Brazil recently added 108 items and removed 883 items from its list of foreign capital goods and information technology and telecommunications goods subject to duty-free treatment under its Ex-Tarifario regime, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported April 8. The added goods are classified in Harmonized System chapters 84, 85, 86, 87, 89 and 90.
The Canadian Ombudsman for Responsible Enterprise concluded that Dynasty Gold, a mining firm headquartered in British Columbia, allowed Uyghur labor transfers to its joint venture in Xinjiang during 2017-2020, and that such forced labor "may continue to persist" at the Hatu mine in Xinjiang.
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service opened an office in Guadalajara, Mexico, the agency announced this month. FAS Administrator Daniel Whitley said the new location will help USDA “work to tap new export opportunities in Mexico.” The agency said U.S.-Mexico agricultural trade surpassed $76 billion in 2023, setting a record.
Colombia formally reopened its market to U.S. poultry exports last month after it repealed a ban put in place in June due to concerns about highly pathogenic avian influenza (see 2306300037), USDA said in a March 12 report. The agency’s Foreign Agricultural service said American exporters have been able to ship poultry to Colombia as of February, regaining access to what was the 10th-largest global market for U.S. poultry in 2022. USDA said the “reopening comes at an opportune time as Colombian demand for U.S. agricultural products continues to grow.”
The U.S. ambassador to Canada and the Canadian ambassador to the U.S. said trade cooperation between the two countries -- each is the other's top trading partner -- is crucial, but their tone on the NAFTA replacement was slightly different.
Canada last week announced a new set of Iran designations, targeting two Iranian officials involved in implementing policies that violate human rights, “particularly against women and girls of women and girls.” The country said the chief executive of the Tehran metro system, Masoud Dorosti, enforces a mandatory hijab law on public transit, while a senior parliamentarian, Zohreh Elahian, has supported the death penalty for protesters who advocate for women’s rights. “These two individuals have used their positions of influence to call for or carry out increasingly repressive measures against women and girls in Iran,” Canada said.
Brazil, Mexico and Canada recently announced antidumping and countervailing duty actions and decisions on certain products from mainland China, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported March 7.
Canada last week announced new import restrictions on Russian diamonds that are exported from or processed or polished in a third country. The restrictions now apply to natural diamonds 1 carat or greater and to any person in Canada “as well as Canadians outside of Canada.” Canada also said it revised its existing import ban on luxury items from Russia “to ensure consistency and clarity with the existing import ban on diamond and diamond-related products.”
Mexican Economy Secretary Raquel Buenrostro said in Mexico this week that if the U.S. reimposes 25% tariffs on Mexican steel exports over alleged surges, Mexico will retaliate. Mexico's steel exports are only 2.5% of the U.S. market, and U.S. steel exports are 14% of the Mexican market, so the U.S. has more to lose if Section 232 tariffs on Mexican steel return, she said.
Canadian steel importers soon will need to report “country of melt and pour” information to the Canada Border Services Agency when filling out their customs declarations, Canada announced Feb. 21. The new requirement, part of the country's steel import monitoring program, takes effect Nov. 5, although importers have the option of reporting that information now. “This process will ensure Canada is working with the steel industry to support an effective and smooth transition to mandatory reporting in fall 2024,” Canada said.