Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement

Asia–Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)a
SecretariatUNESCAP Trade and Investment Division
Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
Official languages English
Membership
Establishment
 •  as the Bangkok Agreement 31 July 1975 
 •  Renamed 2 November 2005 
Website
http://www.unescap.org/apta
a. APTA

The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), previously known as the Bangkok Agreement[1] and renamed 2 November 2005,[2] was signed in 1975. It is the oldest preferential trade agreement between countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Seven Participating States- Bangladesh, China, India, Lao PDR, Mongolia, South Korea, and Sri Lanka are the parties to the APTA. The APTA pact does occupy market for 2921.2 million people [2] and the size of this big market accounts US$14615.86 billion in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-2016.[3] APTA’s key objective is to hasten economic development among the six participating states opting trade and investment liberalization measures that will contribute to intra-regional trade and economic strengthening through the coverage of merchandise goods and services, synchronized investment regime and free flow of technology transfer making all the Participating States to be in equally winsome situation Its aim is to promote economic development and cooperation through the adoption of trade liberalization measures. APTA is open to all members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, which serves as the APTA Secretariat. Members of APTA are currently participating in the Fourth Round of Tariff Concessions, which are expected to conclude in October 2009.[4]

Member nations

Negotiations

Exchange of Tariff Concessions

The Third Round, entering into force on 1 September 2006, led to tariff concessions on more than 4,000 items.

The Fourth Round, launched in October 2007, is scheduled to be concluded by the Third Ministerial Council in October 2009. This Round aims to widen the coverage of preferences to at least 50 per cent of the number of tariff lines of each member, and at least 20-25 per cent the value of bilateral trade. It also aims to provide a tariff concession of at least 50 per cent (on average).

Framework Agreement

The Fourth Round of negotiations is extending into areas beyond the traditional tariff concessions in order to deepen trade cooperation and integration. APTA members are currently negotiating three framework agreements on trade facilitation, trade in services, and investments. In addition, APTA members are exchanging information on non-tariff measures.

Institutional arrangements

See also

Other trade agreements and organizations in the Asia–Pacific region

References

  1. ↑ WTO L/4668
  2. ↑ WTO WT/COMTD/N/22 Archived January 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Latifee, E. H., 2016, http://www.textiletoday.com.bd/bangladesh-rmgs-achievements-from-apta/
  4. ↑ http://www.unescap.org/tid/apta/factsheet08.pdf, APTA Factsheet
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-08-01. Retrieved 2009-07-21., APTA Website
  6. ↑ http://www.unescap.org/tid/BAfacts.pdf, APTA Facts
  7. ↑ http://www.unescap.org/news/apta-welcomes-mongolia-its-seventh-member, APTA website

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/25/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.