2010年9月16日木曜日

Japan request for WTO consultation on certain Local Content Requirements in the Feed-in Tariff Program in Ontario, Canada

WTO related news released from METI on Sept 13, 2010, requesting WTO consultation in the unfair treatment against Ontario, Canada.

See this news release from METI: http://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/data/20100913_01.html

"The Government of Ontario has established a Feed-in Tariff Program, in which electricity generated by using renewable energy (e.g. solar and wind energy) is subsidized.
The Program sets forth certain local content requirements, which accords less favorable treatments to imported equipments than those made in Ontario.
These requirements imposed by the province of Ontario are inconsistent with the Canada’s obligations under the WTO Agreement. Thus, Japan requested for consultations with the Canadian government."

2010年9月11日土曜日

BIS update CCL implementing Wassenaar 2009

On September 7, 2010, BIS updated CCL which identifies items subject to DoC export control.
The change is to implement Wassenaar December 2009 Plenary Agreement which covers dual-use goods and technologies.

The change pertains to Categories 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Part I (telecommunication), 6, 7, and 9.

Please be noted ECCN 5A002, 5D002, 6A002, 6A003, 8A002 and all related ECCNs will be implemented in a separate rule because of the sensitivity of the items and complexity of procedures.

In addition, APP (Adjusted Peak Performance) of digital computer 4A003 will be implemented in a separate rule when the President's report for High Performance Computers has been sent to Congress that sets forth the new APP in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act for FY1998. (Looking at CCL of 4A003.b as of today, the APP is still 0.75WT, while WA 2009 set APP in 1.5WT.)

As for other countries, Japan and Hong Kong already implement Wassenaar 2009, while EU and Singapore still maintain Wassenaar 2008 dual-use list.

2010年9月10日金曜日

India - Japan agreed EPA

On September 9, 2010, METI announced Japan and India reached mutual agreement to conclude EPA, which negotiation has continued since January 2007. The implementation of this EPA will be 12th EPA Japan have concluded, and first EPA with BRICs. It is expected to be implemented in sometime 2011.

Within 10 years after the implementation, customs duty for the trade amount of 94% will be abolished. (Export from Japan to India is 90%, and export from India to Japan is 97% respectively.) Steel products or vehicle parts will be duty free in importing into India, this is promising news for Japanese manufacturers, who struggles in shrinking domestics market.

While India request to Japan to simplify the approval procedures for the sale of generic drugs and to expand job opportunities for Indians hoping to work in Japan, this request is not finalized yet, just agreed to keep discussing. Also, Japan keep a number of agricultural items, such as rice, wheat, meat and sugar etc., excluding from duty reduction.

(Reference: METI announcement http://www.meti.go.jp/press/20100909006/20100909006.html )

2010年9月7日火曜日

FAQ for Malaysia Stretegic Trade Act

As previously mentioned in this blog, Malaysia will implement Strategic Trade Act 2010 ("STA") on October 1st, 2010. Although it is much earlier than expected, good news for trader is that the STA provide 3 months grace period from the commencement date of STA. In this period, the STA provide a deeming temporary authorization for the applicant to continue with existing activities.

Malaysian MITI posted Key Features of the STA and FAQ on their web site. This is comprehensive and easy-to-understand guideline. Please see:
http://www.miti.gov.my/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.section.Section_356e3af1-c0a81573-272f272f-b7977e99
(or http://www.miti.gov.my/cms/index.jsp Home --> Guidline --> Strategic Trade Act)


Controlled Items List is not officially gazetted yet here, but by looking through the FAQ document, the category code is apparently similar to Wassenaar type ECCN (e.g. Category 4 is computer, Category 5 is telecommunication and information security). In FAQ, they mention about "ECCN" numbering scheme, cite as examples such as 1A002, 4D003, or 9E102 which looks like same scheme as US and EU.

In addition, this FAQ provide export permit types, application turn-around time, and the validity period. Malaysia have multiple types of bulk permit in audition to single-use permit.

This MITI web site is apparently new, since the total visitors shows below 100 as of today.
Perhaps, more details such as Ministerial Order will be published in this web site?

2010年9月3日金曜日

Japan amend Proliferation End-User List Again

On Sept 3rd, 2010, METI announced update of Proliferation End-User List again following the update in August last month.
This time, again, is also addition of Iranian entities only, plus 39 Iranian entities make it total number of entities of the list 331.

This is off course based on the follow up action of UNSCR 1929, which is sanction to Iran.
Frequent update of this list is unusual, it has been usually once a year in practice.

Trade need to follow up to use the latest list for catch-all end-user screening.

2010年9月2日木曜日

US Export Control Reform - What's going on?

From August 31 to September 2 in Washington, BIS Update conference is held and many of my colleagues and friends are there. With this timing, very important message was dispatched from President Obama regarding the direction of US Export Control.
For those who wish to know US Export Control, I strongly recommend to read below press release from White House.

"President Obama Lays the Foundation for a New Export Control System To Strengthen National Security and the Competitiveness of Key U.S. Manufacturing and Technology Sectors"
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/08/30/president-obama-lays-foundation-a-new-export-control-system-strengthen-n

Also, the speech by Assistant Secretary Mr. Kevin Wolf is very comprehensive and indicating the picture how US export control reform will be. I believe trader must read his speech for understanding the new regulation! Don't miss out his very important message.
http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2010/wolf_update_speech.pdf

2010年9月1日水曜日

Malaysia implement STA by October 2010

I happen to see Malaysia MITI announcement regarding "The Implementation of The Strategic Trade Act 2010" in a news letter format, dated July 27, 2010 and stamped on Aug 04, 2010.

According to this letter, The Strategic Trade Act 2010 is expected to be implemented latest by October 2010. It is earlier schedule than expected, while most of traders don't see the controlled list and detailed procedure etc.

I will keep gathering information on this.

(Reference: http://www.miti.gov.my/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_3176d4a2-c0a81573-170c170c-67aecd2b&curpage=tt )