Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed the pneumonia epidemic caused by the 2019 novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) as an “Public Health Emergency of International Concern”, which has aroused widespread concern in various countries. Although the Director General of the WHO, Tan Desai said that he does not recommend travel and trade restrictions on China, and some countries shall avoid taking extreme response measures, but in order to prevent and control the epidemic, some countries have adjusted their trade policies with China, causing certain impacts on China’s food import and export trade. At the same time, affected by the epidemic, delays in the work resumption of many domestic foreign trade enterprises have also caused losses to China’s foreign trade.
FOODMATE has summarized the impacts of the current COVID-19 caused pneumonia epidemic on food-related trade measures in various countries and regions, for your reference.
China will actively expand imports in response to the COVID-19 caused pneumonia epidemic, further facilitate work related to technology import and export, and provide assistance to foreign trade enterprises
On February 3, 2020, the General Office of the Ministry of Commerce printed and distributed the “Notice on work related to actively expanding imports in response to the COVID-19 caused pneumonia epidemic” and the “Notice on work related to further facilitating technology import and export during epidemic prevention and control”. The document states that China will actively use imports to increase the supply of domestic meat and other agricultural products in the market, give full play to the advantages of the new foreign trade format, and do a good job of expanding imports in light of local realities. In addition, local commerce authorities shall earnestly support enterprises in carrying out normal production and operation activities, and implement “no-meeting” services. On the same day, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, Wang Bingnan said at the press conference of the State Council Information Office that all central departments and local governments are making accurate policies for enterprises to do well in exporting.
At the same time, for the purpose of reducing enterprise losses, the Ministry of Commerce printed and distributed the “Notice on helping foreign trade enterprises to overcome difficulties and reduce losses in response to epidemic” on February 5, 2020, requiring all chambers of commerce to assist the enterprises in need to issue free factual proof of force majeure for failure of delivering on time due to the epidemic.
International Dairy Federation predicts that epidemic may affect US dairy exports to China
At the International Dairy Federation Forum held recently, some experts said that although the first phase of China-US trade agreement has brought new light to the stabilization of China-US trade situation, China’s plan on committing to purchase US agricultural products worthy of US $ 200 billion may be difficult to advance under the impacts of COVID-19 caused pneumonia epidemic in China, and the epidemic may slow US dairy exports to China.
Russia implements a one-month temporary animal import restriction order, and the Russian Ministry of Agriculture does not consider restricting the import of Chinese foods due to COVID-19 caused pneumonia epidemic
In order to protect the Russian Federation from suffering the epidemic impacts of infectious diseases, the Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision Bureau has issued a one-month temporary animal import restriction order. The animal species covered include imported and transient show animals and aquatic products from China, etc. In addition, from February 3, 2020, the Russian Railway Department will suspend the transportation of Chinese passengers, but so far no impact has been caused on the transportation of goods. Russian dairy products and other foods will be normally exported to China as planned. The China’s Ambassador to Russia, Zhang Hanhui recently said that the temporary closure of individual ports and routes will not have a significant impact on the overall China-Russia trade situation. On February 5, 2020, according to the Russian Satellite Agency, the Vice Minister of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, Maxim Uvaidov told reporters that the Russian Ministry of Agriculture does not consider restricting the import of Chinese foods due to COVID-19 caused pneumonia epidemic.
Armenia has issued a ban on import of animal products and raw materials from China
Armenia bans the import of animal products and raw materials from China. This ban also applies to the animal products imported from other countries that are produced with Chinese raw materials. The ban came into force on January 26, 2020 and is long-term effective until the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially released COVID-19 caused pneumonia epidemic over in China.
Kyrgyzstan has banned imports of Chinese meat and proposes a total ban on imports of Chinese agricultural products
The Russian Sputnik news agency reporter learned from the Kyrghyzstan State and Plant Health Quarantine Bureau that Kyrgyzstan will ban the import of meat from China due to the impact of COVID-19 epidemic in China. In addition, a spokesman for Kyrgyzstan stated on January 28 that the import of agricultural products from China is suspended and the possibility of a total ban on import of agricultural products from China is currently being analyzed.
Jordan decides to suspend imports of animal and plant products from China
The Jordanian Ministry of Agriculture stated on February 2 that the Jordanian authorities have announced a moratorium on the import of Chinese animal and plant products to prevent COVID-19. The Director of Licensing Division of this Ministry said that the action is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Jordan, and the Ministry of Agriculture will review the decision “in the future”. Relevant import licenses have been suspended until further notice.
Tajikistan: Ban on all types of food imports from China
On January 30, 2020, according to the Tajikistan Food Safety Commission, since the outbreak of COVID-19 in China, the Commission has banned the import of all types of food from China. But according to the chairman of the committee, Muhammad saiid Ubaidullo, even before the emergence of COVID-19s in China in 2019, the Tajikistan Food Safety Commission does not allow the country’s businessmen to import food from China to Tajikistan. The food that can be imported from a third country is also strictly controlled. Tajikistan stated that no Chinese food has been shipped to the country after the virus appeared.
Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Industry and Trade study response to epidemic impact on agricultural exports
On February 3, 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade jointly organized a meeting to discuss how to promote the production and export of agricultural products under the influence of the epidemic. China is an important agricultural product export market for Vietnam. The COVID-19 epidemic has severely affected Vietnam’s agricultural production, and market access negotiations including durians and bird’s nests that are drawing to a close have to be postponed. The Ministry of Agriculture stated that it will actively arrange experts from the General Administration of Customs of China to visit Vietnam to promote the export of Vietnamese agricultural products to China.
Indonesia does not stop importing Chinese food
According to the latest report by Bloomberg, the Minister of Coordinating Ministry for the Economy of Indonesia told the media on Tuesday that the government will only ban the import of live animals from China, and food such as fruits will continue to be transported as usual. One day ago, on February 3, 2020, Indonesian Trade Minister, Agus Suparmanto, just confirmed that the government plans to suspend the import of food from China. Some professionals have analyzed that Indonesia’s overreacted trade measures will have a “negative impact” on Indonesia’s investment and economy.
Brazil agriculture minister says that normal trade between the two countries is not affected by the outbreak
On February 4, 2020, Chinese Ambassador to Brazil, Yang Wanming and Brazilian Minister of Agriculture, Christina accepted an interview with mainstream media. Christina expressed her belief that the normal trade between the two countries will not be affected by the epidemic situation and will maintain a good momentum as before. Pakistan will not take restrictive measures against China in the field of trade.
Malaysia does not restrict trade with China
On January 30, 2020, Malaysian Vice Minister of International Trade and Industry, Wang Jianmin said in an interview with the media that although China is experiencing the COVID-19 epidemic, Malaysia’s import and export activities with China will not be affected. So far, trade activities between the two countries have not been suspended due to the epidemic.
The relevant information of the food import and export trade affected by the epidemic situation form other countries have not yet been monitored. If there is any change, FOODMATE will continue to update.
Please note: Original English article of Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate, please indicate the source from the Global Foodmate if reprint.
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