Trade Update – 16th June 2022: AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES NITRATE DUMPING INQUIRY, US NOMINATES NEW TRADE NEGOTIATOR, AUSTRALIA CONTINUES CALL FOR WTO REFORM and many more…
Weekly trade review provided by Chatto Creek Advisory Pty.
Chatto Creek Advisory Pty Ltd is a Melbourne-based strategic consultancy specialising in trade policy advice and government engagement strategy. It is headed by Russell Scoular, an executive with rich government relations, trade policy, and business experience throughout the Asia Pacific.
AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES NITRATE DUMPING INQUIRY: Australia has launched an anti-dumping inquiry into ammonium nitrate imported from Vietnam, Chile and Lithuania. This follows a complaint by domestic producers. Ammonium nitrate is widely used as a fertilizer and in the manufacture of mining explosives.
US NOMINATES NEW TRADE NEGOTIATOR: President Biden has announced the nomination of Doug McKalip as Chief Agricultural Negotiator. It follows the withdrawal of Elaine Trevino whose nomination did not proceed to a confirmation hearing. McKalip is currently a senior advisor to Agriculture Secretary Vilsack.
AUSTRALIA CONTINUES CALL FOR WTO REFORM: Trade Minister Farrell has called for continued efforts to reform the WTO. Speaking at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference, where he was one of the three vice-chairs, he said delegates should commit to reform including a fully functioning dispute settlement system.
CHINA LAUNCHES FISH SPAT WITH TAIWAN: Taiwan has flagged dispute action at the WTO following China’s import ban on groper from the island economy. The Taipei Times reported China claimed it had detected banned chemicals in imported fish. The latest biosecurity trade ban follows a series of fruit bans.
US HOSTS INFORMAL TRADE MEETING IN PARIS: US Trade Representative Tai hosted an informal meeting of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework partners in Paris at the weekend where she shared her vision for the framework’s trade pillar. The meeting was held ahead of the WTO 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva.
INDIA & EU TO RESUME FTA NEGOTIATIONS: India and the European Union are expected to resume FTA negotiations this week. It follows an agreement in 2021 to resume negotiations. The talks faltered in 2013 after six years and 16 negotiating rounds due to a mismatch of ambition levels.
AUSTRALIAN NEGOTIATOR VISITS EU CAPITALS: Australia’s chief negotiator for its FTA negotiations with the European Union, Alison Burrows, has been in Europe for a series of stakeholder meetings in Brussels, Paris, Prague and Stockholm. A 12th round of FTA negotiations, first held in 2018, was held in February.
PHILIPPINES REACHES OUT FOR A BANANA HIKE: The Philippines Embassy in Tokyo has called on Japanese businesses to ensure banana supplies by looking at a price hike as an investment in the sustainable future of the Philippine industry. The Philippines has also signed investment agreements with Israel and the UAE.
NZ MINISTER BEATS COVID FOR GENEVA: Trade Minister O’Connor was a delayed departure for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference after a positive test for COVID-19. He missed OECD meetings in Paris but made an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework meeting and was named facilitator for WTO fish subsidy talks.
US SUSPENDS ASEAN SOLAR DUTIES: The US has suspended import duties on solar panels from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Solar goods from China were not included in the two-year duty suspension which was announced by President Biden as part of a package of environmental measures.
