The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said India will reduce tariffs on fresh, frozen, dried or processed blueberries and cranberries, and will reduce tariffs on frozen turkey and duck.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced steps meant to aid its fisheries industries following China's import restrictions in reaction to Japan's release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant (see 2308240012). The ministry said it will seek "the immediate abolition of measures that are not based on scientific grounds" and make "every effort to fully support the fisheries industry nationwide." Japan pledged an 80 billion yen (about $542 million) fund and emergency support to "disperse dependence on specific countries and regions." The ministry's plan is to "build a new supply and demand structure for marine products."

China’s commerce minister last week voiced “serious concerns” with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo about U.S. semiconductor export control policies, investment restrictions, “discriminatory subsidies” and sanctions on Chinese companies, a ministry spokesperson told reporters during an Aug. 31 news conference. The minister also asked Raimondo for the U.S. to treat all companies “equally in terms of market access, regulatory enforcement, public procurement, and policy support,” the spokesperson said, according to an unofficial translation.

China will allow imports of beef from Nicaragua that meet certain inspection and quarantine requirements, the country’s General Administration of Customs announced Sept. 1, according to an unofficial translation. The announcement came one day after the two countries signed a free trade deal that will reduce certain tariffs, and import and export restrictions on certain goods (see 2308310020).

China’s General Administration of Customs reminded traders that its mutual recognition arrangement with South Africa took effect Sept. 1, allowing each side to recognize the other's authorized economic operators and receive other customs benefits. The arrangement, signed in June 2021, will help aid customs clearances, give priority to shipments between the two countries, lower inspection rates and more, according to an unofficial translation.

China and Nicaragua signed a free trade agreement Aug. 31, China's Ministry of Commerce announced, according to an unofficial translation. Negotiations on the deal began in July 2022 and were concluded within a year, the ministry said, adding that the agreement will allow for a "mutual opening up" in trade in goods and services and investment market access.

India will allow rice shipments to Singapore despite its recent export restrictions on the grain (see 2308280015), a spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs announced. Formal orders will be issued shortly, the spokesperson said, noting the decision was made to allow the exports to "meet the food security requirements of Singapore" and in light of the "very close strategic partnership" between India and Singapore.

Australia exported its first shipment of barley to China after the Chinese duties on the agricultural product were dropped (see 2308040064), Australian Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said during a news conference. The exports were sent from Kwinana -- a major terminal for grains below Perth operated by CBH Group. China imposed the duties in 2020 due to a breakdown in relations between the two nations.

Australia's Defence Export Controls, Border Force and Department of Foreign Affairs will hold a joint outreach event Sept. 4, both online and in Adelaide, addressing the "requirements exporters must meet when" shipping controlled goods. The event will be split into three sessions: an overview of Australia's export controls, a whole-of-government presentation on export controls, and case studies on technical assessments and noncompliance.

India imposed additional restrictions on the export of basmati rice in an attempt to stop non-basmati white rice exports being misclassified as basmati rice, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced. After barring the export of non-basmati white rice July 20, the ministry said contracts for basmati exports valued at over $1,200 per metric ton should be registered for an allocation certificate and contracts valued below $1,200 per metric ton may be kept in abeyance and evaluated by a committee for "understanding the variation in prices and use of this route for export of non-Basmati white rice."