Questions and Answer

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Q1. What have been the recent significant decisions made by the ASEAN Member
Countries regarding CEPT for AFTA?

The 26th Meeting of the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 22-23
September 1994 had agreed to accelerate the implementation of CEPT for AFTA. The main
decisions were:

a. time frame for the implementation of AFTA be shortened from 15 to 10 years so that by
2003, all CEPT products will have a tariff of 0-5%;
b. Unprocessed Agricultural Products be included into the CEPT Scheme;
c. The Temporary Exclusion List be phased out by 1 January 2000.

Q2. How will the time frame affect the present ‘Fast’ and ‘Normal’ Track?

Given the decision to accelerate CEPT for AFTA, the following are the revised guidelines to
reduce tariffs in the Fast and Normal Tracks:

Normal Track

  products with tariff rates above 20% will have their rates reduced to 20% by 1 January
1998 and subsequently from 20% to 0-5% by 1 January 2003;
  products with tariff rates at or below 20% will have their rates reduced to 0-5% by 1
January 2000.

Fast Track

  products with tariff rates above 20% will have their rates reduced to 0-5% by 1 January
2000:
  Products with tariff rates at or below 20% will have their rates reduced to 0-5% by 1
January 1998.

New tariff reduction schedules are currently being drawn up for individual products by Member
Countries and will be published in October 1995 by the ASEAN Secretariat in the revised
Products and Tariff Reduction Programmes under the Common Effective Preferential Tariff
Scheme (CEPT).

Q3. How will the Temporary Exclusion List be eliminated?

Products, from the Temporary Exclusion List will be phased into the Inclusion List in five equal
installments annually. The first installment will be effected on 1 January 1996. The last
installment will be effected on 1 January 2000.
Q4. What tariff reduction schedules will products transferred from the Temporary
Exclusion List have?

Products, once transferred into the Inclusion list, are guided by the following:

a. Products with tariffs above 20% must have tariffs of 20% by 1 January 1998. Products
above 20% and brought into the Inclusion List after 1/1/98 must have a tariff of 20% or
less upon transferring. Tariffs should be subsequently reduced to 0-5% by 1 January
2003.
b. Products with tariff rates at or below 20%, the tariff rate should be reduced to 0-5% by 1
January 2003.

Q5. How will Unprocessed Agricultural Products be phased into the CEPT Scheme?

Unprocessed Agricultural Products will be divided into three separate lists i.e. those for
immediate inclusion, temporary exclusion and those considered sensitive. Products brought into
the Inclusion and Exclusion Lists will be subjected to the same conditions as other Products in
the lists respectively, these conditions reflecting the latest decision by the 26th AEM. For
products in the sensitive list, appropriate mechanisms will be established to phase them in.

Q6. What are sensitive agricultural products?

Sensitive agricultural products refer to Unprocessed Agricultural Products submitted by Member

Countries which are considered sensitive to them. These products need not be the same for each
country.

Q7. When will these new decisions, viz. new time frame, inclusion of Unprocessed
Agricultural Products and elimination of Temporary Exclusion List, be effected?

These new decisions will be effected by 1 January 1996.

Q8. Can products in the Temporary Exclusion and Sensitive Lists enjoy concessions?

Products in the Temporary Exclusion list cannot enjoy concessions since only products in the
Inclusion List (i.e. with a tariff reductions schedule) are eligible. Products in the Sensitive List
can enjoy concessions but will be subjected to the CEPT rule for the exchange of concessions.

Q9. Can Member Countries accelerate the liberalisation process under the CEPT for
AFTA?

Yes, Member Countries can accelerate their tariff reduction and/or include more than 20% of
their products in the Temporary Exclusion List into the Inclusion List. The private sector,
through ASEAN-CCI, can propose an acceleration to the Senior Economic Officials Meeting
(SEOM) via the AFTA Unit or the National AFTA Units.

Q10. How will these decisions affect the various ASEAN economic agreements?
These new decisions will affect both the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Enhancing
Economic Cooperation of 1992 and the Agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff
(CEPT) Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) of 1992. These Agreements will be
amended.

All past decisions by the ASEAN Member Governments after 1992 which may affect the
Agreements will also be accounted for in the amendment exercise.

Q11. What other decisions have been made by the 26th AEM to support the acceleration of
CEPT for AFTA?

The 26th AEM had also agreed that:

a.  the harmonisation of tariff nomenclature, customs procedures and valuation systems in

ASEAN be completed by the end of 1995;
b.  an AFTA Unit in the ASEAN Secretariat and National AFTA Units in the Member
Governments be established as institutional infrastructure to support the implementation
of CEPT for AFTA.

ON-GOING IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES

Q12. When Member Countries effect unilateral reductions in their tariffs, can they enjoy
CEPT concessions?

Assuming the product fulfills all the requirements for CEPT concessions (i.e. the product is in
the Inclusion List with a tariff reduction schedule and has a 40% ASEAN content), the product
will be eligible for CEPT concessions, subject to the CEPT rule for the exchange of concessions.

Q13. When Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff rates are revised by Member Countries
during the course of the year, when will exporters/ importers be eligible to enjoy the
changes in concessions?

When tariff reduction schedules or MFN tariff rates are changed, the eligibility of concessions
accorded under the CEPT will be affected. Importers/exporters can claim concessions as and
when the new tariff rates are effected as long as the products fulfills the conditions for the
enjoyment of concessions (see Q12). There is a need for updating of the CEPT Concessions
Exchange Manual (CCEM) to reflect these latest changes. The CCEM of each country depicts
the CEPT rate for each product and the ASEAN Member Countries eligible for that rate (i.e.
concessions). If such revisions in the reduction schedules or MFN tariff rates are effected during
the course of the year, modifications in the eligibility of concessions can only be reflected in the
CCEM when they prepared at the end of each calendar year.

Q14. is the ASEAN Preferential Trading Arrangements (PTA) still effective?

Yes, at the moment the PTA is still in force and Countries can enjoy the margin of preference
(MOP) granted under that scheme. This is because not all PTA products have been included in
the CEPT. The PTA will be phased-out by 1 January 1996. The mechanism to phase-out the PTA
is currently being discussed.

Q15. Is the ‘CEPT Base Rate’ in the Products and Tariff Reduction Programmes under the
Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme (CEPT) (or Product List) the MFN rate?

Yes. However, there are certain qualifications to this. First, for some PTA products in CEPT
Scheme, the base rate is the MFN rate after accounting for the margin of preference (MOP).
Second, countries may have effected MFN reductions after the publication of the Product List.
Therefore, the base rate may not be reflective of the latest MFN rates of Member Countries. In
any case, traders are allowed to choose the lowest rate applicable.

Q16. Is the information contained in the CEPT Products List up-to- date?

Not always for some products. However, the ASEAN Secretariat makes periodic amendments to
the Products List. These amendments usually embody modifications to tariff reduction
schedules, addition of products into the Inclusion list or corrections to the previous Products List.
These amendments will be sent to the Product List subscribers periodically.

Q17. Where can one obtain clarifications and amplifications to the information contained
in the CEPT Products List?

One can either enquire at the respective National AFTA Units in respective Member
Governments or the AFTA Unit at the ASEAN Secretariat (the list of addresses and telephone
numbers appear in the “AFTA Unit and National AFTA Units” section).

Q18. If the tariff rate of a country for a particular product were to be reduced from above
20% to 20% or below, what tariff rate should be applied by that country if the product was
traded with another country with tariff rates of above 20%?

The country with tariff rate reduced to 20% or below has the option of imposing either the MFN
rate or the previous CEPT rate of above 20%. In this case, the Sixth AFTA Council decided that
the country must revert to the previous CEPT rate of above 20% (which is lower than the MFN
rate).

Q19. Can products in the Inclusion List be transferred out into the Temporary Exclusion
or Sensitive Lists?

No. However, Article 6 on Emergency Measures” of the CEPT Agreement provides that member
Countries can suspend preferences provisionally and without discrimination if a particular sector
faces injury or the threat of injury. The suspension of privileges must however only be
temporary. Furthermore, the CEPT Agreement provides that notification will have to be made to
the AFTA Council when Emergency Measures are taken, and such action may be subject to
consultations between the affected parties. In the event when the obligations of the CEPT
Agreement are not complied with by others, Member Countries can also make proposals for
consultations with the other Member Countries, as provided for by Article 8 on “Consultations”
in the CEPT Agreement, with the view to achieving satisfactory adjustment of the matter

October 3rd, 2012

QUIZ: How well do you know the ASEAN

member countries?
Test your knowledge on the 10 countries making up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

MANILA, Philippines – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrates its
founding anniversary every August 8.

Each country has its own unique culture and history, its charms and quirks. (FAST FACTS:
ASEAN)

Did you know these details about the 10 member countries?

Brunei Darussalam

 The same family has been in power in Brunei for more than 600 years: the House of
Bolkiah. The current Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is descended from the very first ruler,
Sultan Mohammad Shah.
 Pointing with your index finger is considered rude. Instead, Bruneians use their thumb.
 Sale of alcohol is not allowed, although non-Muslim tourists can bring in and privately
consume alcohol.
 For religious reasons, many Muslim women don't shake hands with men.

Cambodia

 Angkor Wat is the most iconic temple complex in Cambodia, and one of the oldest
religious temples in the world.
 A person's head is considered the most sacred part of the body in Cambodia. Touching or
patting it even in a kind manner is considered rude.
  Cambodians tuck their feet when sitting because they consider it rude to have the feet or
soles pointed towards other people.
 Back in the day, birthdays were not celebrated in Cambodia. That's why older people may
not know their exact date of birth, just the year they were born.

Indonesia

 Would you believe that Indonesia is the 4th most populous country in the world?
 The eruption of Mount Toba in Indonesia was the biggest volcanic blast in the past 2.5
million years. The crater is now the site of a large lake. An earlier theory said its eruption
almost wiped human existence, but scientists now say that this was not supported by new
data from Africa.
 The Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) was the first Asian team to participate in the
FIFA World Cup in 1938.
 The 3-meter-long lizard known as the Komodo Dragon is the largest lizard in the world,
and can be found in Indonesia.

Laos

 Laos is not the first country you'd think of as the most heavily bombed country in history,
but it is. During the Vietnam War, the US dropped bombs on Laos – and some 80 million
unexploded bombs are scattered over the country.
 New Year is a 3-day celebration in Laos.

Malaysia

 Malaysia has a highway length of 65,877 km – longer than the Earth's circumference.
The country also has the world’s largest roundabout.
 At 421 meters high, the Menara Kuala Lumpur or KL Tower is the tallest skyscraper in
Southeast Asia.

Myanmar

 Men in Myanmar wear skirts. It is called longyi, a sarong-like traditional skirt which can
be worn by both men and women.
 Both men and women wear make-up called thanaka, a whitish-yellow paste made from
ground bark. It can be put on the face or all over the body.

Philippines

 The Philippines is Asia's most predominantly Christian country. By 2050, it is expected

to be the 4th largest home for Christians.
 Displaying an inverted flag of the Philippines – with the red on top and blue at the bottom
– is done during times of war.
  How many islands does the Philippines have? It's usually thought to be 7,107, but the
latest count puts the figure at 7,641.

Singapore

 Singapore's name is derived from "Singa Pura" (Lion City). According to legend, a prince
from Palembang came ashore to the island and saw a creature that looked like a lion.
Ironically, lions are not native to Singapore.
 Singapore is one of several city-states in the world, aside from Monaco and the Vatican.
 Singaporeans are fast walkers. They take 10.55 seconds to walk 18 meters, according to a
2007 study.

Thailand

 Krung Thep Mahanakhan Amon Rottanakosin Mahinthrayutthaya Mahadilok Phop

Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Undomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan
Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit –or, Bangkok's official name in full.
 Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country which wasn't colonized by the Europeans.
 Back in the day, it was common for Buddhist men in Thailand to be a monk at some
point in their lives.

Vietnam

 Vietnamese is a difficult language to learn because it has 6 different tones and a slight
tweak in the tone changes the meaning of the word.
 Tortoises are considered lucky and sacred in Vietnam.
 Vietnam is a home for motorbikes, with millions plying the streets in the country every
day.

How well do you know the 10 ASEAN member countries? Put your trivia knowledge to the test
with the quiz below.

How did you fare? Let us know in the comments below. – research by Jorilyn Gaa /
Rappler.com

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Filed under:ASEAN 2017Association of Southeast Asian NationsBrunei

DarussalamCambodiaIndonesiaLaosMalaysiaMyanmarPhilippinesSingaporeThailandVietnamA
SEAN
ASIA PACIFIC

Myanmar says holding court martial after

Rohingya atrocities probe
The report describes grisly violence at the hands of soldiers and Buddhist vigilantes, who
allegedly attacked villagers with guns, knives, rocket launchers and grenades before dumping
bodies into pits and dousing them with acid

Agence France-Presse

@afp
Published 6:36 PM, September 01, 2019
Updated 6:36 PM, September 01, 2019

ROHINGYA PLIGHT. A burned village is seen from the air near Maungdaw, north of
Myanmar's Rakhine state on September 27, 2017. File photo from AFP

YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar said its military was conducting a rare court martial following
a probe into alleged mass graves in crisis-hit Rakhine state, two years after a bloody crackdown
drove some 740,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh.
In February 2018, an Associated Press report alleged at least 5 mass graves of Rohingya in
Rakhine's Gu Dar Pyin village – a claim denied by the government, which said the bodies were
those of "terrorists."

But the military's official website said Saturday that an investigation had found "weakness in
following instructions" in Gu Dar Pyin, and that a court martial would "proceed in accordance
with the procedures of Military Justice."

Military spokesman Zaw Min Tun confirmed the probe Sunday, and said the report of mass
graves "is just an allegation."

But "detailed information cannot be released yet", he told Agence France-Presse.

The report described grisly violence at the hands of soldiers and Buddhist vigilantes, who
allegedly attacked villagers with guns, knives, rocket launchers and grenades before dumping
bodies into pits and dousing them with acid.

Estimates from survivors in Bangladesh put the death toll in the hundreds, the report said.

Security forces claimed they were under attack by some 500 villagers, and that they had acted "in
self-defense," according to state-run media last year.

UN investigators want Myanmar generals prosecuted for genocide for overseeing the brutal
crackdown in Rakhine state.

The army staunchly denies the allegation, calling the 2017 operation a proportionate response to
deadly militant attacks on police posts.

Rights groups say the military has done little to hold anyone accountable for atrocities.

It previously admitted that members of the security forces had helped kill 10 Rohingya in a
different Rakhine village in September 2017.

Four officers and three soldiers were sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor, but a prison
official said in May that they were "no longer in detention."

Conflict-scarred Rakhine state is virtually sealed off to media, and has in recent months been the
site of fierce battles between the military and the Arakan Army – a rebel group claiming to fight
for more autonomy for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists.

In June, the government ordered all mobile phone operators to suspend internet data in 9
townships across Rakhine and neighboring Chin state, saying the internet was being used to
coordinate illegal activities.

But mobile operator Telenor Group said Sunday the internet had resumed in "5 of the 9 affected
townships" the day before.
Telenor said it was urging for internet services to be restored to the remaining 4 affected
townships in Rakhine for "humanitarian purposes."

UN rights investigators have said they fear the data blackout could serve as a cover for human
rights violations by the military. – Rappler.com

IMHO
ESTABLISHMENT

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, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Brunei Darussalam then joined on 7 January 1984, 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.

AIMS AND PURPOSES

As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:

1. To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the
region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to
strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian
Nations;
2. To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of
law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of
the United Nations Charter;
3. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in
the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields;
4. To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the
educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres;
5. To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their agriculture and
industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of
international commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and
communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples;
6. To promote Southeast Asian studies; and
7. To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional
organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer
cooperation among themselves.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

In their relations with one another, the ASEAN Member States have adopted the following
fundamental principles, as contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia
(TAC) of 1976:
 1. Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and
national identity of all nations;
2. The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference,
subversion or coercion;
3. Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
4. Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
5. Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
6. Effective cooperation among themselves.

ASEAN COMMUNITY

The ASEAN Vision 2020, adopted by the ASEAN Leaders on the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN,
agreed on a shared vision of ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward looking,
living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic development
and in a community of caring societies.

At the 9th ASEAN Summit in 2003, the ASEAN Leaders resolved that an ASEAN Community
shall be established.

At the 12th ASEAN Summit in January 2007, the Leaders affirmed their strong commitment to
accelerate the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015 and signed the Cebu Declaration
on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

The ASEAN Community is comprised of three pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security
Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. Each
pillar has its own Blueprint, and, together with the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI)
Strategic Framework and IAI Work Plan Phase II (2009-2015), they form the Roadmap for an
ASEAN Community 2009-2015.

Please click here for the ASEAN Political-Security Community Video.

Please click here for the ASEAN Economic Community Video.

Please click here for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Video.

Please click here for ASEAN History and Purposes.

ASEAN CHARTER

The ASEAN Charter serves as a firm foundation in achieving the ASEAN Community by
providing legal status and institutional framework for ASEAN. It also codifies ASEAN norms,
rules and values; sets clear targets for ASEAN; and presents accountability and compliance.

The ASEAN Charter entered into force on 15 December 2008. A gathering of the ASEAN
Foreign Ministers was held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta to mark this very historic
occasion for ASEAN.
With the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN will henceforth operate under a new
legal framework and establish a number of new organs to boost its community-building process.

In effect, the ASEAN Charter has become a legally binding agreement among the 10 ASEAN
Member States

The ASEAN Charter serves as a firm foundation in achieving the ASEAN Community by
providing legal status and institutional framework for ASEAN. It also codifies ASEAN norms,
rules and values; sets clear targets for ASEAN; and presents accountability and compliance.

The ASEAN Charter entered into force on 15 December 2008. A gathering of the ASEAN
Foreign Ministers was held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta to mark this very historic
occasion for ASEAN.

With the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN will henceforth operate under a new
legal framework and establish a number of new organs to boost its community-building process.

In effect, the ASEAN Charter has become a legally binding agreement among the 10 ASEAN
Member States. It will also be registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations, pursuant to
Article 102, Paragraph 1 of the Charter of the United Nations.

The importance of the ASEAN Charter can be seen in the following contexts:

 New political commitment at the top level

 New and enhanced commitments
 New legal framework, legal personality
 New ASEAN bodies
 Two new openly-recruited DSGs
 More ASEAN meetings
 More roles of ASEAN Foreign Ministers
 New and enhanced role of the Secretary-General of ASEAN
 Other new initiatives and changes

13th ASEAN Summit, Singapore, 2007

Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Singapore, 20 November 2007

Singapore Declaration on the ASEAN Charter, Singapore, 20 November 2007