China and Nicaragua completed free trade negotiations July 25, China's Ministry of Commerce announced, according to an unofficial translation. Both sides agreed to "sign and implement the agreement as soon as possible," the release said. The ministry noted the deal will provide guarantees for economic and trade exchanges and "further improve the level of bilateral economic and trade cooperation."

The U.K.-Singapore Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Authorized Economic Operators (see 2306270024) will take effect Aug. 1, Singapore Customs announced. Companies certified via Singapore Customs' Secure Trade Partnership-Plus program "can now benefit from facilitated clearance for their goods exported to the UK," Singapore Customs said. Companies certified under the U.K.'s AEO program will have the same benefits. The announcement outlines the steps companies must take under the arrangement, including having exporting or importing firms obtain the AEO code from their U.K. business partners.

A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce said China is "deeply dissatisfied" with Japan's export restrictions on semiconductors (see 2303310031), which took effect July 23 "[d]espite China's serious concerns." The spokesperson said during a press conference this week that the country has made "serious démarches to Japan at various levels." Imposing trade restrictions "to push for decoupling and disrupt" high-tech supply chains is "wrong and against the law of the market economy, the principle of free trade and international economic and trade rules," the spokesperson said. China wants Japan to keep its larger trading relationship in mind and "not to abuse export controls," the spokesperson said.

Cambodia recently approved a new draft law to set rules of origin for exports and imports under the country’s preferential trade systems, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported July 21. The rules are meant to help identify the origins of Cambodian products for “quality assurance purposes and brand protection” and protect domestic from “the illegal practice of importing goods then reexporting them as Cambodian products,” HKTDC said.

The Singapore Customs TradeNet will undergo system maintenance 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time Aug. 6 and Aug. 13, it said July 21. Singapore Customs advises users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to the usual 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday maintenance.

China imposed quarantine and sanitation requirements on imports of Mongolian sheep and goats, the General Administration of Customs announced, according to an unofficial translation. The restrictions cover sheep and goats that have been slaughtered within 14 days of entering China and are not for breeding purposes.

USDA in a recent report reminded exporters of new requirements for canned beef, pork and poultry products destined to Taiwan. Effective July 1, those products need to be accompanied by certain Food Safety and Inspection Service certificates must include “three pieces of extra information”: storage condition, sterilizing condition and the type of facility. The change follows Taiwan’s new certification requirements for livestock and poultry that took effect Oct. 1.

China imposed inspection and quarantine requirements on imports of beef from Poland and coconut meal from the Solomon Islands, the General Administration of Customs announced in a two separate notices, according to an unofficial translation. The measures on the Polish beef apply to frozen edible boneless beef under 30 months old, including cheek muscles, head muscles, diaphragm muscles, minced meat, ground meet and trimmings. Byproducts are not allowed to be shipped to China. The measures on the coconut meal refer to byproducts of coconuts after cleaning and pressing, and are aimed at making sure pests do not enter with the meal.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said no decision has been made yet on whether there will be an executive order limiting outbound investment in China. "It's still something being discussed in the administration and the timing of it is not yet certain," she said on "Face the Nation" from China, before she returned from a diplomatic visit there. "But I wanted to explain to my Chinese counterparts that if we go forward with this executive order, that we will do so in a transparent and narrowly targeted way." She said what's being considered is only for "very narrow high technology areas," and should not significantly impact overall investment in China.

The Singapore Customs TradeNet will undergo system maintenance July 23 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time, it said July 7. Singapore Customs advises users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to the usual 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday maintenance.