The Brunei – Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (BJEPA)

 

The Brunei-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (BJEPA) is Brunei Darussalam’s first bilateral free trade agreement. The BJEPA was signed by His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam and then Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, on 18 June 2007 in Tokyo.There are 11 chapters in the agreement covering Trade in Goods; Rules of Origin; Trade in Services; Investment, Energy, Cooperation; Improvement of Business Environment, Custom Procedures; General Provisions; Final Provisions; and Dispute Settlement. With the signing of the BJEPA, Brunei and Japan’s relations have moved on to a higher level, particularly in the economic sphere. The BJEPA is aimed at increasing new market opportunities for Brunei in Goods and Services and attracting more investment into Brunei. Amongst the other benefits of the Agreement are:

• -   Enhancing the investment climate and encouraging foreign direct investments (FDI) through greater predictability and transparency;
• -   Improved market access for Brunei Darussalam goods and suppliers of services;
• -   The reduction of import duties on the products of both countries will result in an increase in imports of products of high quality as well as cheaper imports of Japanese manufactured products for   Brunei Darussalam consumers and vice versa;
• -   Japan’s expertise and assistance in enhancing Brunei Darussalam’s capacity and capabilities in areas such as human resource development, the environment, education and industry;
• -   Improved people to people contacts.

The BJEPA was notified to the WTO on 31 July 2008, and was considered by the CRTA (Committee on Regional Trade Agreements) on 15-16 September 2009.An exchange of diplomatic notes was held on 1 July 2008 and the BJEPA entered into force on 31 July 2008. Please click the links below to download documents related to the Brunei – Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.

• -   Agreement between Brunei Darussalam and Japan for an Economic Partnership
  •    -  Preamble
  •    -  Chapter 1: General Provisions
  •    -  Chapter 2: Trade in Goods
  •    -  Chapter 3: Rules of Origin
  •    -  Chapter 4: Customs Procedures
  •    -  Chapter 5: Investment
  •    -  Chapter 6: Trade in Services
  •    -  Chapter 7: Energy
  •    -  Chapter 8: Improvement of Business Environment
  •    -  Chapter 9: Cooperation
  •    -  Chapter 10: Dispute Settlement
  •    -  Chapter 11: Final Provisions
  •    -  Annexes:
    • •       *       Annex 1: Schedules in relation to Article 16
      •       *       Annex 2: Product Specific Rules
      •       *       Annex 3: Minimum Data Requirement for Certificate of Origin
      •       *       Annex 4: Reservations for Existing Measures
      •       *       Annex 5: Reservations for Future Measures
      •       *       Annex 6: Financial Services
      •       *       Annex 7: Schedules of Specific Commitments in relation to Article 78
      •       *       Annex 8:Lists of Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment Exemptions in relation to Article 79
• -  Implementing Agreement between the Government of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of Japan for an Economic Partnership
  •    -  Preamble
  •    -  Chapter 1: General Provisions
  •    -  Chapter 2: Customs Procedures
  •    -  Chapter 3: Energy
  •    -  Chapter 4: Cooperation
  •    -  Chapter 5: Final Provisions
• -  Information on Non-Conforming Measures with respect to Sectors or Matters specified in Annexes 4 and 5
  •    -  List of Brunei Darussalam
  •    -  List of Japan
• -  Lists of measures inconsistent with Articles 75 and/or 76, pursuant to Article 82
  •    -  List of Brunei Darussalam
  •    -  List of Japan