In response to Mexican government actions that it believes are undermining its lithium mining operations, Chinese company Ganfeng International Trading and two of its UK-based affiliates (Bacanora Lithium and Sonora Lithium) are pushing ahead with an ISDS complaint against Mexico.

China and Peru announced that they have substantially finished the negotiations on the upgrade of their 2009 free trade agreement. They also signed deals in other trade and economic areas.

Last week, the U.S. Commerce Department issued decisions on anti-dumping/countervailing duties on paper plates and pea protein from China.

China's Ministry of Commerce said last Thursday that it would initiate an expiry review of anti-dumping measures on imports of toluidine from the EU.

In a coordinated effort to intensify pressure on Russia for its ongoing war against Ukraine, more Chinese companies have now been subjected to sanctions, with the most recent ones imposed by the European Union and Japan. These measures are part of a broader G7 effort aimed at curtailing international support

Earlier this month, the U.S. Treasury Department issued its semiannual report to Congress on "Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States." China was not found to be a currency manipulator, but was kept on a "monitoring list."

This past week, CTM covered the following issues. In China: * MOFCOM review of petition for trade barrier investigation on EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation investigations * Sanctions against Lockheed Martin * Consultations with EU on EV anti-subsidy investigation; deals signed with Malaysia, Germany In U.S.: * Biden administration views on restricting AI exports