| Protocol | Interpretative Notes |
| Article 1, paragraph 1 Notwithstanding the provisions of Article IV of this Framework Agreement, two or more Member States may conduct negotiations and agree to liberalize trade in services for specific sectors or sub-sectors (hereinafter referred to as “the participating Member States”). Any extension of such preferential treatment to the remaining Member States on an MFN basis shall be voluntary on the part of the participating Member States. | This approach shall be used to expand and deepen liberalization of service sectors or sub-sectors, including sectors or sub-sectors agreed under the common sub-sector approach. Any preferential treatment extended to the remaining Member States on a voluntary basis shall be unconditional, non-discriminatory and without the need for reciprocity. |
| Article 1, paragraph 2 The participating Member States shall keep the remaining Member States informed through the ASEAN Secretariat of the progress or result of the negotiations, including the scheduling of commitments for the specific sectors or sub-sectors concerned. Member States wishing to join any on-going negotiations among the participating Member States may do so in consultation with the participating Member States. | Consultation with the participating Member States shall be undertaken with a view to facilitate and encourage the participation of the remaining Member States. |
| Article 1, paragraph 3: Any Member State which is not a party to any agreement reached pursuant to paragraph 1 may in due course become a party to such an agreement upon making offers at similar or acceptable levels to the participating Member States. | The reference to “acceptable level” here applies only to offers made by Member States wishing to join an agreement reached pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 1 of this protocol and deemed acceptable by all the participating Member States, taking into account developmental differences, both in terms of economic and stage of development of the particular sector. The participating Member States shall not require a higher level of commitments from the remaining Member States than their respective commitments under theagreement. |
| Article 2, paragraph 1: This Protocol shall enter into force on 31 December 2004. | All Member States undertake to complete their internal procedures for the entry into force of this protocol on or before 31 December 2004and to inform the ASEAN Secretariat of the date of completion. |
- ABOUT ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN on 7 January 1984, followed by Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.Menu - WHAT WE DO
ASEAN organs always strive to achieve ASEAN’s goals and objectives, the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat shall be functioned as coordinating Secretariat to help facilitate effective decision-making withing and amongst ASEAN bodies. In addition, each Member State shall appoint a Permanent Representative to liaise with Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat
Menu - WHO WE WORK WITH
ASEAN shall develop friendly relations and mutually beneficial dialogues, cooperation and partnerships with countries and sub-regional, regional and international organisations and institutions. This includes external partners, ASEAN entities, human rights bodies, non-ASEAN Member States Ambassadors to ASEAN, ASEAN committees in third countries and international organisations, as well as international / regional organisations.
Menu - OUR COMMUNITIES
The rodmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015) was declared by the leaders in 2009. The ASEAN Community, anchored on three community pillars: Political-Security Community, Economic Community, Socio-Cultural Community was launched in 2015. The ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together was introduced in 2015 as a Post-2015 Vision. It comprises the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025, the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025
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