Last week, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) began an investigation that was requested by the U.S. subsidiary of Chinese computer manufacturer Lenovo against its Taiwanese rival ASUS, based on an allegation that ASUS was violating Lenovo's patents.

Last week China and Honduras "substantially completed" an early harvest agreement; China's imports from the nation nearly tripled this year.

Last Friday, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued the final ruling in the trade barrier investigation against Taiwan, and unsurprisingly found that Taiwan's trade restrictive measures constitute trade barriers. MOFCOM did not, however, discuss what the next steps might be.

In a speech hosted by the U.S-China Business Council last Thursday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen offered remarks on China-U.S. economic relations, focusing on three issues: The foundations of the administration's China economic strategy, the progress made over the past year, and plans for the

This past week, CTM covered the following issues.  In international relations: * China-Vietnam meeting * China-Australia trade in meat and barley * China-Singapore FTA upgrade In China: * State council document to integrate domestic and foreign trade * MOFCOM comments on Italy's withdrawal from the BRI and graphite export licensing In the U.

At a press conference today, MOFCOM spokesperson Shu Jueting provided comments on export licensing for graphite, Italy's official withdrawal from the Belt and Road Initiative, the state visit to Vietnam, and November trade data.

Last week, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) proposed a Section 232 investigation that could lead to additional import restrictions on Chinese garlic for "security" reasons, and also proposed or put forward legislation to restrict or ban Chinese garlic and seafood imports.