ASEAN-JAPAN COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP : AJCEP�

ASEAN -Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) was signed by ASEAN and Japan on April 14, 2008. The comprehensive agreement complements and expands the coverage of the bilateral economic partnership agreements (EPAs) that Japan has forged with five of the largest countries in ASEAN Singapore (2002), Malaysia (2005), Philippines (2006), Thailand (2007) and Indonesia (2007).

AJCEPA represents a mandate and a mechanism to push the agenda for further liberalization of goods and services as well as investments beyond the scope and quality of the bilateral EPAs. The agreement pushes for the establishment of a legal framework for such comprehensive economic partnership among the parties which would institutionalize trade and investment liberalization as guiding principle in the regional integration process.

(a) is wholly obtained or produced entirely in the Party as provided for in Article 25 (Goods Wholly Obtained or Produced);

(b) satisfies the requirements of Article 26 (Goods Not Wholly Obtained or Produced) when using non-originating materials; or�

(c) is produced entirely in the Party exclusively from originating materials of one or more of the Parties.

In addition, such goods are required to meet direct consignment rules and all other applicable requirements in the Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership among Member States of the ASEAN and Japan.