VIETNAM: Moves Made to Join Pan-ASEAN Self-Certification of Origin Scheme

The First Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) has now been ratified by the Vietnam government, facilitating the country’s move to join an ASEAN-wide origin of goods Self Certification (AWSC) scheme. Under the terms of the initiative, businesses may apply for Certified Exporter (CE) status, entitling them to duty-free treatment for their goods under ATIGA. Goods exported by CE status holders will no longer be required to secure ATIGA e-form D, which served as a Certificate of Origin, when claiming preferential duty benefits for goods exported and imported within the ASEAN bloc.

The AWSC scheme is expected to reduce time and costs for exporters, while also streamlining customs clearance procedures among ASEAN members. It is expected to be officially adopted by the end of this year after the ATIGA treaty has been fully ratified by all ASEAN members. ATIGA is the first agreement between ASEAN member states relating to intra-bloc goods trading activities and is in line with an earlier commitment to remove tariff barriers made as part of the Agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area (CEPT/AFTA).