1.

Member(s) notifying: China and Macao, China

2.

Date of notification: 6 December 2024

3.

Notification pursuant to:

[X]    Paragraph 14 of the Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements (WT/L/671)

4.

Changes affect:

[  ]    goods

[X]    services

[  ]   both

5.

Original RTA being modified:

Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement Agreement on Trade in Services (hereafter referred to as "CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services")

6.

WTO document reference of original notification of RTA:

S/C/N/265/Add.9 and WT/REG163/N/1/Add.9

7.

Parties to the Agreement: China and Macao, China

8.

Date of adoption: 10 October 2024

9.

Date(s) of entry into Force/provisional-application: 10 October 2024

10.

Brief description of the changes:

The Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services eliminates the three-year substantive business operation requirement for most service sectors, providing Macao service providers with easier access to the Mainland market. Additionally, it introduces pilot initiatives in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and includes expanded liberalization measures in sectors such as high-tech, financial services, and audio-visual culture. Moreover, it grants professionals in fields like construction and engineering, accounting, medical care, and education facilitative entry conditions into the Mainland of China, empowering Macao service providers to capitalize on their professional strengths and pursue business growth opportunities in the Mainland of China. The Second Amendment Agreement came into effect on the day of signing (i.e. 10 October 2024) and will be implemented on 1 March 2025.

11.

Text and related schedules, annexes and protocols are:

[  ]    submitted to the WTO Secretariat (electronic format)

[X]    available from the following official Internet link(s):      

https://www.dsedt.gov.mo/zh_MO/web/public/pg_cepa_cepa_aacs2#

http://tga.mofcom.gov.cn/ndygagyjlgjmjmgxdapCEPA/index.html