Free Trade Agreement between Japan and the
Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Services
Note on the Meeting of 8 april 2024
Chair:
Ambassador H.E. Ms. Clare KELLY (New Zealand)
1.1. The 109th Session of the Committee on Regional Trade
Agreements (hereinafter "CRTA" or the "Committee") was
convened in Airgram _WTO/AIR/RTA/34/Rev.1 dated 28 March 2024.
1.2. Under Agenda Item 8.2, the CRTA considered the Agreement
establishing a Free Trade Agreement
between Japan and the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), services, (hereinafter "the Agreement"). The
goods aspects of the Agreement had been considered by the Committee in July
2020. The Chair stated that the Factual Presentation had been prepared
by the Secretariat on its own responsibility in full consultation with the
Parties, in accordance with paragraph 7(b) of the Transparency Mechanism for Regional
Trade Agreements (document _WT/L/671).
1.3. The Agreement had entered into force between 1 August 2020 and 1
February 2022, depending on the Party. It had been notified to the WTO by the Parties on
11 November 2022 under Article V:7(a)
of the GATS (document _S/C/N/1117).
The Factual Presentation (document _WT/REG277/4),
and questions and replies, documents _WT/REG277/5
and _RD/RTA/64,
had been distributed.
1.4. The representative of Thailand on behalf of the Parties extended
its sincere appreciation to the WTO Secretariat for the preparation of the
comprehensive factual presentation focusing on the services aspect of the Agreement.
1.5. Following the implementation of the Agreement in 2008, ASEAN and
Japan had continued to intensify their joint efforts aimed at enhancing trade
and economic cooperation. In 2019, all the Parties had signed the First
Protocol to Amend the Agreement, thereby extending the scope of the Agreement,
initially covering only trade in goods, to encompass trade in services, the movement
of natural persons, and investment. The Protocol had come into effect for all
Parties in February 2022.
1.6. The Protocol contained the schedules of specific commitments for all
11 Parties with a varied degree of liberalization by sector, as well as rules
building on those under the GATS, such as MFN, transparency, market access,
domestic regulation, and national treatment. The Parties were, in addition,
committed to facilitating the movement of natural persons falling within the
categories outlined in the Protocol. Lastly, while the Protocol did not address
liberalization, it contained investment provisions on protection, promotion,
and facilitation.
1.7. The Parties firmly believed that the Protocol would engender greater
cross-border flow of investment and services between all Parties. According to
the ASEAN statistics database, FDI flows from Japan to ASEAN reached USD 27.2
million in 2022, reflecting an increase of 28.9% from the preceding year. ASEAN
and Japan, hence, remained committed to working closely together to further
liberalize and strengthen their economic ties, notably through dialogues under
the work programme and review mechanisms set out in the Agreement.
1.8. In conclusion, they thanked WTO Members for their keen interest in
the Agreement. They acknowledged the written questions from a Member to which
Japan had circulated its answers. They also hoped to be able to circulate ASEAN's
answers soon. They looked forward to a productive meeting while welcoming any
further comments and questions from Members.
1.9. The representative of the European Union thanked Thailand on
behalf of the Parties and wished them success in the implementation of the
Agreement.
1.10. The representative of the United States wished Thailand and
the Parties the same and thanked them for submitting the notification.
1.11. The Chair noted the consideration of the services aspect of
the Free Trade Agreement between Japan and the Member States of ASEAN, had allowed
the Committee to clarify a number of questions and conclude oral discussion of the
RTA in accordance with paragraph 11 of the Transparency Mechanism. Any
delegations wishing to ask follow-up questions were invited to forward
submissions in writing to the Secretariat by 15 April 2024 and the Parties were
asked to submit replies in writing by no later than 29 April 2024. In
accordance with paragraph 13 of the Transparency Mechanism all written
submissions, as well as minutes of the meeting would be circulated promptly, in
all WTO official languages, and made available in the WTO database on RTAs.
1.12. The Committee took note of the comments made.
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