On May 24, Premier Li Qiang presided over a State Council executive meeting, during which the "Opinions on Expanding Cross-Border E-Commerce Exports and Promoting the Construction of Overseas Warehouses" was reviewed and approved.

The meeting highlighted that developing new foreign trade models such as cross-border e-commerce and overseas warehouses is beneficial for optimizing the structure and stabilizing the scale of foreign trade, as well as creating new advantages in international economic cooperation. Efforts should be made to actively cultivate cross-border e-commerce businesses, encourage localities to leverage their unique advantages to support traditional foreign trade enterprises in developing cross-border e-commerce, enhance the training of cross-border e-commerce talent, and provide more platforms for businesses to showcase and connect, while continuously promoting brand building.

It is necessary to increase financial support, strengthen the construction of relevant infrastructure and logistics systems, optimize supervision and services, and actively engage in the development of standards, rules, and international cooperation. Additionally, industry self-regulation should be reinforced to guide orderly competition and better empower the development of the entire industrial chain.

To further enhance the management of exports of chemicals prone to drug production, in accordance with the "Interim Regulations on the Export Management of Chemicals Prone to Drug Production to Specific Countries (Regions)," the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Emergency Management, the General Administration of Customs, and the National Medical Products Administration have decided to adjust the "List of Chemicals Prone to Drug Production for Export to Specific Countries (Regions)," adding 24 varieties such as Hydrobromic Acid.

The adjusted "List of Chemicals Prone to Drug Production for Export to Specific Countries (Regions)" will come into effect on May 1, 2024. From the date of implementation of this announcement, exports of chemicals listed in the appendix to Myanmar, Laos, and Afghanistan shall be subject to permit application in accordance with the "Interim Regulations on the Export Management of Chemicals Prone to Drug Production to Specific Countries (Regions)," while exports to other countries (regions) do not require permit application.

On May 30th, the State Council Customs Tariff Commission issued an announcement regarding the suspension of tariff concessions for certain products (second batch) under the "Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement." This action was taken due to unilateral discriminatory measures imposed by Taiwan on mainland Chinese exports, which violated the provisions of the "Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement."

On December 21st, 2023, the State Council Customs Tariff Commission issued Announcement No. 9 of 2023, suspending tariff concessions for certain products under the "Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement." However, Taiwan has not taken any effective measures to lift its trade restrictions on the mainland.

According to the "Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement," the State Council Customs Tariff Commission has decided, in accordance with regulations and procedures, to further suspend tariff concessions for certain products under the agreement. Starting from June 15th, 2024, the agreement tariff rates under the "Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement" will be suspended for 134 import products originating from Taiwan, including lubricating oil base oil, and current relevant regulations will be enforced instead.

On May 15, 2024, the European Council adopted a position on updating toy safety regulations to protect children from risks associated with the use of toys. The EU's toy safety rules have become one of the strictest regulations globally, and the new legislation aims to strengthen protection against harmful chemicals (such as endocrine disruptors) and enforce rules through a new Digital Product Passport.

The proposal from the European Commission introduces the Digital Product Passport (DPP), which will include information about toy safety, enabling border control authorities to scan all digital passports using new IT systems. If new risks arise in the future that are not covered in the current text, the Commission will have the authority to update the regulation and order the withdrawal of certain toys from the market.

Additionally, the position of the European Council also specifies requirements for the minimum size, visibility, and readability of warning notices to ensure they are easily visible to the general public. Negotiations have authorized updates to specific rules regarding the use of sensitizing fragrances in toys (including prohibiting the intentional use of fragrances in toys) and the labeling of certain sensitizing fragrances.

On May 8, 2024, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a notification to the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the proposed current energy conservation plan: energy conservation standards for various types of refrigeration products. This agreement aims to prevent fraudulent behavior and protect consumers, as well as environmental conservation.

The refrigeration products covered in this notification include: refrigerators, freezers, and other refrigeration or freezing equipment (electric or other types), heat pumps; their components (excluding air conditioning units under HS code 8415) (HS code: 8418); environmental protection (ICS code: 13.020); general energy efficiency (ICS code: 27.015); household refrigerating appliances (ICS code: 97.040.30); commercial refrigerating appliances (ICS code: 97.130.20).

Under the revised Energy Policy and Conservation Act ("EPCA"), energy conservation standards are established for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including various types of refrigeration products ("MREFs"). In this proposed rulemaking notice, the DOE proposed new energy conservation standards for MREFs identical to those specified in the direct final rule published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2024.

If the DOE receives adverse comments and determines that such comments provide a reasonable basis for withdrawing the direct final rule, the DOE will issue a withdrawal notice and continue to enforce this proposed rule.

On May 7, 2024, according to Knnindia reports, in an effort to enhance toy safety standards in the Indian market, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) recently released a draft of toy safety standards. Stakeholders, including toy industry practitioners and professionals, are invited to provide feedback and suggestions on the draft until July 2.

The standard, titled "Safety of Toys Part 12: Safety Aspects Related to Mechanical and Physical Properties - Comparison of ISO 8124-1, EN 71-1 and ASTM F963," aims to ensure compliance with internationally recognized safety protocols specified in ISO 8124-1, EN 71-1, and ASTM F963.

According to reports from Philippine media on May 17, the Philippine National Economic and Development Authority has approved the expansion of the coverage of Executive Order No. 12 (EO12) on tariffs until 2028. This expansion includes more electric vehicles, including electric motorcycles and electric bicycles, to enjoy zero tariff benefits.

EO12, which came into effect in February 2023, reduced import tariffs on certain electric vehicles and their components from 5% to 30% to zero, lasting for five years.

Arsenio Balisacan, Director-General of the Philippine National Economic and Development Authority, stated that EO12 aims to stimulate the domestic electric vehicle market, support the transition to emerging technologies, reduce dependence on fossil fuels in the transportation system, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions from road traffic

South Korea has released the names of consumer chemical products that require safety verification along with their safety and labeling standards. These products, assessed for risk under the Consumer Chemicals and Biocides Safety Control Act, are designated by the Minister of Environment and publicly notified as products with risks.

Individuals or entities manufacturing or importing products listed in the consumer chemical products requiring safety verification must undergo safety confirmation every three years through designated inspection agencies. Following confirmation, an application for confirmation must be submitted to the Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute. For consumer chemical products whose safety standards have not yet been published, individuals or entities must provide information on the chemicals contained in the product to obtain approval from the Ministry of Environment.

This requirement applies to products such as humidifiers, infectious disease disinfectants, other preventive disinfectants, insect repellents, hygiene preventive insecticides, and hygiene insecticides. Additionally, individuals or entities intending to sell or distribute consumer chemical products that have undergone safety verification, and whose safety has been confirmed or approved for listing, must comply with product labeling standards.

Recently, the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (COSQC) of Iraq has implemented new labeling requirements for products entering the Iraqi market.

Arabic Language Labeling Required: Starting from May 14, 2024, all products sold in Iraq must bear Arabic language labels, whether used alone or alongside English.

Applicable to All Product Types: This requirement covers all products seeking entry into the Iraqi market, regardless of product category.

Phased Implementation: The new labeling rules apply to revisions of national and factory standards, laboratory specifications, and technical regulations published before May 21, 2023.

According to a report by the Argentinean financial newspaper "El Cronista," the Argentinean government has decided to relax controls on 36% of imported products and goods. Previously, these products had to undergo approval through Argentina's most stringent customs control channel, the "red channel," which required verification of whether the declared contents matched the actual imported goods.

According to resolutions No. 154/2024 and No. 112/2024 published in the official gazette, the government "exempts goods that require excessive customs inspections from mandatory red channel supervision by subjecting imported goods to document and physical monitoring." The report indicates that this measure significantly reduces container shipping costs and delivery times, thereby alleviating import costs for Argentinean companies.

On May 22nd, the Colombian government officially issued Decree No. 0659, updating the "Colombian Customs Regulations" with the aim of reducing logistics time and costs for clearing goods, as well as strengthening anti-smuggling measures and improving border control.

The new decree mandates mandatory pre-declaration, requiring most incoming goods to be declared in advance, which will make selective management and the clearance process more efficient and expedited. It also outlines procedures for selective inspections, aiming to minimize the movement of customs officials and expedite the inspection and release of goods.

Customs duties can be paid after the selection and inspection process, facilitating business processes and reducing the time goods spend in warehouses. Additionally, it establishes a "business emergency status" for special circumstances such as congestion at arrival points, public disorder, or natural disasters. In such cases, customs inspections can be conducted in warehouses or bonded areas until normal conditions are restored.