RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE HIGH-LEVEL TASK FORCE
ON ASEAN ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
INTRODUCTION
1. The
realization of a fully integrated economic community requires implementation of
both liberalization and cooperation measures.
The Task Force while focusing its recommendations relating to
liberalization and facilitation measures in the area of trade in good, services
and investment, acknowledges on the need to enhance cooperation and integration
activities in other areas. These will involve among others, human resource
development and capacity building; recognition of educational qualifications;
closer consultations on macroeconomic and financial policies; trade financing
measures; enhanced infrastructure and communications connectivity; development
of electronic transactions through e-ASEAN; integrating industries across the
region to promote regional sourcing; and enhancing private sector involvement.
ASEAN
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY
2. As a step towards the realization
of ASEAN Economic Community for trade in goods, services and investment, the
HLTF took into account the experience of other Regional Trading Arrangements (RTAs), ASEAN’s own experience, the development perspective
in ASEAN and also the views contained in the following documents:
(i)
ASEAN Vision 2020, the
(ii)
ASEAN Competitiveness Study;
(iii)
ASEAN Economic Community: Concept
Paper by ISEAS; and
(iv)
ASEAN
3. The HLTF is of the view that the elements
of the AEC in the area of goods, services and investment have been elaborated
in ASEAN Vision 2020, HPA and RIA, and recommends that the AEC should be:
(i)
The end-goal of economic
integration as outlined in the ASEAN Vision 2020;
(ii)
Characterized as a single market
and production base, with free flow of goods, services, investment and skilled labour, and freer flow of capital by 2020; and
(iii)
Approached on a progressive basis
with clear timelines by strengthening existing initiatives and building new
initiatives to enhance economic integration.
RECOMMENDATIONS
4. Recognizing that not all
ASEAN member countries can meet the recommended deadlines, the HLTF recommends
that flexibility be allowed in its implementation to enable those member
countries that are ready to proceed first.
5. The HLTF
recommends that cooperation under the current economic initiatives be further
strengthened in the following areas:
(i)
By end-2004, finalize the
improvement to the CEPT Scheme Rules of Origin (ROO) by:
§
Making it more transparent,
predictable and standardized and taking into account the best practices of
other RTAs including the WTO ROO; and
§
Adopting substantial
transformation as alternative criteria for conferring origin status.
(ii) Ensure
transparency on Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) and
eliminate those that are barriers to trade:
§
Establish ASEAN Database of NTMs by mid-2004;
§
Set clear criteria to identify
measures that are classified as barriers to trade by mid-2005;
§
Set a clear and definitive work programme for the removal of the barriers by 2005; and
§
Adopt the WTO agreements on
Technical Barriers to Trade; Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary
and Import Licensing Procedures and develop implementation guidelines
appropriate for ASEAN by end-2004.
Customs
(i)
Ensure full implementation of the
(ii)
Adopt WTO agreement on Customs
Valuation and develop implementation guidelines appropriate for ASEAN by
end-2004;
(iii)
Adopt service commitment (client
charter) by ASEAN customs authorities; and