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| China-Japan-Koreas | ||
| China temporarily suspends coal imports from N. Korea | ||
| 2016-12-12 | ||
China said Sunday it will temporarily suspend its coal imports from North Korea in a measure seen as a move to join the international sanctions on the North for its nuclear threats and provocations. China's Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs announced on its official website that Beijing will impose the coal ban from Dec. 11 to Dec. 31 in accordance with its foreign trade law, implementing Resolution 2321 that was adopted by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
According to the announcement, products that have already reached Chinese customs or were sent from North Korea before Dec. 11 will not be subject to the ban. The UNSC's action, passed unanimously by the 15-member council on Nov. 30, focuses on drying up North Korea's foreign currency earnings, mainly from its coal exports, after Pyongyang detonated its second nuclear device this year on Sept. 9. The resolution stipulates that U.N. member countries' combined total imports of North Korean coal products for 2016 cannot exceed some US$55 million or 1 million tons. The UNSC issues notifications to the members if the sum reaches 75 percent, 90 percent and 95 percent of the limit. If the sum reaches the 95 percent limit, the members are required to suspend coal imports from North Korea. A source in Beijing said China's imports of North Korean coal will be further reduced next year due to lower limits and tighter regulations set by the U.N.
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| Posted by:Steve White |