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Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry
Free Trade Agreements/Partnerships

ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP)

The ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) eliminates tariffs for and facilitates trade in goods, services, and investments within ASEAN and Japan.

About the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP)

The ASEAN – Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) is an FTA between ASEAN Member States (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam), and Japan. Timor-Leste will officially accede to the AJCEP upon completing its required accession procedures.

The AJCEP eliminates tariffs for and facilitates trade in goods, services, and investments within ASEAN and Japan. It consists of the following chapters/agreement:

  • Trade in Goods Chapter: Entered into force in April 2008.

  • Trade in Services Chapter: Entered into force for all Parties as of February 2022.

  • Investment Agreement: Entered into force for all Parties as of February 2022.

Leaders from ASEAN and Japan welcoming the entry-into-force of the AJCEP at the 22nd ASEAN-Japan Summit on 4 November 2019

Leaders from ASEAN and Japan welcoming the entry-into-force of the AJCEP at the 22nd ASEAN-Japan Summit on 4 November 2019.

Key Features of the AJCEP

Trade in goods

  • Market access. Eliminates tariffs for 84.5% of Singapore's originating exports to Japan.

  • Regional cumulation. Imported Materials from other AJCEP Parties, that have been defined as originating based on the agreed percentage criterion, can be counted as originating from Singapore in the production of goods. This makes it easier for products exported from Singapore to qualify for preferential tariff treatment when exporting to other AJCEP parties.

  • Back-to-back arrangement. AJCEP originating goods brought into Singapore and re-exported within AMS and Japan, can enjoy tariff concessions.

  • Third-party invoicing. Customs authorities may accept an invoice issued from a different country or company exporting the originating goods, provided that the goods meet the necessary requirements. This invoice can come from countries that are not party to this Agreement.

Trade in services

  • Improved market access in areas such as research and development, postal/courier education and audio-visual services.

Investments

  • Investment Protection, which provides legal safeguards for investors of an AJCEP Party and their investments in another AJCEP Party, through requirements to provide Fair & Equitable Treatment and protections against expropriation. Also provides for a legal mechanism for the resolution of investment disputes pertaining to the AJCEP, under which an investor of an AJCEP Party may pursue an arbitration claim against another AJCEP Party for breaches of the AJCEP’s Investment Chapter;

  • Investment Facilitation, which aims to streamline and simplify investment rules and procedures; and

  • Investment Promotion, which aims to market ASEAN as an investment area.

More Resources

Link to AJCEP texts. (opens in new tab)