Browse Data and Analysis

In calendar year 2021, Bangladesh imported $12 million of consumer-oriented food from the United States, up 11 percent over 2016. The income and purchasing power of the middle-class continue to reach new heights, boosting demand for imported food.

Indonesian cotton imports in 2021/22 increased by 11.7 percent to 2.57 million bales due to increased economic activity following relaxed COVID-19 restrictions. However, due to the global economic slowdown leading to lower demand for Indonesian textiles and products, cotton imports in 2022/23 are forecast to slightly decline to 2.50 million bales.

As of January 1, 2023, Spain implemented a special tax on non-reusable plastic packaging that also applies to imported food products. For imports, payment of the tax is the responsibility of the importer, although third country manufacturers must provide their Spanish buyers with information regarding the amount of non-recyclable plastic packaging used in their products’ packaging.

On January 11, 2023, India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry/Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued Public Notice No. 50/2015-20. The notice specifies that India amended its previous tariff-rate quota of 2 million metric tons for crude soybean oil, previously allowable at a zero percent duty through Indian fiscal years (IFY) 2022/23 and 2023/24 (April 1-March 31).

Bite size local news, Post reports and activity summaries wrapped by ATO Hong Kong. In this issue: Hong Kong’s International Wine & Spirits Fair Returns; 2023 Economic Turnaround Predicted for Hong Kong; Hongkongers Optimistic About Household Finances But May Still Cut Back Spending

On December 19, 2022, the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), in consultation with Colombia's National Institute for Surveillance of Food and Medicines (INVIMA), updated the labeling requirements for meat products listed on the FSIS Export Library page for Colombia.

On January 11, 2023, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) National Health Commission (NHC) released an updated Catalog of National Food Safety Standards. The updated list contains 1,478 standards covering food products, additives, quality specifications, testing methods, and production practices. This report provides an unofficial translation of the Catalogue.

Korea’s 2022 potato production decreased by 9.5 percent to 510,000 MT. Domestic Korean potato production is expected to continue gradually declining in the coming years, which may create more opportunities for imported U.S. fresh (chipping and table) potatoes despite an annual tariff rate quota cap of 4,000 metric tons.

After a nearly six percent decrease in GDP in 2020, the Chilean economy grew by 11.7 percent in 2021 and by 2.4 percent in 2022. In 2023, the Chilean Central Bank projects a contraction in GDP that will range between 0.75 and 1.75 percent.

This report should be read in conjunction with the EU-27 Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) report written by the U.S. Mission to the EU. This report focuses on the import regulations and standards that are not harmonized at the EU-level or where Belgium varies.

Belgium is a Member State of the European Union (EU) and applies the certification requirements described in the European Union Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) Certification Report. Products not yet harmonized are subject to Belgian national rules.

Israel is an advanced, market-oriented economy. However, its limited land and water resources preclude agricultural self-sufficiency, which affects local production costs and consumer prices.