The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement officially took effect for Indonesia on January 2, with the country putting new regulations in place for its trade with other members of the world's largest free trade deal.

Illustrative image (Photo: asean.org)

So far, the free trade pact that entered into force on January 1, 2022 has become effective in 14 out of its 15 members, which include 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Indonesia's new regulations on origin of goods and issuing documents of origin for goods exported from it have been in place starting from January 2, as part of implementing this agreement.

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said in a press release on December 30, 2022, that the new regulations specify the procedure of obtaining certificates of origin for goods exported from the Southeast Asian country.

The business sectors in Indonesia can also choose between the two types of document, namely a certificate of origin and a declaration of origin, to claim preferential rates, he said, adding that both documents can be issued independently.

Source: VNA