Further to our alert on the development of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiation (Link), we would like to share additional details about the RCEP based on the current information available. The RCEP members signed the RCEP on 15 November 2020 during the 37th ASEAN Summit. After the signing, the Thai government shall arrange for a public hearing before presenting to the parliament for ratification. We will keep you updated on this issue if…
On 30 October 2020, the Swiss Federal Council announced that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) concluded between the states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Ecuador enters into force on 1 November. To that end, on 18 September, the Federal Council adopted the necessary amendments to the ordinances implementing the customs duty concessions set out in the agreement. This modern agreement will help to boost trade relations between the EFTA states and…
On October 29, 2020, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) published in the Federal Register a notice announcing the effective date of modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) concerning the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (USCTPA) contained in Proclamation 10053 of June 29, 2020, will be January 1, 2021, with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after that date. The…
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that on October 23, the secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (the “Agreement”) notified all member parties that Mongolia had deposited a letter of acceptance, and completed the Agreement accession procedures, and plans to be in January 2021. On the 1st, mutual tariff reduction arrangements were implemented with relevant members. According to the tariff reduction arrangement, Mongolia will reduce tariffs on 366 tax items, mainly related to aquatic products, vegetables…
On 22 October 2020, the Department for International Trade (DIT) announced that the United Kingdom and Japan will sign theUK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Tokyo on 23 October. The DIT said: The British-shaped deal is the first agreement that the UK has secured that goes beyond the existing EU deal, with enhancements in areas such as digital and data, financial services, food and drink, and creative industries. It brings together two of the world’s…
On October 19, 2020, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the USTR had directed US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to continue to block future timber imports from Inversiones La Oroza SRL (Oroza), a Peruvian exporter, based on illegally harvested timber found in its supply chain. The current CBP denial of entry order against Oroza was set to expire this month. This marks the third time that the Trump Administration has…
On October 19, 2020, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published in the Federal Register a notice advising the public that, pursuant to delegated authority, the USTR is requiring the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration (SBA Advocacy) to delay submission of the report to Congress on the economic impacts on small businesses of the United States-Kenya trade agreement until negotiations conclude. The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act…
On October 19, 2020, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published in the Federal Register an invitation for applicants [Docket Number USTR-2020-0039] for a roster of individuals to serve on binational panels convened to review final determinations in antidumping or countervailing duty (AD/CVD) proceedings and amendments to AD/CVD statutes of a USMCA Party. The United States annually renews its selections for the roster. The USTR invites applications from eligible individuals wishing to…
The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced that on October 12, Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan and Minister of Commerce of Cambodia Pan Sousa represented the Chinese and Cambodian governments in Beijing and Phnom Penh respectively, and formally signed the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Royal Government of Cambodia (hereinafter referred to as Chinese Cambodia Free Trade Agreement). Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and visiting State Councilor and…
On October 5, 2020, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published in the Federal Register a technical correction to the HTSUS modifications that were made in the Annexes to Proclamation 10053 of June 29, 2020 (85 FR 39821), which implemented the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA or Agreement). These corrections are contained in an Annex to the document and are retroactive to July 1, 2020: Annex Effective with respect to goods of USMCA countries…