The ten Governments of Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (hereinafter referred to as “ASEAN Member States”),and the Government of Japan have completed the signing of the Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership among Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Japan (hereinafter referred to as “the AJCEP Agreement”). “  The AJCEP Agreement is comprehensive in scope, covering such fields as trade in goods, trade in services, investment, and economic cooperation.

The signing has been completed by authorized Ministers in the capitals of respective countries.  As a next step, ASEAN Member States and Japan will start their respective domestic procedures necessary for entry into force of the Agreement and notify their completion of such domestic procedures to the other countries. 

The AJCEP Agreement will enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date by which such notifications have been made by Japan and at least one ASEAN Member State, for those signatory States that have made such notifications by this date.

ASEAN Member States and Japan look forward to the early entry into force of the AJCEP Agreement, which will provide a strong impetus for further invigoration of trade and investment in the region.