The 26th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting had agreed to establish an AFTA Unit in the ASEAN Secretariat and National AFTA Units in respective Member Governments. This is to create the necessary institutional infrastructure to support the implementation of the CEPT Scheme for AFTA. The primary objective of these AFTA Units is to ensure the smooth implementation of the CEPT Scheme. The AFTA Unit in the ASEAN Secretariat will establish permanent and close links with the National AFTA Units in Member Governments thereby increasing coordination among the bodies charged with implementing CEPT for AFTA. .
The following are the functions of the AFTA Unit in the ASEAN Secretariat:
- Monitoring This includes monitoring of intra and extra-ASEAN trade as well as those problems that occur in the implementation of the CEPT Scheme. Any problems faced in the implementation of the CEPT Scheme will be raised in ASEAN Meetings.
- Coordinating The AFTA Unit will coordinate with the National AFTA Units on issues pertaining to CEPT for AFTA.
- Research Conducting policy-oriented researches either in-house or in collaboration with regional research institutions.
- Public Relations These activities include dealing, with private sector queries and complaints, and organising AFTA promotion ventures. The unit also compiles tariff reduction schedules, products in the Inclusion, Temporary Exclusion, Sensitive and General Exception Lists prepared by the National Units for the Products and Tariff Reduction Programmes under the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme, as well as the AFTA Reader, a quarterly publication on AFTA.
The functions of the National AFTA Units are:
- Implementation of CEPT for AFTA This involves, among other things, the preparation of products to be placed in the Inclusion, Temporary Exclusion, Sensitive and General Exception Lists, tariff reduction schedules and the CEPT Concessions Exchange Manual (CCEM). The Units also ensure that the necessary enactments for the tariff reduction are legislated and implemented.
- Public Relations Private sector queries and complaints are dealt with.
- Channel of Communication The National AFTA Units also serve as an important conduit of communication to Member Governments.
The AFTA Unit and National AFTA Units have functions which deal specifically with the private sector. Any queries, complaints or information needed on CEPT for AFTA can be raised to these various Units. Complaints or problem areas will be raised to the various ASEAN meetings. The addresses for these Units are as follows:
AFTA Unit
AFTA Unit
ASEAN Secretariat
70-A, Jalan Sisingamangaraja
Jakarta, Indonesia 12110
Tel.: (62) (21) 7262991, 7243372
Fax.: (62) (21) 7243348, 7398234
National AFTA Units
International Relations and Trade Development Division
Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources
Bandar Seri Begawan 1220
Brunei Darussalam
Tel.: (673) (02) 244822
Fax.: (673) (02) 244811
Directorate of External Relations
Department of Trade
6th Floor, JI. M.I. Ridwan Rais No.5
Jakarta, Indonesia
Tel.: (62) (21) 3858195
Fax.: (62) (21) 3858191
ASEAN Economic Cooperation
Ministry of International Trade and Industry
Third Floor, Block 10,
Government Offices Complex, Jalan Duta
50622 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel.: (603) 2540033, 2546022
Fax.: (603) 2550827
Bureau of Intemational Trade Relations
Department of Trade and Industry
5th Floor, 359 Sen Gil J. Puyat Ave.
Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel.: (632) 8905148, 8963662, 8904669
Fax.: (632) 8904812
Economic Cooperation Division
Singapore Trade Development Board
230 Victoria St. #09-00,
Bugis Junction Office Tower,
Singapore 0718
Tel.: (65) 3376628
Fax.: (65) 3376898, 3376838
Economic and International Tax Policy Division
Fiscal Policy Office
Ministry of Finance
Rama IV Road, Bangkok 10400
Tel.: (992) 2739020
Fax.: (992) 2739059
October 3rd, 2012
