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On December 22, 2023, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) announced to again extend the Section 301 retaliatory tariff exclusions on 12 agricultural products, including shrimp for cultivation, whey for feed, fishmeal for feed, alfalfa and seven hardwood products through July 31, 2024.

FAS New Delhi projects India’s organic agriculture sector to be valued at $2.5 billion for the 2023/24 Marketing Year (MY). According to various sources, the domestic consumption of organic foods is trending upwards as the Indian consumer focus on health and wellness continues.

On December 21, 2023, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) announced its annual tariff adjustment plan that sets tentative import and export tariff rates for select commodities in 2024.

Following three years of travel restrictions due to China’s zero-COVID policy, trade shows are quickly regaining their international participants and audiences.

Despite challenges related to the slow economy, citrus production in China for marketing year (MY) 2023/24 is expected to continue to grow, outperforming other fruit categories.

China ended its three-year long COVID restrictions in late December 2022. Since then, hotels have generally had a robust return of customers, while restaurants performed differently.

On December 7, 2023, India's Ministry of Finance issued Custom Notification No. 64/2023, exempting imports of yellow peas (harmonized tariff system [HS] code 0713.1010) from customs duties and the Agriculture Infrastructure and Development CESS (AIDC) effective December 8, 2023, through March 31, 2024.

Post slightly lowers the MY 2023/24 rice production forecast due to some minor aman season crop damage caused by a cyclone. Despite the reduced production, Post lowers the rice import forecast to 500 thousand MT, as the Government of Bangladesh maintains its high rice import tariff of 62.5 percent.

Korea's total citrus production is forecast at 570,000 metric tons (MT), a 2.1 percent decline from the previous marketing year (582,000 MT), driven by lower yield for open-field tangerines, and a slight reduction in planted area. As the prices of other domestic and imported fruits rise, consumption of relatively cheap citrus - both imported and domestic - is expected to remain strong.

The Indian market remains a bright spot, as its economic growth continues in 2023. India is one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world despite the volatile geopolitical and economic conditions, India is on an upward trajectory.

This report contains guidance from the Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China for U.S. exporters who continue experiencing difficulties registering their manufacturing, processing, and storage facilities subject to General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) Decree 248.

No significant changes are made to 2023/24 rice and wheat supply and demand forecasts. Private sector wheat import commitments of about 1.4 million tons underpin the 2 million ton 2023/24 wheat import forecast.