After an announcement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen several weeks ago that the Commission would launch an anti-subsidy investigation on imports of Chinese battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the Commission has now formally initiated the investigation and issued key documents in the case.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has canceled a public hearing on China's compliance with WTO commitments, but 20 comments from various organizations have now been submitted, and these will be taken into account as USTR prepares its annual report to Congress.

With the U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR) review of the Section 301 tariffs on China well underway and due to conclude soon, a former U.S. trade official has suggested using the review to impose additional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Last week, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. "agreed to pay more than $26 million to resolve charges that it bribed Chinese government officials to obtain outdoor advertising contracts in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)."

Over the last several years, there have been a number of products from Australia that were subject to import restrictions by China. One of the lesser-known of these products was hay. Reports indicate that these restrictions have now been removed.

This past week, CTM covered the following issues. In China: * China-EU High-Level Trade and Economic Dialogue * White paper on China's vision for globalization * MOFCOM comments on various trade issues * Data on outbound investment * Auto industry responds to EU anti-subsidy investigation on EVs In the U.S.: * Updates on

A publication specializing in news about investment arbitration has reported that litigation over Chinese investments in Mexican lithium mining might be in the works after the Mexican government cancelled concessions held by a Chinese company's Mexican subsidiaries.