China’s new export inspections for quality control on certain medical equipment (see 2004100043) caused “immediate” delays of shipments as traders and manufacturers tried to understand how best to comply, according to an April 11 report in The New York Times. Producers, freight agents and other stakeholders said the delays have lasted anywhere from a few hours to a few days, the report said.

Vietnam's textile, footwear and wood sectors are seeing a significant decline in exports as key markets cancel orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an April 12 report from CustomsNews, the mouthpiece for Vietnam Customs. “Major markets,” such as the European Union and the U.S., have canceled or suspended a range of orders, hitting Vietnamese textile and garment companies particularly hard, the report said. If the trend continues, the garment industry is expected to lose 3 trillion Vietnamese dong per month, the report said. In addition, Vietnamese timber companies have not signed new orders for the upcoming season because “customers are not coming to the factory to approve samples.”

China will increase supervision and inspections of exports of certain medical equipment, China’s General Administration of Customs said April 10, according to an unofficial translation of an announcement. The increased inspections will apply to 11 items, China said: medical masks, medical protective clothing, ventilators, infrared thermometer, medical surgical caps, medical goggles, medical gloves, medical shoe covers, patient monitor, medical disinfectant towels and medical disinfectants. The restrictions could slow shipments of medical supplies from China to countries in need of medical goods, according to an April 10 report in The Wall Street Journal.

China plans to upgrade its online declaration system to allow companies to more easily apply for tariff exemptions for imported U.S. goods (see 2003180018), according to an April 7 report from Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency. The online system will allow companies to more conveniently submit their “procurement plans” and allow authorities to better process exemption applications, Xinhua said. The system will especially help applications “involving a procurement amount of less than 3,000 U.S. dollars or when the time of import approached,” the report said. The system will also include a process to “accelerate re-editing for approved” procurement plans, transactions records and other information, Xinhua said.

India is lifting export restrictions on certain active pharmaceutical ingredients, according to an April 6 notice from the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Export restrictions no longer apply to more than 20 APIs, according to the notice.

Singapore Customs is advising traders to use only electronic certificates of origin due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an April 7 notice. This includes forms submitted through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Single Window and the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement.

Japan issued an export ban on an individual for making illegal exports of frozen cod in 2011, according to an April 3 notice from the country’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Matsumoto Susumu violated Japan’s Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act by exporting 410 tons of cod worth about 20 million Japanese yen to North Korea without the required approval, the notice said. All exports to North Korea have been prohibited by Japan since June 18, 2009. Susumu is prohibited from exporting any type of product to any destination April 10 through Dec. 9, 2020.

South Korea will expand its free-trade zones in an effort to boost exports during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an April 6 report from the Yonhap News Agency. The measures will expand the size of the Incheon International Airport free-trade zone and the Busan Port by about 10% and 30%, respectively, the report said, and comes as the country’s exports decreased for 14 consecutive month before a slight rebound in February. The zones provide companies with eased regulations and customs benefits.

China recently announced procedures for returns of cross-border exported and imported e-commerce goods, according to an April 3 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Traders seeking to return goods must apply to China’s customs authority to “engage in return business,” the report said. Any returns must come with a “guarantee” that the returns are the original goods, the report said, and must be completed within a certain time frame. The measures for returns of exports took effect March 27, and for returns of imports, on March 28.

China is blocking imports transported by truck drivers from five of Vietnam’s cities and provinces, including the country’s capital, according to an April 3 report from CustomsNews, the mouthpiece for Vietnam Customs. China informed Vietnam that it will bar drivers delivering goods from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Da Nang and Binh Thuan, saying those regions have “recorded many new and complex cases of coronavirus” COVID-19. Vietnam Customs is telling agricultural companies to “plan for the consumption of agricultural goods in the domestic market” and to remain in communication with the customs agency to minimize the “backlog of goods and economic losses.”