AUSTRALIAN MINISTER JETS TO EUROPE: Agriculture Minister Collins is in Europe this week to advance a range of agricultural trade issues. She will discuss UK beef market access conditions and EU policies in London and Brussels respectively and attend the Global Forum for Food & Agriculture in Berlin.
CHINA TARGETS BEEF IMPORTS: China may implement new duties on imported beef. It follows the launch of a safeguard inquiry following complaints by local producers over rising import volumes. China’s largest imported beef source countries are Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand and the US.
NEW ZEALAND SIGNS NEW TRADE AGREEMENT: New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates have this week signed a new free trade and investment agreement. The signing in Abu Dhabi by Trade Ministers McClay and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi followed the conclusion of negotiations in September 2024.
AUSTRALIA ENDS PINEAPPLE INQUIRY: Australia has ended an inquiry into the alleged dumping of foodservice supplies of pineapple from Thailand. It follows a finding that any dumping was less than 2% and its impact on industry negligible. Meanwhile David Latina has been appointed Anti-Dumping Commissioner.
US PUBLISHES PIRACY REPORT: The US has published its 2024 Review of Counterfeiting and Piracy Markets. It suggests 96% of 35,000 online pharmacies operate illegally. US Trade Representative Tai described the health and safety concerns posed by counterfeit medicines as particularly troubling.
SOUTH KOREA & PHILIPPINES BEGIN FTA: An FTA between South Korea and the Philippines entered into force on December 31. It followed the signing of the agreement in September 2023. An upgrade protocol for the Singapore-China Free Trade Agreement also entered into force on December 31.
INDONESIA LOSES WTO COMPLAINT: A WTO Dispute Panel has largely found against a complaint by Indonesia over a European Union restriction on biofuels made from palm oil. The WTO Panel did find some deficiencies in the EU measures. Indonesia’s complaint was similar to a case filed by Malaysia in 2021.
AUSTRALIA & JAPAN COMMEMORATE FTA DECADE: Australia and Japan have this week commemorated 10 years of the Japan-Australia FTA. Meanwhile High Commissioner Green and Commerce Secretary Barthwal met in Delhi to discuss the comprehensive FTA negotiations between Australia and India.
MALAYSIA IMPOSES DUMPING DUTIES: Malaysia has implemented preliminary anti-dumping duties of up to 37.44% on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from China and Indonesia and duties of up to 36.8% on a range of flat-rolled iron and non-alloy steel products from China, India, Japan and South Korea.
INDIA PURSUES SPICE BOOST: India is seeking to boost its spice exports with the launching of a new National Turmeric Board. Commerce Minister Goyal said a key responsibility of the new board would be the growth of exports. India is the world’s largest turmeric producer with more than 62% of world trade.