Notification Issued for Entry into Force of the First Protocol to Amend the Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership among Japan and Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Japan Trade Information

June 16, 2020

On June 15, 2020, the Government of Japan notified the Governments of ASEAN Member States* that Japan’s legal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the First Protocol to Amend the Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership among Japan and Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have been completed. This Protocol will enter into force on August 1, 2020.

  1. On June 15, 2020, the Government of Japan notified the Governments of ASEAN Member States that Japan’s legal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the “First Protocol to Amend the Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership among Japan and Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations” (the First Protocol to Amend the AJCEP) have been completed.
  2. It is necessary for entry into force of the Protocol that such notifications have been made by Japan and at least one ASEAN Member State. As the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic of Singapore, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar have already made such notifications, following the notification by Japan, the Protocol will enter into force at least among those countries on August 1, 2020, in accordance with the provisions of the Protocol.
  3. The Protocol adds the provisions concerning Trade in Services, Movement of Natural Persons and Investment to the AJCEP s which entered into force in 2008. The Protocol will be the first economic partnership agreement (EPA) on Trade in Services and Movement of Natural Persons in relation to the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. The Protocol also includes the rules and liberalization commitments from ASEAN Member States which are not included in the bilateral EPAs and related agreements concluded between Japan and each ASEAN Member State.
  4. It is expected that the entry into force of the Protocol will promote further trade and investment between Japan and the fast-developing ASEAN and will strengthen the Japan-ASEAN cooperative relationship.

*Note: ASEAN Member States are:
Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

References:

  1. The First Protocol to Amend the AJCEP was signed by Japan on February 27, 2019, and by ASEAN Member States in March and April, 2019.
  2. Article 8 of the Protocol stipulates that the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date by which the notifications in writing that legal procedures necessary for entry into force of the Protocol have been made by the Governments of Japan and at least one ASEAN Member State.
  3. Among ASEAN Member States, the Kingdom of Thailand (on July 5, 2019), the Republic of Singapore (on August 30, 2019), the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (on April 2, 2020) and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (on April 10, 2020) have already made such notifications. In relation to any ASEAN Member State who will make such notification in the future, the Protocol shall enter into force, on the first day of the second month following the date on which the notification is made.