ASEAN
Free Trade Area (AFTA)

• The AFTA covers trade in goods, investment, and services.
• It is made up of three agreements, namely the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS), and the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA).

ATIGA
• ATIGA eliminates all tariffs for virtually all product lines.
• Allows for back-to-back shipment of goods within member countries.
• Allows for third-party invoicing of goods.
• Allows for ASEAN Cumulation: Originating raw materials sourced from other ASEAN Member States can be taken into account when assessing the origin criteria of final products manufactured in Singapore, This makes it easier for Singapore exporters’ products to meet the criteria for preferential treatment.
• The First Protocol to amend the ATIGA, which was signed in 2019, will enhance the existing Agreement by simplifying the Operational Certification Procedure for Rules of Origin.

AFAS
• Safeguards market access and ensures a more predictable operating environment for service suppliers.

ACIA
• Protection for investors and investments in ASEAN. This creates a more transparent, facilitative, and secure environment for investors.

AHTN 2017 – Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore
AHTN 2012 – Brunei Darussalam, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Thailand

Step 2: Find out your product's rules of origin

 

Rules of origin are a set of criteria which determine a product's originating status in each respective FTA. It is put in place to ensure that only goods originating from the FTA partner countries will benefit from tariff concessions.

Is your product obtained/produced entirely within Singapore?		Wholly Obtained Rule applies
Does your product fall under Product Specific Rules (textiles) Product Specific Rules (others)		Product Specific Rule applies
40% of its content must originate from the ASEAN region or non-originating raw materials must have undergone a change in the first 4 digits of the HS code from the finished good

Is your product obtained/produced entirely within Singapore?
	Wholly Obtained Rule applies
Does your product fall under Product Specific Rules (textiles) Product Specific Rules (others)
	Product Specific Rule applies
40% of its content must originate from the ASEAN region or non-originating raw materials must have undergone a change in the first 4 digits of the HS code from the finished good

Singapore Customs is the authorised body in Singapore for FTA Preferential Certificate of Origin (PCO) application. Below are the three general documentary processes in using FTA.

The process from registration to receiving PCO would typically take less than one month. Please refer here for more information.

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