At the WTO SPS Committee meeting held on March 23-25, for which the meeting minutes were recently circulated, there were discussions of a number of SPS measures imposed by China or imposed by other Members against Chinese goods.

Yesterday, the U.S. Commerce Department, through its Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), added seven Chinese entities to the "Entity List" due to "activities contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, specifically for acquiring and attempting to acquire U.S.-origin items in

China has now opened its door to imports of soybean meal from Zambia, the latest example of China seeking more trade with the African continent.

Last week, the Solomon Islands government announced that it had signed a contract with Huawei for the construction of mobile communications towers, with US$66 million in funding for the deal coming from China's Exim Bank.

In a speech last week, a Chinese official said that China will waive repayment of interest-free loans for 17 African countries.

Last week, the UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng, issued an order that prevents the acquisition of a UK electronic design firm by a Hong Kong company, on the basis that it "is necessary and proportionate to mitigate the risk to national security.

A U.S. federal government effort to provide more funding to state/local governments and agencies for electric vehicles is moving ahead, but Chinese companies will not be eligible.