The Japan-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) Agreement will enter into force with respect to Thailand on June 1, 2009.

There are several points that should be kept in mind when using this Agreement. For more information, please visit the External Economic Policy Site of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

See the "Japan-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement" on the External Economic Policy Site:

• http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/trade_policy/epa/html2/2-torikumi3-asean.html (in Japanese)

1. On April 30, Thailand issued the notification needed for the entry into force of the AJCEP Agreement. With this notification, the Agreement will come into force with respect to Thailand on June 1, 2009.

2. The AJCEP Agreement is Japan’s first multilateral economic partnership agreement (EPA) and is aimed at strengthening the economic partnership between Japan and ASEAN as a whole (ten countries). The Agreement has already entered into force between Japan and six ASEAN countries (Singapore, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei and Malaysia).

3. For more information about the AJCEP Agreement, please visit the web page dedicated to this topic, which can be accessed from the above-mentioned External Economic Policy Site. It offers the outline of the Agreement as well as several points that should be kept in mind when the Agreement is implemented (available only in Japanese).

For reference

Pursuant to the provisions, the AJCEP Agreement will come into force with respect to other ASEAN member states that issue a similar notification needed for the entry into force of the Agreement. When a country issues a notification, the Agreement will come into force with respect to that country on the first day of the month after the next month.

May 18, 2009

Economic Partnership Division, Trade Policy Bureau