Foreign traders, please check: Review and Outlook of One Week's Hot News (8.1-8.31)

01. Starting from August, CCC certification management will be implemented for lithium-ion battery packs and mobile power supplies.

 Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, July 20 (Reporter Zhao Wenjun) The State Administration for Market Regulation recently issued an announcement to implement CCC certification management for lithium-ion batteries, battery packs, and mobile power supplies starting from August 1, 2023. Starting from August 1, 2024, products that have not obtained the CCC certification and the certification mark will not be allowed to factory, sell, import or use in other business activities.

 According to the results of the national product quality supervision and spot inspection conducted by the State Administration for Market Regulation, the qualification rate of lithium-ion batteries for mobile phones is less than 90%, and the qualification rate of mobile power supplies has been hovering between 60% and 80%. Compulsory product certification, also known as CCC certification, is a market access system implemented by the Chinese government for products involving personal health and safety in accordance with relevant laws and regulations and international practices, and in accordance with the principles of marketization and internationalization. Up to now, the CCC certification system covers 96 products in 16 categories, including household electronic appliances, automobiles, toys and other consumer industrial products that are involved in the daily lives of the public. It has played an important role in promoting the improvement of product safety and quality and protecting consumer rights and interests. important role.

02. The "Regulations on the Management of Packaging Labels of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pieces" will be officially implemented from August 1

 The State Food and Drug Administration issued the "Regulations on the Management of Packaging Labels of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pieces", which will be effective from August 1, 2024. Among them, the shelf life labeling will be implemented from August 1, 2025.  There are 22 articles in the "Regulations", which clarify the scope of application, overall requirements, responsible entities, packaging requirements, label printing requirements, label content requirements, packaging label management during the shipping process, additional label items, special Chinese medicine pieces identification and other related requirements.

 The "Regulations" clearly state that these regulations do not apply to traditional Chinese medicine pieces prepared by pharmaceutical manufacturers that are directly used in pharmaceutical production.  The "Regulations" make it clear that enterprises producing traditional Chinese medicine pieces should strictly follow the regulations, be responsible for the authenticity, accuracy, completeness and standardization of label contents, and assume responsibility for quality and safety. Use appropriate packaging materials that comply with regulations to ensure drug quality and stability. When determining the shelf life through independent research, scientific methods and data should be used to ensure that the slices meet the quality requirements within the labeling period.  .

03.The "Fair Competition Review Regulations" are officially implemented

 Premier Li Qiang signed an order of the State Council promulgating the "Regulations on Fair Competition Review", which will come into effect on August 1, 2024.  The Regulations clarify the standards for fair competition review. Drafting policies and measures must not contain content that restricts or disguises market access and exit, restricts the free flow of goods and factors, unduly affects production and operation costs, and affects production and operation behaviors. The market supervision and administration department shall organize random inspections of relevant policies and measures, and shall urge the drafting unit to make rectifications if they violate the provisions of the Regulations. Any unit or individual may report to the market supervision and management department any policy measures that violate the Regulations.

04. Starting from August 1, overseas arbitration institutions can set up business institutions throughout Shanghai, and the application guidelines have been officially announced.

 On June 25, 2024, the Shanghai Municipal Justice Bureau issued the "Administrative Measures for the Establishment of Business Institutions by Overseas Arbitration Institutions in Shanghai" (hereinafter referred to as the "Shanghai Measures"). According to the "Shanghai Measures", starting from August 1, 2024, non-profit arbitration institutions legally established in foreign countries and my country's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan, as well as international organizations that my country has joined, will Arbitration and dispute resolution institutions established to carry out arbitration business may apply to the Shanghai Municipal Justice Bureau to register and establish business institutions throughout Shanghai to carry out relevant foreign-related arbitration business.

05. Hainan Airlines will launch the Haikou-Moscow international route from August 26

 Beijing Business News (Reporter Guan Zichen and Niu Qingyan) On July 22, according to Hainan Airlines news, Hainan Airlines plans to launch a new Haikou-Moscow route from August 26. This is Hainan Airlines’ first direct flight from Haikou. Russian international routes. It is understood that Hainan Airlines plans to operate three round-trip flights per week on the Haikou-Moscow international route, with flights scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The outbound flight is scheduled to take off from Haikou Meilan International Airport at 2:30 Beijing time and arrive at Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport at 7:40 local time. The flight duration is estimated to be 10 hours and 10 minutes; the return flight is scheduled to depart Moscow Sheremetye at 14:25 local time. It took off from Wo International Airport and arrived at Haikou Meilan International Airport at 5:00 Beijing time the next day. The flight duration is estimated to be 9 hours and 35 minutes. The above flight information is subject to actual inquiry.

06. The Artificial Intelligence Act will take effect across the EU on August 1

 The world's first Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act) issued by the European Union will take effect across the EU on August 1. This is also the most comprehensive bill targeting artificial intelligence regulation released in the world so far. The EU's Artificial Intelligence Act also lays the foundation for global artificial intelligence regulation, aiming to achieve the same "Brussels effect" as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). According to the latest bill, companies that violate the regulations will be subject to administrative fines of up to 35 million euros or 7% of maximum annual revenue, whichever is higher.

07. The Russian government will resume the gasoline export ban from August 1

 On July 23, local time, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Novak said that starting from August 1, the Russian government would reinstate the ban on the export of gasoline and petroleum products. The Russian government has received the Russian Ministry of Energy’s proposal to continue to implement the export ban in September and October, and will review the proposal from the perspective of supply and demand balance and domestic market supply. If necessary, the ban on gasoline exports may continue in September and October. The Russian government previously decided to temporarily ban gasoline exports for six months starting from March 1, 2024, in order to cope with the increase in domestic market demand in the spring and summer. The Russian government exempted the gasoline export ban during July based on market supply conditions.

08. The United States delays the imposition of additional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other products

 Two days before the new Section 301 tariffs imposed by the United States on China officially came into effect, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) issued a statement on July 30, saying that the tariffs originally scheduled to take effect on August 1 include electric vehicles and their batteries. A series of significant tariff increases on products imported from China will be postponed for "at least two weeks." It is reported that this move is because for some products, there are voices in the United States requesting an extension, and the United States needs more time to coordinate opinions.

09. The U.S.’s final rules on “unreasonable refusal to book space” announce increased liability for container carriers

 On July 22, local time, the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) officially announced the final rule on "Unreasonable refusal of bookings by ocean common carriers (VOCC)". The rule is the FMC’s latest move to implement the U.S. Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA 2022), and the rule applies to VOCCs and containerized cargo. According to the new requirements of OSRA 2022, VOCC shall not unreasonably refuse to trade or negotiate for ship space, and the burden of proof will be transferred from the shipper to VOCC.

 The rule will take effect 60 days from the date of publication in the U.S. Federal Register. However, the requirement for VOCC to submit an annual export policy to the FMC was delayed pending approval by the Office of Management and Budget.  The FMC will announce the effective date of this requirement upon approval.

10. Pakistan will provide visa exemption for Chinese citizens from August 14

 According to CCTV News, on August 1, local time, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan would implement a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens from August 14.