Short term objective:
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(1) To facilitate trade between ASEAN Member Countries through consistent, predictable and assured classification rulings and decisions.
(2) To promote transparency, consistency and uniformity in the classification of goods within ASEAN Member Countries through the implementation of an ASEAN Harmonised Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN).
(3) To provide greater comparability of intra-ASEAN trade flows by extending common commodity classification beyond the 6 digits of the Harmonized System to the 8 digits of the AHTN.
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Sub-Element 1:
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Finalisation of the AHTN by the year 2000, for implementation latest by 1 January 2002, so as to coincide with the implementation of the WCO HS2002.
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Adoption of the AHTN(22/8/97) as the common base for harmonisation of national tariff nomenclatures in ASEAN
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Activity 1:
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Obtain the approval of the AFTA Council for the adoption of the AHTN(22/8/97) as the basis for harmonisation of national tariff nomenclatures in ASEAN and policy guidelines relating to its content.
Output:
Approval of the AFTA Council on the adoption of the AHTN(22/8/97) and policy guidelines relating to its content.
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Revision of the AHTN(22/8/97) to take into account of the requirements of Member Countries in accordance with the Ministerial guidelines obtained under Strategy 1, and to incorporate the WCO HS2002.
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Activity 1:
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Member Countries to submit their proposals for addition to the AHTN(22/8/97) by first week of June 1999.
Output:
Aggregated proposals of further 6 Member Countries for AHTN additions.
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Activity 2:
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Singapore to consolidate additional requirements of the non-BPS countries to produce draft AHTN (Revision 1) to include national requirements of all Member Countries, according to the 12th AFTA Council policy guidelines.
Output:
Revised AHTN (Revision 1) circulated to Member Countries for review, by the Fourth ECCM.
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| Activity 3:
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Member Countries to discuss and comment on draft AHTN (Revision 1) at ECCM and to take into consideration the guidelines issued by the WCO on HS2002 revisions.
Output:
ECCM’s comments on AHTN (Revision 1)
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| Activity 4:
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Singapore to produce draft AHTN (Revision 2) taking into account ECCM’s comments, suggestions and decisions to review AHTN (Revisions 1), and the AFTA Council policy guidelines. If necessary, a consultant can be engaged to resolve any technical difficulties that could arise in conforming to requirements of the HS 2002, once it is available, and the possibly revised tariff requirements of all Member Countries when the AFTA is implemented in 2002.
Output:
AHTN (Revision 2) circulated to Member Countries for review.
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Activity 5:
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Member Countries to discuss and comment on draft AHTN (Revision 2) at the ECCM.
Output:
ECCM to agree amendments to AHTN (Revision 2);
report to AFTA Council on progress made and any unresolved problems.
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Activity 6:
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Singapore, with the help of the consultant for further technical work (if necessary), to finalise AHTN if approved by AFTA Council, or revise text in accordance with directions received.
Output:
Version of AHTN (Revision 3/Final) completed by end of 2000.
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Activity 7:
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Member Countries with large tariff lines, to take advantage of the implementation period (2001-2002) to further simplify their nomenclature requirements and submit proposals for further simplification of the AHTN to Singapore, before 1 January 2002
Output:
Final version of AHTN implemented on 1 January 2002.
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Implementation of AHTN by all Member Countries by the year 2002
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Activity 1:
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All ASEAN Member Countries to submit implementation plans
Output:
Collection of implementation plans of all Member Countries
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| Activity 2:
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Formulation of Protocol governing the Implementation of the AHTN.
Output:
Protocol drafted
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Activity 3:
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Obtain regular feedback from Member Countries on the stages of implementation
Output:
Up to date information on progress made in implementation of AHTN
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Activity 4:
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Maintenance of the AHTN in accordance with the Protocol
Output:
National nomenclatures which include all the latest HS amendments at 6-digit level and which at 8-digit level reflect only the current needs of Member Countries in conformity with the AFTA Council guidelines
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Sub-Element 2:
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To introduce consistent national commodity classification in all ASEAN Member Countries by sharing of information and implementation of pre-entry classification
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Train maximum possible number of customs officers engaged on commodity classification
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| Activity 1:
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Consultant to adapt existing practical commodity classification training material and develop training course on the 8-digit AHTN
Output:
AHTN commodity classification training course available
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Activity 2:
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Conduct two AHTN training courses to train trainers from all ASEAN Member Countries.
Output:
Trainers trained
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Activity 3:
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Trainers to train all customs officers engaged on commodity classification
Output:
Customs officers trained on use of AHTN in all ASEAN Member Countries
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Activity 4:
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Member Countries to report on follow-up to the training of trainers
Output:
Report on follow-up undertaken at national level
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Share information on national classification decisions and best practices, and implement pre-entry classification.
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Activity 1:
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Collect lists of classification rulings at the 7-8th digit level of the AHTN from all Member Countries
Output:
Collection of classification rulings at the 7-8th digit level of the AHTN from all Member Countries
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Activity 2:
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Compile first edition of ASEAN Commodity Classification Compendium and Best Practices (ACCC) and distribute to Member Countries. The Compendium will include best practices on classification compiled from technical advice and rulings from the WCO up to the 6th digit level, and from the ASEAN rulings for the 7-8th digit levels of the AHTN.
Output:
First edition of ACCC
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Activity 3:
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Provide mechanism for future regular updating of the ACCC
Output:
Mechanism to update ACCC
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Activity 4:
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Member Countries to put in place pre-entry mechanisms to provide specific classification rulings upon requests by traders, before importation of the goods, that would be binding to the customs administrations providing it.
Output:Pre-entry classification mechanisms in Member Countries
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Activity 5:
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ASEAN Secretariat to monitor implementation of the pre-entry classification systems in Member Countries. Member Countries to provide ASEAN Secretariat status of their implementation of pre-entry classification. Private sector views can also be sought.
Output: Report on status of implementation of pre-entry classification systems in Member Countries to be made to ECCM
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