Negotiations for a Japan - Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement - (JTEPA) began in February, 2004, and the Agreement was signed by government leaders in Tokyo, Japan, on April 3, 2007. The Agreement, which came into force on November 1, 2007, consists of trade in goods, rules of origin of products, trade in services, investment, and the movement of natural persons, as well as cooperation in 9 areas and 7 joint projects.

Under the Agreement between Japan and Thailand for an Economic Partnership, only goods that meet agreed-upon conditions of the 'country of origin' requirements for each product are eligible to claim preferential treatment. The conditions comprise:

the goods are wholly obtained or produced entirely in the Party, as defined in the Agreement;

the goods are produced entirely in the Party exclusively from originating materials of the Party; or

the goods satisfy the product specific rules set out in Annex 2, as well as all other applicable requirements, when the goods are produced entirely in the Party using non-originating materials in whole or in part.

In addition, such goods are required to meet direct consignment rules and other applicable requirements in the Rules of Origin under Japan - Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement - (JTEPA).