environmental protection and that environmental standards are not used for trade protectionist purposes. It builds upon and complements the existing environment cooperation agreement that was negotiated alongside the original free trade agreement. The chapter also provides for New Zealand and China to engage on a range of environment issues.
It will enter into force April 7, 2022.
Costa Rica-Israel: First Agricultural Cooperation Agreement Signed
The memorandum of understanding, signed by the agricultural ministers of the two countries, would intend to lead to a significant increase in trade relations between both parties. The agreement would constitute an important base for Israel's agriculture and agrotechnology in Central America, and will also benefit Costa Rica in its agricultural technologies.
Under the agreement, the two countries will also exchange policy and regulation information on sustainable and efficient use of water resources for agriculture, and promote agricultural research collaborations, especially advanced solutions for growing and producing food in changing climatic conditions.
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Under the agreement, the two countries will also exchange policy and regulation information on sustainable and efficient use of water resources for agriculture, and promote agricultural research collaborations, especially advanced solutions for growing and producing food in changing climatic conditions.
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Open Balkan Initiative Helps Alleviate Agricultural Trade
At the end of 2021, leaders of Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia signed six new agreements as part of the Open Balkan initiative, which aims to ease trade and boost economic development across the region. They include the Agreement on Conditions for Free Access to the Labor Market, the Agreement on Connecting Electronic Identification Schemes for Citizens, and the Agreement on Cooperation in Veterinary, Phytosanitary, and Food and Feed Safety in the Western Balkans.
According to FreshPlaza, since the start of 2022 this new trade initiative is helping ease agricultural logistics, as trucks with agricultural products from those three countries have been passing the border control points without waiting.
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According to FreshPlaza, since the start of 2022 this new trade initiative is helping ease agricultural logistics, as trucks with agricultural products from those three countries have been passing the border control points without waiting.
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US: Peanut Promotion, Research, and Information Order
A new rule established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) changes the threshold for defining primary peanut producing states as states that maintain a 3-year average production of at least 20,000 tons of peanuts, instead of 10,000 tons as currently prescribed in the Peanut Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order). The Order is administered by the National Peanut Board (Board) with oversight by the USDA. As a result of increasing the threshold, the Board’s membership will decrease from 13 to 12 members and their respective alternates.
Effective since January 20, 2022.
Effective since January 20, 2022.
US-Morocco: 2022 FTA Tariff Schedule
A GAIN report by the USDA highlights the announcements made by the Government of Morocco at the start of January regarding the required tariff changes under the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for Calendar Year 2022. The circular includes tariffs, tariff-rate quotas (TRQs), tariff-rate quota administration, agricultural safeguard measures, products covered by the preference clause, and allocation procedures.
Almonds fall under Annex IV – B for agricultural products initially subject to quotas but whose decommissioning has ended.
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Almonds fall under Annex IV – B for agricultural products initially subject to quotas but whose decommissioning has ended.
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