Agreement between
the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu
and
New Zealand
on Economic Cooperation
2 Contents
Preamble
1. Initial Provisions 2. Trade in Goods 3. Rules of Origin
4. Customs Procedures and Cooperation 5. Trade Remedies
6. Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 7. Technical Barriers to Trade
8. Competition
9. Electronic Commerce 10. Intellectual Property 11. Government Procurement 12. Investment
13. Cross-Border Trade in Services 14. Temporary Entry of Business Persons 15. Air Transport Services
16. Trade and Labour 17. Trade and Environment
18. Film and Television Co-Production 19. Cooperation on Indigenous Issues 20. Transparency
21. Dispute Settlement 22. Institutional Provisions 23. General Provisions 24. General Exceptions 25. Final Provisions
Annexes
1. Annex 1: Tariff Schedules
• Annex 1 Part A: Tariff Schedule of New Zealand
• Annex 1 Part B: Tariff Schedule of Chinese Taipei
• Appendix: Chinese Taipei’s Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQ) for Liquid Milk and Deer Velvet
2. Annex 2: PSR Schedule
3. Annex 3: Government Procurement
• Annex 3:I: List of Entities and Covered Goods and
Services
• Annex 3:II: Thresholds
• Annex 3:III: Single Electronic Point of Access
• Annex 3:IV: Contact Points 4. Annex 4: Non-Conforming Measures
• Annex 4:I
• Annex 4:II
5. Annex 5:
Expropriation
6. Annex 6: Schedules of Commitments on Temporary Entry of
Business Persons
7. Annex 7: Environmental Goods List
8. Annex 8: Model Rules of Procedure for Arbitral Tribunals
Implementing Arrangements
• Implementing Arrangement on Rules of Origin Operational Procedures
• Implementing Arrangement on Film and Television Co-Production
AIR TRANSPORT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF TAIWAN, PENGHU, KINMEN, AND MATSU AND NEW ZEALAND
• Annex
Preamble
The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu (hereinafter referred to as “Chinese Taipei”) and New Zealand, collectively referred to as “the Parties" and individually as “a Party”:
BUILDING on their rights and obligations under the World Trade
Organisation (“WTO”);
MINDFUL of their commitment to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (“APEC”) goals and principles, and in particular the efforts of all APEC economies to meet the APEC Bogor Goals of free and open trade;
BELIEVING that open, transparent and competitive markets are the key drivers of economic efficiency, innovation, wealth creation, employment and consumer welfare;
RECOGNISING that the strengthening of their economic partnership through an Economic Cooperation Agreement, which removes barriers on the trade of goods and services and investment flows, will produce mutual benefits for the Parties;
CONFIRMING their shared commitment to trade facilitation through removing non-tariff barriers and reducing costs to the movement of goods between Chinese Taipei and New Zealand;
RECOGNISING the significance of good governance and good regulatory practice in creating a predictable, transparent and consistent business environment to enable businesses to conduct transactions freely, and use resources efficiently and take investment and planning decisions with certainty;
DESIRING to enhance the competitiveness of their firms in global markets including through protecting and promoting the competitive process and the design of regulation that minimises distortions to competition;
CONSIDERING the benefits of enhancing communication and cooperation on labour and environment;
MINDFUL that fostering innovation and the promotion and protection of intellectual property rights will encourage further trade, investment and cooperation between the Parties;
RECOGNISING their right to regulate, and to introduce new regulations on the supply of goods, services and investment in order to meet government policy objectives;
DESIRING to strengthen the cooperative framework for cultural and people-to-people contacts between indigenous peoples in the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu and New Zealand’s Māori and expand and facilitate trade and economic relations between them;
Have agreed as follows:
CHAPTER 1 INITIAL PROVISIONS
Article 1
Establishment of Economic Cooperation Agreement
The Parties, as members of the WTO and consistent with the provisions of the WTO Agreement, hereby agree to liberalise trade in services, duties and other regulations of commerce in this Economic Cooperation Agreement.
Article 2 Objectives
The objectives of this Agreement, as elaborated more specifically through its principles and rules, are to:
(a) encourage expansion and diversification of trade between the Parties;
(b) eliminate barriers to trade in, and facilitate the movement of, goods and services between the Parties;
(c) substantially increase investment opportunities between the Parties;
(d) promote conditions of fair competition in and between the Parties;
(e) ensure effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in the Parties;
(f) encourage the use of good regulatory practices (as set out in Annex D (“Strengthening Implementation of Good Regulatory Practices”) of the
2011 APEC Leaders’ Declaration)1 for the planning, design, implementation and review of regulation; and
(g) provide an effective mechanism to prevent and resolve trade disputes.
Article 3 General Definitions
For the purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise specified:
Agreement means this Agreement between the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu and New Zealand on Economic Cooperation.
customs administration means:
(a) in respect to New Zealand, the New Zealand Customs Service; and
(b) in respect to Chinese Taipei, the Taiwan Customs Administration.
customs duty includes any duty or charges of any kind imposed in connection with the importation of a good, and any surtaxes or surcharges imposed in connection with such importation, but does not include:
(a) charges equivalent to an internal tax imposed consistently with
GATT 1994, including excise duties and goods and services tax;
1 In interpreting the third paragraph of Annex D:
- the term “draft measures” is to be read as a reference not only to the draft text of regulations, but also to proposals for regulations as set out in documents such as policy proposals, discussion documents,or summaries of proposed regulations; and
- the commitments referenced are each to be read as subject to the qualifier “to the extent possible”.
(b) any anti-dumping or countervailing duty applied consistently with Article VI of GATT 1994, the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, and the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures; and
(c) fees or other charges that:
(i) are limited in amount to the approximate cost of services rendered; and
(ii) do not represent a direct or indirect protection for domestic goods or a taxation of imports for fiscal purposes;
Customs Valuation Agreement means the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, which is part of the WTO Agreement;
days means calendar days;
enterprise means any entity constituted or organised under applicable law, whether or not for profit, and whether privately-owned or governmentally-owned, including any corporation, trust, partnership, sole proprietorship, joint venture, association, or similar organisation and a branch of an enterprise;
enterprise of a Party means an enterprise which is organised or constituted under the laws of that Party, and a branch located in a Party and carrying out business activities there;
GATS means the General Agreement on Trade in Services, which is part of the WTO Agreement;
GATT 1994 means the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, which is part of the WTO Agreement;
Harmonised System or HS means the Harmonized Commodity
Description and Coding System of the World Customs Organization;
measure means any measure by a Party, whether in the form of a law, regulation, rule, procedure, decision, administrative action or any other form;
natural person of a Party means a citizen or a permanent resident of a Party under its laws;
person means a natural person or an enterprise; and
WTO Agreement means the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the
World Trade Organization, done on April 15, 1994.
Article 4 Interpretations
In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the rules of interpretation applicable to the WTO Agreement, and as informed by its jurisprudence mutatis mutandis.
(b) Where anything under this Agreement is to be done within a number of days after, before or of a specified date or event, the specified date or the date on which the specified event occurs shall not be included in calculating that number of days.
CHAPTER 2 TRADE IN GOODS
Article 1 Scope
Except as otherwise provided, this Chapter shall apply to trade in all goods between the Parties.
Article 2 National Treatment
Each Party shall accord national treatment to the goods of the other Party in accordance with Article III of GATT 1994. To this end, Article III of
GATT
1994 is incorporated into and made part of this Agreement, mutatis
mutandis.
Article 3
Elimination of Customs Duties
1. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, neither Party may increase any existing customs duty above the base rate, or adopt any new customs duty, on an originating good of the other Party.
2. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, and subject to each Party’s Tariff Schedule in Annex 1 (Tariff Schedules), as at the date of entry into force of this Agreement each Party shall eliminate its customs duties on originating goods of the other Party.
Article 4
Fees and Charges Connected with Importation and Exportation
1. Each Party shall ensure, in accordance with Article VIII.1 of GATT 1994, that all fees and charges of whatever character (other than customs duties, charges equivalent to an internal tax or other internal charge applied consistently with Article III.2 of GATT 1994, and anti- dumping and countervailing duties) imposed on or in connection with import or export are limited in amount to the approximate cost of services rendered and do not represent an indirect protection to domestic goods or a taxation on imports or exports for fiscal purposes.
2. Each Party shall make available through the internet or a comparable computer-based telecommunications network details of the fees and charges it imposes in connection with importation and exportation.
3. Neither Party may require that any documentation supplied in connection with the importation of any good of the other Party be endorsed, certified or otherwise sighted or approved by the importing Party’s overseas representatives, or persons or entities with authority to act on the importing Party’s behalf, nor impose any related fees or charges.
Article 5
Non-Tariff Measures
1. Neither Party shall adopt or maintain any non-tariff measures on the importation of any good of the other Party or on the exportation of any good destined for the other Party except in accordance with its WTO
rights and obligations or in accordance with other provisions of this Agreement.
2. Each Party shall ensure its non-tariff measures permitted in paragraph 1 are not prepared, adopted or applied with a view to, or with the effect of, creating unnecessary obstacles to trade between the Parties.
Article 6
Agriculture Export Subsidies
1. For the purposes of this Article, agricultural goods means those products listed in Annex 1 of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture and export subsidies shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Article
1(e) of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture, including any amendment of that article.
2. The Parties share the objective of the multilateral elimination of export subsidies for agricultural goods and shall work together toward an agreement in the WTO to eliminate those subsidies and prevent their reintroduction in any form.
3. Neither Party shall introduce or maintain any export subsidy on any agricultural good destined for the other Party.
Article 7
Contact Points and Consultations
1. Each Party shall designate one or more contact points to facilitate communication between the Parties on any matter relating to this
Chapter. The Parties shall notify each other promptly of any amendments to the details of their contact points.
2. Where either Party considers that any actual or proposed measure of the other Party may materially affect trade in goods between the Parties, that Party may through the contact point of the other Party request detailed information relating to that measure and, if necessary, request consultations with a view to resolving any concerns about the measure.
3. The requested Party shall respond promptly to any such request for information.
4. Any consultations requested under paragraph 2 shall be conducted through the relevant contact points and shall take place within 30 days of the receipt of the request, unless the Parties mutually determine otherwise.
5. Any action taken pursuant to this Article shall be without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the Parties under Chapter 21 (Dispute Settlement) or under the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes.
CHAPTER 3 RULES OF ORIGIN
SECTION A: RULES OF ORIGIN
Article 1 Definitions
For the purpose of this Chapter:
aquaculture means the farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, molluscs, crustaceans, other aquatic invertebrates and aquatic plants from seed-stock such as eggs, fry, fingerlings and larvae, by intervention in the rearing or growth processes to enhance production such as regular stocking, feeding or protection from predators;
CIF or CIF value means the value of the good imported inclusive of the cost of insurance and freight up to the port or place of entry in the importing Party;
FOB or FOB value means the value of the good free on board inclusive of the cost of transport to the port or site of final shipment abroad;
generally accepted accounting principles means the recognised accounting standards of a Party with respect to the recording of revenues, expenses, costs, assets and liabilities; the disclosure of information; and the preparation of financial statements. These standards may encompass broad guidelines of general application as well as detailed standards, practices and procedures;
good means any merchandise, product, article or material;
material means any matter or substance used in the production or transformation of another good or physically incorporated into another good subject to a process in the production of that other good;
non-originating good or non-originating material means a good or material which does not qualify as originating under this Chapter;
originating good or originating material means a good or material which qualifies as originating in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 of this Chapter;
producer means a person who grows, cultivates, mines, raises, harvests, fishes, traps, hunts, farms, captures, gathers, collects, breeds, extracts, manufactures, processes or assembles a good; and
production means methods of obtaining goods, including growing, cultivating, mining, harvesting, raising, breeding, extracting, gathering, collecting, capturing, fishing, farming, trapping, hunting, manufacturing, processing or assembling a good.
Article 2 Originating Goods
For the purposes of this Chapter, a good shall be treated as an originating good if it:
(a) is wholly obtained or produced in a Party as provided for in Article 3 (Wholly Obtained or Produced Goods); or
(b) is produced entirely in one or both Parties exclusively from originating materials from one or both of the Parties; or
(c) is produced in one or both Parties using non-originating materials that conform to a Change in Tariff Classification requirement (as provided for in Article 4), a Regional Value Content requirement (as provided for in Article 5) or other requirements as specified in Annex 2 (Product Specific Rules Schedule, hereinafter referred to as “PSR Schedule”);
and the good meets the other applicable provisions of this Chapter.
Article 3
Wholly Obtained or Produced Goods
For the purposes of Article 2(a) (Originating Goods), the following goods shall be considered as wholly obtained or produced:
(a) plant and plant goods, such as fruit, flowers, vegetables, trees, seaweed, fungi and live plants, grown, grown and harvested, picked, or gathered in a Party;
(b) live animals born and raised in a Party;
(c) goods obtained from live animals in a Party;
(d) goods obtained from hunting, trapping, fishing, farming, aquaculture, gathering, or capturing in a Party;
(e) minerals and other naturally occurring substances extracted or taken from the soil, waters, seabed or subsoil, in a Party;
(f) goods of sea-fishing and other marine goods taken from the high seas, in accordance with international law, by any vessel registered or recorded in a Party and entitled to fly the flag of that Party;
(g) goods processed and/or produced on board any factory ship registered or recorded in a Party and entitled to fly the flag of a Party from the goods referred to in subparagraph (f);
(h) goods extracted or taken by a Party, or a person of a Party, from the seabed or subsoil beyond national jurisdiction under exploitation rights granted in accordance with international law;
(i) goods which are:
(i) waste and scrap derived from production or consumption in a Party provided that such goods are fit only for the recovery of raw materials; or
(ii) used goods collected in a Party provided that such goods are fit only for the recovery of raw materials; and
(j) goods obtained or produced in a Party solely from products referred to in subparagraphs (a) to (i) or from their derivatives.
Article 4
Change in Tariff Classification
A change in tariff classification under Annex 2 (PSR Schedule) requires that the non-originating materials used in the production of
the good
undergo a change in tariff classification as a result of processes performed in one or both of the Parties.
Article 5
Regional Value Content
1. Where Annex 2 (PSR Schedule) refers to a Regional Value Content (RVC), the RVC shall be calculated as follows:
RVC
=
FOB - VNM
FOB - VNM
FOB
x 100
where:
- RVC is the regional value content, expressed as a percentage;
- FOB is the FOB value of the goods; and
- VNM is the value in CIF terms of non-originating materials
(including materials of undetermined origin).
2. The value of the non-originating materials shall be:
(a) the CIF value at the time of importation of the material; or
(b) the earliest ascertained price paid or payable for the non- originating materials in the Party where the working or processing takes place. When the producer of a good acquires non- originating materials within that Party the value of such materials shall not include freight, insurance, packing costs, and any other costs incurred in transporting the materials from the supplier to the producer.
3. Both the FOB and CIF values referred to above shall be determined pursuant to the Customs Valuation Agreement.
Article 6 Accumulation
Originating goods or materials from a Party, incorporated into a good in the other Party, shall be considered as originating in the other Party.
Article 7
Minimal Operations and Processes
1. Except as otherwise provided in Annex 2 (PSR Schedule), operations or processes undertaken by themselves or in combination with each other for purposes such as those listed below are considered to be minimal and shall not confer origin:
(a) ensuring preservation in good condition for the purposes of transport or storage;
(b) facilitating shipment or transportation; (c)
packaging or presenting goods for sale;
(d) affixing of marks, labels or other like distinguishing signs on products or their packaging;
(e) simple processes consisting of sifting, classifying, washing, cutting, slitting, bending, coiling and uncoiling and other similar operations; and
(f) mere dilution with water or other substances that do not materially alter the characteristics of the goods.
Article 8 De Minimis
Each Party shall provide that a good that does not undergo a change in tariff classification pursuant to Annex 2 (PSR Schedule) is nonetheless an originating good if:
(a) the value of all non-originating materials, including materials of undetermined origin, used or consumed in the production of the good that do not undergo the required change in tariff classification does not exceed 10 percent of the FOB value of the good; and
(b) the good meets all other applicable requirements of this Chapter.
Article 9 Direct Consignment
A good shall retain its originating status as determined under Article 2 (Originating Goods) if the following conditions have been met:
(a) the good has been transported to the importing Party without passing through any non-Party; or
(b) the good has transited through one or more non-Parties, with or without transhipment or temporary storage of up to six months in such non-Parties, provided that
(i) the good has not entered trade or commerce there; and
(ii) the good has not undergone any operation there other than unloading and reloading, repacking, or any operation required to preserve it in good condition or to transport it to the importing Party.
Article 10
Treatment of Packing Materials and Containers
1. Packing materials and containers exclusively used for transportation and shipment of a good shall not be taken into account in determining the origin of any good.
2. Packing materials and containers in which a good is packaged for retail sale, when classified together with that good, shall not be taken into account in determining whether all of the non-originating materials used in the production of the good have met the applicable change in tariff classification requirements for the good.
3. If a good is subject to a regional value content requirement, the value of the packing materials and containers in which the good is packaged for retail sale shall be taken into account as originating or non- originating materials, as the case may be, in calculating the regional value content of the good.
Article 11
Accessories, Spare Parts, Tools and Instructional or Information Material
1. With regard to the change in tariff classification requirements for origin specified in Annex 2 (PSR Schedule), accessories, spare parts, tools and instructional or other information materials presented with the good shall be considered part of that good and shall be disregarded in determining whether all the non- originating materials used in the production of the originating good have undergone the applicable change in tariff classification, provided these are classified with and not invoiced separately from the good.
2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Article, if a good is subject to a regional value content requirement, the value of the accessories, spare parts, tools and instructional or other information materials presented with the good shall be taken into account as originating or non-originating materials, as the case may be, in calculating the regional value content of the good.
3. This Article applies only where the accessories, spare parts, tools and instructional or other information materials are presented with the good are not invoiced separately from the originating good;
and the quantities and value of the accessories, spare parts, tools and instructional or other information materials presented with the good are customary for that good.
Article 12 Indirect Materials
1. In determining whether a good is an originating good, the origin of any indirect materials as defined in paragraph 2 shall be disregarded.
2. For the purposes of this Article, indirect material means a good used or consumed in the production, testing or inspection of a good but not physically incorporated into the good, or a good used or consumed in the maintenance of buildings or the operation of equipment associated with the production of a good, including:
(a) fuel and energy;
(b) tools, dies, and moulds;
(c) spare parts and materials used in the maintenance of equipment and buildings;
(d) lubricants, greases, compounding materials, and other materials used in production or used to operate equipment and buildings;
(e) gloves, glasses, footwear, clothing, safety equipment, and supplies;
(f) equipment, devices, and supplies used for testing or inspecting the goods;
(g) catalysts and solvents; and
(h) any other goods that are not incorporated into the good but whose use in the production of the good can reasonably be demonstrated to be a part of that production.
Article 13
Identical and Interchangeable Materials
1. In determining whether a good is an originating good, any interchangeable materials shall be distinguished by:
(a) physical separation of the goods; or
(b) an inventory management method recognised in the generally accepted accounting principles of the exporting Party.
2. Identical or interchangeable materials are goods or materials which are interchangeable for commercial purposes, whose properties are essentially identical, and between which it is impractical to differentiate by a mere visual examination.
Article 14 Compliance
Compliance with the requirements of this Section shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section B (Operational Procedures) as applicable.
SECTION B: OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
Article 15 Definitions
For the purpose of this Section:
declaration of origin means a statement made by the producer, supplier, exporter, importer or other competent person that the goods to which the declaration relates are originating goods in accordance with the provisions of Section A of this Chapter; and
certificate of origin means a form identifying the goods, in which the producer, supplier, exporter, importer or other competent person certifies expressly that the goods to which the certificate relates are originating goods in accordance with the provisions of Section A of this Chapter.
Article 16
Treatment of Goods for which Preference is Claimed
1. Each Party shall provide that an importer may make a claim for preferential tariff treatment based on any of the following:
(a) a written or electronic declaration of origin;
(b) a written or electronic certificate of origin; or
(c) other evidence to substantiate the tariff preference claimed for the goods.
2. The declaration of origin and the certificate of origin shall be in the form set out in the Implementing Arrangement on Rules of Origin Operational Procedures attached to this Chapter.
The Implementing Arrangement may be revised or modified by mutual decision of the Parties.
3. The declaration or certificate of origin shall be completed in English.
4. The declaration of origin shall include the following information in the “observations” field of the declaration (unless such information already appears on the export invoice in respect of the goods subject to the declaration):
(a) a full description of the good(s);
(b) six digit Harmonized System Code for the respective good(s);
(c) the producer's name(s) if known;
(d) the importer's name(s) in respect of imported goods, if known;
and
(e) the rule of origin under which the declarant claims the good(s) qualifies.
5. Slight discrepancies as between the wording of the declaration or certificate of origin and the detail stated on the export invoice shall not, of themselves, cause any claim for preferential tariff treatment to be denied.
6. Each Party shall provide that where the competent person making a declaration or completing a certificate of origin is not the producer of
the good, the competent person may complete and sign the declaration of origin on the basis of:
(a) specific knowledge that the good qualifies as an originating good; or
(b) a reasonable reliance on the producer’s written representation that the good qualifies as an originating good.
Article 17
Exceptions from Declaration of Origin
1. An importing Party shall not require a declaration or certificate of origin to admit goods pursuant to tariff preference where:
(a) the customs value does not exceed US$1,000 or the equivalent amount in the importing Party’s currency or a higher amount as it may establish; or
(b) in respect of specific goods, the importing Party has waived the requirement for such evidence.
2. Where an importation forms part of a series of importations that may reasonably be considered to have been undertaken or arranged for the purposes of avoiding the origin requirements of this Article in accordance with paragraph 1, the customs administration of the importing Party may deny preferential tariff treatment.
Article 18 Records
Each Party shall require that producers, exporters and importers in their respective jurisdictions maintain for a period specified in its domestic law, as the case may be, all records relating to that exportation or importation which are necessary to demonstrate that a good for which a claim for tariff preference was made qualifies for preferential tariff treatment.
Article 19
Direct Consignment – Compliance
Compliance with the direct consignment provisions set out in Article 9 of this Chapter may be evidenced by providing the relevant commercial shipping or freight documents and, if the good has transited through a non-Party, providing any other documents that demonstrate the good has not undergone subsequent production in that non-Party.
Article 20 Third-Party Invoicing
Where goods meet the requirements of Section A of this Chapter (Rules of Origin) the importing Party shall not reject a claim for origin if the invoice is issued in a third party.
Article 21 Verification of Origin
1. For the purposes of determining whether a good imported from the other Party qualifies as an originating good, the importing Party may, through its customs administration, conduct a verification of eligibility for preferential tariff treatment by means of:
(a) requests for information addressed to the importer;
(b) requests for information to the exporter or producer in the other Party;
(c) visits to the premises of an exporter or producer in the other Party to review the records referred to in Article 18 (Records) and to observe the facilities used in the production of the good; or
(d) such other procedures as the Parties may agree.
2. Any such verification activities shall only be undertaken if the amount of tariff duty foregone is sufficiently material to warrant the action.
3. All requests for information shall be accompanied by sufficient information to identify the good about which the request was made.
Article 22 Decision on Origin
1. If, as a result of questions put or visits made to the exporter or producer, the requesting Party is satisfied the goods about which those questions were put or visits made are originating goods pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, it shall permit preferential tariff treatment for those goods.
2. Preferential tariff treatment may be denied if:
(a) the goods do not or did not meet the requirements of this Chapter;
(b) the verification procedures undertaken under Article 21 (Verification of Origin) are unable to verify the origin of a good.
3. In the event preferential tariff treatment is denied, the importing Party shall ensure that its customs administration provides in writing to the importer full reasons for that decision and the avenues available to the importer for review of that decision.
4. Where verifications by a Party indicate a pattern of conduct by an exporter or a producer of false or unsupported representations that an imported good qualifies as an originating good, the Party may withhold preferential tariff treatment to identical goods exported or produced by such a person until it is satisfied that the exporter or producer is no longer making false or unsupported representations as to origin.
CHAPTER 4
CUSTOMS PROCEDURES AND COOPERATION
Article 1 Definitions
For the purposes of this Chapter:
customs law means any legislation administered, applied, or enforced by the customs administration of a Party;
customs procedures means the treatment applied by each customs administration to goods that are subject to customs control; and
express consignments means all goods imported by an enterprise operating a consignment service for the expeditious international movement of goods who assumes liability to the customs for those goods.
Article 2 Objectives
The objectives of this Chapter are to:
(a) simplify and harmonise customs procedures of the Parties;
(b) ensure predictability, consistency and transparency in the application of customs laws and administrative procedures of the Parties;
(c) ensure the efficient, economical administration of customs procedures and expeditious clearance of goods;
(d) facilitate trade between the Parties; and
(e) promote cooperation between the customs administrations.
Article 3 Facilitation
1. Each Party shall ensure that its customs procedures and practices are predictable, consistent and transparent and facilitate trade.
2. Customs procedures of each Party shall where possible conform to the standards and recommended practices of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), including the principles of the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonisation of Customs Procedures.
3. Customs administrations of the Parties shall facilitate the clearance of goods in administering their procedures in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.
4. Each customs administration shall provide a single point, electronic or otherwise, through which its traders may submit all required information in order to obtain clearance of goods.
Article 4 Customs Valuation
The Parties shall determine the customs value of goods traded between them in accordance with the provisions of Article VII of GATT 1994 and the Customs Valuation Agreement.
Article 5 Tariff Classification
The Parties shall apply the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System to goods traded between them.
Article 6 Advance Rulings
1. Each customs administration shall provide in writing advance rulings in respect of the tariff classification and origin of goods to a person described in paragraph 2(a).
2. Each Party shall adopt or maintain procedures for advance rulings, which shall:
(a) provide that an importer in its jurisdiction or an exporter or producer in the jurisdiction of the other Party may apply for an advance ruling before the importation of goods in question;
(b) require that an applicant for an advance ruling provide a detailed description of the goods and all relevant information needed to issue an advance ruling;
(c) provide that its customs administration may, at any time during the course of issuing an advance ruling, request that the applicant provide additional information within a specified period;
(d) provide that any advance ruling be based on the facts and circumstances presented by the applicant, and any other relevant information in the possession of the decision-maker;
and
(e) provide that the ruling be issued in the official language of the issuing customs administration to the applicant expeditiously on receipt of all necessary information, or in any case within:
(i) 40 days with respect to tariff classification; and
(ii) 90 days with respect to origin.
3. A Party may reject requests for an advance ruling where the additional information requested by it in accordance with paragraph 2(c) is not provided within a specified time.
4. Subject to paragraph 5, each Party shall apply an advance ruling to all importations of goods described in that ruling imported within a period of at least three years from the date of that ruling.
5. A Party may modify or revoke an advance ruling upon a determination that the ruling was based on an error of fact or law, the
information provided is false or inaccurate, if there is a change in domestic law
consistent with this Agreement, or there is a change in a material fact, or circumstances on which the ruling is based.
6. Subject to the confidentiality requirements of a Party’s domestic law, each Party shall publish its advance rulings.
Article 7
Use of Automated Systems
1. The customs administrations shall use information technology that expedites procedures for the release of goods, as well as electronic or automated systems for risk management and targeting.
2. The Parties shall provide a facility that allows importers and exporters to electronically complete standardised import and export requirements at a single entry point.
3. The Parties shall endeavour to implement common standards and elements for import and export data in accordance with the WCO Data Model and other related WCO standards and recommendations, and models developed through APEC.
Article 8
Express Consignments
Each customs administration shall adopt procedures to expedite the clearance of express consignments while maintaining appropriate control, including:
(a) to provide for pre-arrival processing of information related to express consignments;
(b) to permit the submission of a single document covering all goods contained in a shipment transported by an express consignment enterprise through electronic means if possible; and
(c) to minimise, to the extent possible, the documentation required for the release of express consignments.
Article 9 Release of Goods
1. Each Party shall adopt or maintain procedures which allow goods to be released within 48 hours of arrival, unless:
(a) the importer fails to provide any information required by the importing Party at the time of first entry;
(b) the goods are selected for closer examination by the customs administration of the importing Party through the application of risk management techniques; or
(c) the goods are to be examined by any agency, other than the customs administration of the importing Party, acting under powers conferred by the domestic legislation of the importing Party.
2. Each Party shall provide for the electronic submission of import requirements in advance of the arrival of the goods to expedite the release of goods from customs control upon arrival.
Article 10 Risk Management
1. The Parties shall administer customs procedures so as to facilitate the clearance of low-risk goods and focus on high-risk goods.
2. To enhance the flow of goods across their borders the customs administration of each Party shall regularly review these procedures.
Article 11 Review and Appeal
1. Each Party shall provide for the right of appeal without penalty in regard to customs administrative rulings, determinations or decisions by the importer, exporter or any other person affected by that administrative ruling, determination or decision.
2. An initial right of appeal by a person described in paragraph 1 may be to an authority within the customs administration or to an independent body, but the legislation of each Party shall provide for the right of appeal without penalty to a judicial authority.
3. Notice of the decision on appeal shall be given to the appellant and the reasons for such decision shall be provided in writing.
Article 12
Customs Cooperation
1. The customs administrations of the Parties may assist each other by providing information on the following:
(a) the implementation and operation of this Chapter;
(b) the movement of goods among the Parties;
(c) investigation and prevention of prima facie customs offences;
(d) developing and implementing customs best practice and risk management techniques;
(e) simplifying and expediting customs procedures;
(f) advancing technical skills and the use of technology;
(g) application of the Customs Valuation Agreement; and
(h) additional assistance in respect to other matters.
2. Customs administrations may consult each other on any trade facilitation issues arising from procedures to secure trade and the movement of means of transport between the Parties.
Article 13
Customs Consultation
1. Either customs administration may at any time request consultations with the other customs administration on any matter arising from the operation or implementation of this Chapter. Such consultations shall be conducted through the relevant contact points, and shall take place within 30 days of the request, unless the customs administrations of the Parties mutually determine otherwise.
2. In the event that such consultations fail to resolve any such matter, the requesting Party may refer the matter to the Joint Commission for consideration.
3. Each customs administration shall designate one or more contact points for the purposes of this Chapter and provide details of such contact points to the other Party. Customs administrations of the Parties shall notify each other promptly of any amendments to the details of their contact points.
4. Customs administrations may consult each other on any trade facilitation issues arising from procedures to secure trade between the Parties.
5. Consultations pursuant to this Article are without prejudice to the rights of the Parties under Chapter 21 (Dispute Settlement) of this Agreement or under the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes.
Article 14
Enquiry Points
Each Party shall designate one or more enquiry points to address enquiries from interested persons concerning customs matters, and shall make available on the internet or in print form information concerning procedures for making such enquiries.
Article 15
Publication and Transparency
1. Each customs administration shall make available all customs laws, regulations and any administrative procedures it applies or enforces on the internet and through any other media as appropriate.
2. Each customs administration shall promptly inform the other customs administrations of any significant modification of customs law or procedures governing the movement of goods that is likely to substantially affect the operation of this Chapter.
Article 16
Review of Customs Procedures
Each customs administration shall periodically review its procedures with a view to their further simplification and the development of mutually beneficial arrangements to facilitate the flow of trade between the Parties.
CHAPTER 5
TRADE REMEDIES
Article 1 General Provisions
The Parties maintain their rights and obligations under Article VI of GATT 1994, the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, Article XIX of GATT 1994 and the WTO Agreement on Safeguards.
Article 2
Safeguard Measures
A Party taking any measure pursuant to Article XIX of GATT 1994 and the WTO Agreement on Safeguards shall exclude imports of an originating good from the other Party from the action if such imports do not in and of themselves cause or threaten to cause serious injury.
Article 3 Consultations
1. Each Party shall designate one or more contact points for the purposes of this Chapter and provide details of such contact points to the other Party. The Parties shall notify each other promptly of any amendments to the details of their contact points.
2. A Party may at any time request consultations with the other Party on any matter arising from the operation or implementation of this Chapter. Such consultations shall be conducted through the relevant contact points and shall take place within 30 days of the receipt of the request, unless the Parties mutually determine otherwise.
3. Any action taken pursuant to this Article shall be without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the Parties under Chapter 21 (Dispute Settlement) or under the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes.
CHAPTER 6
SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
Article 1 Definitions
For the purposes of this Chapter, the definitions in Annex A of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and the relevant definitions developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (“Codex”), the World Organisation for Animal Health (“OIE”) and under the framework of the International Plant Protection Convention (“IPPC”) shall apply to the implementation of this Chapter. In addition:
implementing arrangements means subsidiary documents to this Chapter which set out the mutually determined mechanisms for applying, or outcomes derived from applying, the principles and processes outlined in this Chapter;
Joint Management Committee means the Committee established under Article 16; and
SPS Agreement means the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, which is part of the WTO Agreement.
Article 2 Objectives
The objectives of this Chapter are to:
(a) uphold and enhance implementation of the SPS Agreement and the use of applicable international standards, guidelines and recommendations developed by Codex, OIE, and under the framework of the IPPC;
(b) provide a mechanism for enhancing the Parties' implementation of the SPS Agreement and for enhancing the Parties' cooperation in these and other areas;
(c) facilitate trade between the Parties through seeking to resolve trade access issues, while protecting human, animal or plant life or health in the Parties; and
(d) provide a means to improve communication and consultation on sanitary and phytosanitary issues.
Article 3 Scope
This Chapter shall apply to all sanitary and phytosanitary measures of a Party that may, directly or indirectly, affect trade between the Parties.
Article 4
International Obligations
Nothing in this Chapter or implementing arrangements shall limit the rights or obligations of the Parties pursuant to the SPS Agreement.
Article 5
Implementing Arrangements
1. The Parties may conclude implementing arrangements setting out details for the implementation of this Chapter, including in relation to competent authorities, contact points, adaptation to regional conditions, equivalence, verification, certification, and import checks and as provided for in Articles 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of this Chapter.
2. Each Party responsible for the implementation of an implementing arrangement shall take all necessary actions to do so within a reasonable period of time as mutually determined by the Parties.
3. Where implementing arrangements have been adopted, they shall be applied to trade between the Parties.
Article 6
Competent Authorities and Contact Points
1. The contact point for and the competent authorities of each Party shall be set out in an implementing arrangement. The competent authorities of the Parties are those authorities that are responsible for an implementation of matters within the scope of this Chapter.
2. The Parties shall inform each other of any significant changes to standards or to other SPS measures relevant to or affecting trade between the Parties.
Article 7
Adaptation to Regional Conditions
1. The Parties may make determinations in relation to regionalisation, pest- or disease-free areas, areas of low pest or disease prevalence, zoning and compartmentalisation which shall be consistent with the SPS Agreement, and in particular Article 6 thereof.
2. The Parties may agree the principles and procedures applicable to the determinations regarding adaptation to regional conditions made in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, and any such agreed principles and procedures shall be recorded in an implementing arrangement.
3. Any determinations in relation to regionalisation, pest-free or disease- free areas, areas of low pest or disease prevalence, zoning and compartmentalisation shall be recorded in an implementing arrangement.
4. When the importing Party commences a determination, the Party shall promptly upon request, explain its plan for making the determination of regional conditions, and if the determination is positive, for enabling trade.
5. Upon request, the importing Party shall inform the exporting Party of the progress of their specific determination request.
The importing
Party shall also inform the exporting Party of any unexpected delay that may occur during the process.
6. The Parties may also decide in advance the risk management measures that will apply to trade between them in the event of a change in status.
7. Following a determination assessment, if the evaluation of the evidence provided by the exporting Party does not result in a decision by the importing Party to recognise the pest-free and disease-free areas, or areas of low pest and disease prevalence, the importing Party shall provide the exporting Party the rationale for its decision.
Article 8 Equivalence
1. The Parties recognise that the application of equivalence is an important tool for trade facilitation. A determination of equivalence may be made in relation to partial or full equivalence of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and systems.
2. The determination of equivalence requires an objective, risk-based assessment or evaluation by the importing Party of the existing, revised or proposed measures. In recognising equivalence, the Parties shall take into account existing knowledge and information and the performance of the relevant competent authorities.
3. The importing Party shall accept the sanitary and phytosanitary measure of the exporting Party as equivalent if the exporting Party objectively demonstrates that its measure achieves the
same level of protection as the importing Party’s measure, or that its measure has
the same effect in achieving the objective as the importing Party’s measures. To facilitate a determination of equivalence, a Party shall on request advise the other Party of the objective of any relevant sanitary or phytosanitary measure.
4. The Parties may agree the principles and procedures applicable to the determinations of equivalence made in accordance with this Article, and any such agreed principles and procedures shall be recorded in an implementing arrangement.
5. The Parties shall take into account the relevant guidance provided by the international standard-setting organisations, the IPPC for plant health, the OIE for animal health, Codex for food safety; and by the WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, as well as experience already acquired.
6. When an importing Party commences an equivalence assessment, the Party shall promptly upon request, explain its equivalence process and plan for making the equivalence determination and, if the determination is positive, for enabling trade.
7. Upon request, the importing Party shall inform the exporting Party of the progress of their specific determination request.
The importing Party shall also inform the exporting Party of any unexpected delay that may occur during the process.
8. Following an equivalence assessment, if the evaluation of the evidence provided by the exporting Party does not result in a decision by the importing Party to recognize equivalence, the importing Party shall provide the exporting Party the rationale for its decision.
9. Equivalence decisions shall be recorded in an implementing arrangement, including any additional conditions to be applied in the case of partial equivalence. This implementing arrangement may also record any action required of either Party to facilitate progress towards full equivalence.
10. The consideration by a Party of a request from the other Party for recognition of the equivalence of its measures with regard to a specific product shall not be in itself a reason to disrupt or suspend ongoing imports from that Party of the product in question.
Article 9 Verification
1. In order to maintain confidence in the effective implementation of the provisions of this Chapter, each Party shall have the right to audit the exporting Party’s competent authority and associated inspection system. Audits shall be commensurate with the associated risk and designed to check the effectiveness of the regulatory controls of the competent authorities of the exporting Party and these audits may include particular establishments in the exporting Party. The scope of the audit may include an assessment of the competent authorities' control system, including, where appropriate, reviews of inspection and verification programmes and on-site checks. These procedures shall be carried out in accordance with provisions agreed and recorded in an implementing arrangement.
2. As mutually agreed, a Party may:
(a) share the results and conclusions of its audits with non-Parties to this Agreement; and
(b) use the results and conclusions of the audits conducted by countries that are not parties to this Agreement.
Article 10 Certification
Each consignment of animals, animal products, plants, plant products or other related goods will be accompanied, where required, by the relevant official sanitary or phytosanitary certificate using the model in the certification implementing arrangement, where agreed, and conforming with other relevant provisions of the implementing arrangements. The Parties may jointly determine principles or guidelines for certification. Any such principles shall be included in the certification implementing arrangement.
Article 11 Import Checks
1. The import checks applied to imported animals, animal products, plants and plant products or other related goods traded between the Parties shall be based on the risk associated with such importations. They shall be carried out in a manner that is least trade-restrictive and without undue delay.
2. The frequencies of import checks on such importations shall be made available on request. The importing Party shall notify the other Party in a timely manner of any amendment to the frequency of import checks in the event of change in the import risk. On request, an explanation
regarding amendments shall be given or consultations shall be undertaken.
3. The Parties may record frequencies of import checks in an implementing arrangement and in that case they shall be applied accordingly. The Parties may amend the frequencies of those import checks as a result of experience gained through import checks or otherwise, or as a result of actions or consultations provided for in this Chapter.
4. In the event that the import checks reveal non-conformity with the relevant standards and/or requirements, the action taken by the importing Party should be proportionate to the risk involved.
5. At the request of the exporting Party, the importing Party shall to the maximum extent possible ensure that officials of the exporting Party or their representatives are given the opportunity to contribute any relevant information to assist the importing Party in taking a final decision on the action taken. On request and when mutually agreed, testing of the preserved sample may be carried out in a process jointly agreed by the Parties.
Article 12 Cooperation
Consistent with the objectives of this Chapter, the Parties shall explore opportunities for further cooperation in sanitary and phytosanitary matters of mutual interest.
Article 13 Notification
1. The Parties shall notify each other, in a timely and appropriate manner, in writing through the contact points of any significant food safety issue or change in animal health, plant health or pest status in their jurisdiction relevant to existing trade.
2. In cases of serious and immediate concern with respect to human, animal or plant life or health, notification shall be made with urgency to the contact points and formal written confirmation should follow within 24 hours.
3. Where a Party has serious concerns regarding a risk to human, animal or plant life or health, consultations regarding the situation shall, on request, take place as soon as possible, and in any case within 14 days unless otherwise agreed between the Parties. Each Party shall endeavour in such situations to provide all the information necessary to avoid a disruption in trade, and to reach a mutually acceptable solution.
4. Where there is a non-compliance of imported consignments for products subject to sanitary or phytosanitary measures, the importing Party shall notify as soon as possible the exporting Party of the non- compliance.
Article 14
Emergency Measures
A Party may, on serious human, animal or plant life or health grounds, take provisional measures necessary for the protection of human, animal
or plant life or health. These measures shall be notified in writing within 48 hours to the other Party and, on request, consultations regarding the situation shall be held within 14 days unless otherwise agreed by the Parties. The Parties shall take due account of any information provided through such consultations.
Article 15
Exchange of Information
1. The Parties, through the contact points, shall exchange information relevant to the implementation of this Chapter on a uniform and systematic basis, to provide assurance, engender mutual confidence and demonstrate the efficacy of the programmes controlled. Where appropriate, achievement of these objectives may be enhanced by exchanges of officials.
2. The information exchange on changes in the respective sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and other relevant information, shall include:
(a) opportunity to consider proposals for changes in regulatory standards or requirements which may affect this Chapter in advance of their finalisation. Where either Party considers it necessary, proposals may be dealt with in accordance with Article 16;
(b) briefing on current developments affecting trade;
(c) information on the results of the verification procedures provided for in Article 10; and
(d) relevant sanitary and
phytosanitary publications of the competent authorities.
3. Each Party shall facilitate the consideration in its relevant scientific forums of scientific papers or data submitted by the other Party to substantiate that Party's views or claims. Such submissions shall be evaluated by relevant scientific forums in a timely manner, and the results of that examination shall be made available to the Parties.
Article 16
Joint Management Committee
1. The Parties shall establish a Joint Management Committee which shall include representatives from the competent authorities of the Parties. The Committee shall be co-chaired by competent authorities' representatives of each Party. At the first meeting of the Committee, it will establish its rules of procedure.
2. The objective of the Committee is to facilitate bilateral trade in goods affected by sanitary or phytosanitary measures and to achieve this by giving practical effect to this Chapter, including through the establishment and monitoring of the application of implementing arrangements.
3. The Committee shall consider any matters relating to the implementation of this Chapter including:
(a) establishing, monitoring and reviewing work plans;
(b) establishing technical working groups as appropriate;
(c) initiating, developing, reviewing and modifying implementing arrangements which further elaborate the provisions of this Chapter;
(d) exchanging sanitary and phytosanitary information on bilateral trade;
(e) discussing positions on important sanitary and phytosanitary issues in the WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and in relevant international standards setting bodies;
and
(f) consulting with a view to resolving sanitary and phytosanitary issues arising in bilateral trade.
4. The Committee shall meet within one year of the entry into force of this Agreement and at least annually thereafter or as mutually determined by the Parties. It may meet in person, teleconference, video conference, or through any other means, as mutually determined by the Parties. The Committee may also address issues through correspondence.
5. The Committee may agree to establish technical working groups consisting of expert-level representatives of the Parties, which shall identify and address technical and scientific issues arising from this Chapter. Where additional assistance is needed, these groups may decide, by mutual agreement, to request expert advice from non-Party individuals or groups.
6. Notwithstanding paragraph 5, the competent authorities may consult on and resolve issues. Where they consider it appropriate, they may
discuss the establishment of a working group and the scope of its work for a possible recommendation to the Committee.
