ASEAN, RoK work to ensure products’ rules of origin

The Agency of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the ASEAN Secretariat on March 25 opened a joint session of ASEAN and Korean experts on the transposition of ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) product specific rules from harmonised system codes HS 2017 into HS 2022.

Attending the three-day event in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh are representatives from the Republic of Korea (RoK) and 10 ASEAN member states.

Delegates are expected to review and aim for nearly 7,000 tariff lines of the product specific rule (PSR) transposition list in the AKFTA to be converted from codes Hs 2017 to HS 2022; and discuss progress and mechanism for implementing rules of origin in accordance with the new HS code.

ASEAN, RoK work to ensure products’ rules of origin -0
An overview of the joint session. (Photo: VNA)

According to the World Customs Organisation, the HS code is regularly updated every 5 years to ensure compatibility with international commercial types and needs. 

Nguyen Anh Son, Director of the Agency of Foreign Trade, emphasised that transposing PSR on time will ensure estimates and transparency for businesses, while delaying the conversion will lead to increases in costs and loss of benefits of the AKFTA. 

A line-by-line review of 7,000 tariff lines will require high concentration and great consensus from the ASEAN countries and the RoK, he stressed.

Sasikanya Ponien, co-head of the ASEAN-Korea Sub-Committee on Tariffs and Rules of Origin, appreciated Vietnam’s organisation of this session, saying that its success will connect the ASEAN member countries and the RoK, and bring price competition opportunities to exporters./.

VNA

World

RoK pins high hope on FTA with Philippines
World

RoK pins high hope on FTA with Philippines

The Republic of Korea (RoK)'s Minister of of Trade, Industry and Energy Cheong In-kyo on December 26 said that the RoK-Philippines free trade agreement (FTA), set to take effect next week, will help the country further bolster its trade portfolio and contribute to maintaining a stable supply chain.

Philippines intensifies crackdown on illegal gamers
World

Philippines intensifies crackdown on illegal gamers

Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos on December 12 ordered the police and law enforcement agencies to intensify the crackdown on illegal gaming and cyber cam hubs that continue to operate despite the ban, which will take effect by the end of December, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.

Malaysia eyes to become global medtech hub
World

Malaysia eyes to become global medtech hub

Malaysia is on track to become a global medical technology (medtech) hub with its strong policies in attracting and executing the right investments, including the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), said Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.