ASEAN - China
Free Trade Area (ACFTA)

Key Benefits

Tariff elimination for 94.6% of all tariff lines for Singapore’s originating exports to China.
Allows for back-to-back shipment of goods within member countries:. ACFTA originating goods brought into Singapore from ASEAN countries or China and are re-exported within these countries, without any processing in Singapore, can enjoy tariff concessions. Originating products passing through Parties can also retain their originating status.
Allows for third-party invoicing of goods.: Customs authorities in the importing country may accept a Certificate of Origin when the sales invoice is issued from a different country or company exporting the originating goods in various sectors, provided that the good meets the necessary requirements. This invoice can come from countries that are not Parties to this Agreement.
Allows for Regional Cumulation:. Originating raw materials sourced from other ASEAN Member States and China 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.
Enhanced Product Specific Rules of Origin (PSRs) are more liberal, flexible and business friendly, and allow businesses to qualify for the benefits under the ACFTA more easily.
Safeguards market access and ensures a more predictable operating environment for service suppliers.
Greater market access and improved foreign equity thresholds in six of China’s services sectors.
Protection for investors and investments in ASEAN and China. This creates a more transparent, facilitative, and secure environment for investors.
Expanded Economic Cooperation and Technical Cooperation provisions relating to information sharing and capacity building allow Singapore’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance their capabilities.

Entry Into Force

July 2005 – Trade in Goods
July 2007 – Trade in Services
August 2009 – Investment
September 2016 – Upgrade Protocol
September 2019 – Rules of Origin provisions of the ACFTA Upgrade Protocol

Can your product(s) enjoy this FTA's tariff concessions?

Step 1: Find out what is the preferential rate offered for your product

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 wholly obtained / produced in Singapore?		Wholly Obtained Rule applies (Article 3 of Annex 1)

Is your product Produced Exclusively from originating materials?		Originating Good (Article 2 of Annex 1)

Does your product fall under the list for 'Product Specific Rules'? Click here to find out		Product Specific Rule applies (Attachment B)

40% of its content must originate from the ASEAN-China region or Non-originating materials used must have undergone a Change in Tariff Classification (CTC) at the 4-digit level of the HS code for goods classified in Chapters 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 39, 42-49, 57-59, 61, 62, 64, 66-71, 73-83, 86, 88, 91-97* *For Headings 29.01, 29.02, 31.05, 39.01, 39.02, 39.03, 39.07, and 39.08, the applied criterion is RVC40%, unless otherwise mutually agreed by the Parties.



Is your product wholly obtained / produced in Singapore?

	Wholly Obtained Rule applies (Article 3 of Annex 1)

Is your product Produced Exclusively from originating materials?

	Originating Good (Article 2 of Annex 1)

Does your product fall under the list for 'Product Specific Rules'? Click here to find out

	Product Specific Rule applies (Attachment B)

40% of its content must originate from the ASEAN-China region or Non-originating materials used must have undergone a Change in Tariff Classification (CTC) at the 4-digit level of the HS code for goods classified in Chapters 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 39, 42-49, 57-59, 61, 62, 64, 66-71, 73-83, 86, 88, 91-97* *For Headings 29.01, 29.02, 31.05, 39.01, 39.02, 39.03, 39.07, and 39.08, the applied criterion is RVC40%, unless otherwise mutually agreed by the Parties.

How to apply?

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.