ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)

The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) consists of three agreements – the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA). It eliminates tariffs for trade in goods, investments and services within the ASEAN region.

Key benefits

• Eliminates all tariffs for virtually all product lines.
• Allows back-to-back shipment of goods within member countries.
• Allows third-party invoicing of goods.
• Allows ASEAN Cumulation, which means that 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.

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

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

Eligibility

Use the Tariff Finder to see if your product is eligible to enjoy this FTA's tariff concessions.

Alternatively, you can explore the following steps to check your eligibility.

• Brunei Darussalam
• Cambodia
• Indonesia
• Lao PDR
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Vietnam

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?		Your product is considered wholly obtained in Singapore
Does your product fall under the list of either Product Specific Rules (Textiles) or Product Specific Rules (Others) ?		Your product may be considered as originating from ASEAN region
40% of its contents 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?
	Your product is considered wholly obtained in Singapore
	Does your product fall under the list of either Product Specific Rules (Textiles) or Product Specific Rules (Others) ?
	Your product may be considered as originating from ASEAN-Japan region
	40% of its contents 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.

Apply

Singapore Customs is the authorised body in Singapore for FTA Preferential Certificate of Origin (PCO) application.

1. Register your factory with Singapore Customs using the Manufacturer's Application Form
2. Submit the Manufacturing Cost Statement
3. Apply for a Preferential Certificate of Origin (PCO)

The process from registration to receiving the PCO typically takes less than one month.