Japan update dual-use control list - Draft released for public comment

On July 31, the draft of dual-use items control list update was released for public comment.
This is supposed to reflect Wassenaar Arrangement update in December 2012.

http://search.e-gov.go.jp/servlet/Public?CLASSNAME=PCMMSTDETAIL&id=595113039&Mode=0

Public comment due is August 30, it is expected the implementation date would be around October?

Trade concern raised against Japan’s “wood point stimulus programme”

According to WTO news on 11 July, at the Council for Trade in Goods meeting on 11 July 2013, concerns were raised over certain trade measures by Japan.

The EU expressed concern that Japan’s “wood point stimulus programme” to boost the supply and use of domestic forest products would admit only Japanese wood species and not foreign wood. Canada, New Zealand, US and Malaysia expressed concern that the programme would negatively impact imported wood products.   Japan said that the purpose of the programme is to encourage the use of wood from forests that are increasing in volume. It said that the programme is non-discriminatory, and that foreign suppliers can join the programme.

Reference: 
WTO news http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news13_e/good_11jul13_e.htm

“wood point stimulus programme” (in Japanese)
http://mokuzai-points.jp/about/index.html

US CCL reflect Wassenaar 2012 update

I'm afraid I missed Federal Register Vol 78 issued on June 20, 2013, which contains Commerce Control List ("CCL") update, reflecting Wassenaar Arrangement December 2012 update.
This rule is effective on June 20, 2013.
http://www.bis.doc.gov/federal_register/rules/2013/78FR37372.pdf

One of the changes for IT industries are, for example, as below.

4D001:  4D001.a is amended by deleting the term "use", because no "use" software of concern could be identified for this entry.

5A002:  Added new paragraph Note 3 - b. which uncontrolled the hardware components of existing items of mass market items.

So, along with Hong Kong's Strategic Trade Control List which is effective from July 8 and reflecting Wassenaar December 2012 list, US CCL is basically in tandem with Hong Kong' list.
Japan is expected to update the list sometime summer in 2013.

Hong Kong export control list update effective on July 8, 2013

As notified in this blog on May 28,
http://japantradecompliance.blogspot.jp/2013/05/hong-kong-export-control-list-updated.html,
Hong Kong's export control list is updated to include updated control items list on international regimes, such as Wassenaar Arrangement dual-use list on December 2012.

The revised control list will become effective on 8 July 2013.
http://www.stc.tid.gov.hk/english/circular_pub/2013_stc08.html

Second Round of Negotiations on the Japan-EU EPA

According to press release on July 3 from MOFA and METI, the second round of negotiations on the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement ("EPA") was held in Tokyo, from June 24 to July 3.
At the meeting, fruitful discussions were conducted on areas such as trade in goods, trade in services, investment, intellectual property rights, non-tariff measures, government procurement and others.
The next round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in Brussels, Belgium in the week of October 21.

EU's request to Japan is not only tariff reduction in trade in goods, but removal of non-tariff measures, such as unclear industrial standard or incomprehensible process for foreign companies in various government approval in Japan.

Third Round of Negotiations for Japan-Canada EPA

According to the press release by MOFA and METI on July 2nd, the third round of negotiations for an EPA between Japan and Canada will be held in Tokyo from Monday, July 8 to Friday, July 12.

The discussion topic information is not available in MOFA web site.  http://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press6e_000140.html

The 4th round of negotiation of Japan-Monglica EPA

The Fourth Round of Negotiations for the Japan-Mongolia Economic Partnership Agreement ("EPA") will be held from July 2 to 5, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan.
In this round, negotiations in areas including Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin, Customs Procedures, Dispute Settlement, Investment, Competition, Government Procurement, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS), Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), E-Commerce are scheduled to be held.

(Source: http://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2013/0628_01.html )