Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (Apta)

ObjectivesThe objectives of this Agreement are to promote economic development through a continuous process of trade expansion among the developing member countries of ESCAP and to further international economic co-operation through the adoption of mutually beneficial trade liberalization measures consistent with their respective present and future development and trade needs.Principles The Agreement shall be governed in accordance with the following general principles: (i)                   The Agreement shall be based on overall reciprocity and mutuality of advantages in such a way as to benefit equitably all Participating States; (ii)                 The principles of Transparency, National Treatment and Most-Favoured Nation Treatment shall apply to the trade relations among the Participating States; (iii)                The special needs of least developed country Participating States shall be clearly recognized and concrete preferential measures in their favour shall be agreed upon Negotiation of Concessions This Agreement may, inter-alia, consist of arrangements relating to:          Tariffs;          Border charges and fees;          Non-tariff measures. Participating States may conduct their negotiations for tariff concessions in accordance with any one or a combination of the following approaches and procedures:          Product-by-product basis;          Across-the-board tariff reductions;          Sectoral basis.  The tariff negotiations should be based on the current MFN rates applied by each Participating State. Participating States shall enter into periodic negotiations with a view to further expanding this Agreement and the fuller attainment of its aims. Non-Tariff Measures Each Participating State shall take appropriate measures, consistent with its development needs and objectives, for the gradual relaxation of non-tariff measures which may affect the importation of products covered by its National List of Concessions. Issues relating to technical barriers to trade and sanitary and phytosanitary measures among Participating States shall be dealt with, as far as practicable, in accordance with the WTO provisions on these subjects. Participating States shall also make available to one another on a transparent basis a list of non-tariff measures existing on conceded products.  Rules of Origin Products contained in the National Lists of Concessions annexed to this Agreement shall be eligible for preferential treatment if they satisfy the Rules of Origin set out in annex II, which is an integral part of this Agreement.