EU - Japan Economic Partnership (2018)
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(c)    "independent professionals" means:

(i)    in respect of the entry and temporary stay in the European Union, natural persons who are engaged in the supply of a service and established as self-employed in the territory of Japan, have not established in the territory of the European Union and have concluded a bona fide contract (other than through an agency for placement and supply services of personnel) to supply services to a final consumer in the European Union, requiring their presence on a temporary basis in the European Union in order to fulfil the contract to supply services; (45) and

(ii)    in respect of the entry and temporary stay in Japan, natural persons of the European Union who will engage in business activities of supplying services during their temporary stay in Japan on the basis of a personal contract with a juridical person of Japan;

(d)    "intra-corporate transferees" means natural persons who have been employed by a juridical person of a Party or have been partners in it, for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the date of their application for the entry and temporary stay in the other Party, and who are temporarily transferred to an enterprise, in the territory of the other Party, which forms part of the same group of the former juridical person including its representative office, subsidiary, branch or head company, provided that the following conditions are met:

(i)    the natural person concerned must belong to one of the following categories:

(A)    managers: persons working in a senior position, who primarily direct the management of the enterprise, receiving general supervision or direction principally from the board of directors or from stockholders of the business or their equivalent, including at least:

(1)    directing the enterprise or a department thereof;

(2)    supervising and controlling the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees; or

(3)    having the personal authority to recruit and dismiss or to recommend recruitment, dismissal or other personnel-related actions; or

(B)    specialists: persons who possess specialised knowledge essential to the enterprise's production, research equipment, techniques, processes, procedures or management; and

(ii)    for the European Union, in assessing the knowledge referred to in subparagraph (i)(B), account shall be taken not only of knowledge specific to the enterprise, but also of whether the natural person has a high level of qualification referring to a type of work or trade requiring specific technical knowledge, including membership of an accredited profession; and

(e)    "investors" means natural persons who establish an enterprise, and develop or administer the operation of that enterprise in the other Party in a capacity that is supervisory or executive, and to which that person or the juridical person employing that person has committed, or is in the process of committing, a substantial amount of capital.

(44) The contract to supply services referred to in subparagraph (b)(i) shall comply with the requirements of the laws and regulations that apply in the place where the contract is executed.
(45) The contract to supply services referred to in subparagraph (c)(i) shall comply with the requirements of the laws and regulations that apply in the place where the contract is executed. 

Article 8.22. General Obligations

1.    A Party shall grant the entry and temporary stay to natural persons of the other Party for business purposes in accordance with this Section, and Annexes III and IV to Annex 8-B, provided that those persons comply with the immigration laws and regulations of the former Party applicable to the entry and temporary stay.

2.    Each Party shall apply its measures relating to the provisions of this Section consistently with the desire of the Parties set out in paragraph 1 of Article 8.20, and, in particular, shall apply those measures so as to avoid unduly impairing or delaying trade in goods or services, or establishment or operation under this Agreement.

3.    The measures taken by each Party to facilitate and expedite procedures related to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons of the other Party for business purposes shall be consistent with Annex 8-C.

Article 8.23. Transparency

1.    A Party shall make publicly available information relating to the entry and temporary stay by natural persons of the other Party, referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 8.20.

2.    The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall include, where applicable, the following information:

(a)    categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding the entry and temporary stay;

(b)    documentation required and conditions to be met;

(c)    method of filing an application and options on where to file, such as consular offices or online;

(d)    application fees and an indicative timeframe of the processing of an application;

(e)    the maximum length of stay under each type of authorisation described in subparagraph (a);

(f)    conditions for any available extension or renewal;

(g)    rules regarding accompanying dependents;

(h)    available review or appeal procedures; and

(i)    relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons.

3.    With respect to the information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, each Party shall endeavour to promptly inform the other Party of the introduction of any new requirements and procedures or of the changes in any requirements and procedures that affect the effective application for the grant of entry into, temporary stay in and, where applicable, permission to work in the former Party.

Article 8.24. Obligations In other Sections

1.    This Agreement does not impose any obligation on a Party regarding its immigration measures, except as specifically provided for in this Section.

2.    Without prejudice to any decision to grant entry to a natural person of the other Party within the terms of this Section, including the permissible length of stay pursuant to any such grant:

(a)    the obligations of Articles 8.7 to 8.11 subject to:

(i)    Article 8.6; and

(ii)    Article 8.12 to the extent that the measure affects the treatment of natural persons for business purposes present in the territory of the other Party,

are hereby incorporated into and made part of this Section and apply to the measures affecting treatment of natural persons for business purposes present in the territory of the other Party under the categories of business visitors for establishment purposes, intracorporate transferees and investors, as defined in Article 8.21;

(b)    the obligations of Articles 8.15 and 8.16 subject to:

(i)    Article 8.14; and

(ii)    Article 8.18 to the extent that the measure affects the treatment of natural persons for business purposes present in the territory of the other Party,

are hereby incorporated into and made part of this Section and apply to the measures affecting treatment of natural persons for business purposes present in the territory of the other Party under the categories of:

(i)    contractual service suppliers and independent professionals, as defined in Article 8.21, for all sectors listed in Annex IV to Annex 8-B; and

(ii)    short-term business visitors, referred to in Article 8.27, in accordance with Annex III to Annex 8-B; and

(c)    the obligation of Article 8.17 subject to:

(i)    Article 8.14; and

(ii)    Article 8.18 to the extent that the measure affects the treatment of natural persons for business purposes present in the territory of the other Party,

is hereby incorporated into and made part of this Section and apply to the measures affecting treatment of natural persons for business purposes present in the territory of the other Party under the categories of:

(i)    contractual service suppliers and independent professionals, as defined in Article 8.21; and

(ii)    short-term business visitors, referred to in Article 8.27.

3.    For greater certainty, the obligations referred to in paragraph 2 do not apply to measures relating to the granting of entry into a Party to natural persons of that Party or of a third country.

Article 8.25. Business Visitors for Establishment Purposes, Intra-corporate Transferees and Investors

1.    Each Party shall grant entry and temporary stay to business visitors for establishment purposes, intra-corporate transferees and investors of the other Party in accordance with Annex III to Annex 8-B.

2.    A Party shall not adopt or maintain limitations on the total number of natural persons granted entry in accordance with paragraph 1, in a specific sector or sub-sector, in the form of numerical quotas or the requirement of an economic needs test either on the basis of a territorial subdivision or on the basis of its entire territory.

Article 8.26. Contractual Service Suppliers and Independent Professionals

1.    Each Party shall grant entry and temporary stay to contractual service suppliers and independent professionals of the other Party in accordance with Annex IV to Annex 8-B.

2.    Unless otherwise specified in Annex IV to Annex 8-B, a Party shall not adopt or maintain limitations on the total number of contractual service suppliers and independent professionals of the other Party granted entry, in the form of numerical quotas or the requirement of an economic needs test.

Article 8.27. Short-term business Visitors

1.    Each Party shall grant entry and temporary stay of short-term business visitors of the other Party in accordance with Annex III to Annex 8-B, subject to the following conditions:

(a)    the short-term business visitors are not engaged in selling their goods or supplying services to the general public;

(b)    the short-term business visitors do not, on their own behalf, receive remuneration from within the Party where they are staying temporarily; and

(c)    the short-term business visitors are not engaged in the supply of a service in the framework of a contract concluded between a juridical person who has not established in the territory of the Party where they are staying temporarily, and a consumer there, except as provided for in Annex III to Annex 8-B.

2.    Unless otherwise specified in Annex III to Annex 8-B, each Party shall grant entry of short-term business visitors without the requirement of a work permit, economic needs test or other prior approval procedures of similar intent.

Article 8.28. Contact Points

Each Party shall, upon the entry into force of this Agreement, designate a contact point for the effective implementation and operation of this Section and notify the other Party of the contact details including information regarding the relevant officials. The Parties shall promptly notify each other of any change of those contact details.

Section E. Regulatory Framework

Subsection 1. Domestic Regulation

Article 8.29. Scope and Definitions

1.    This Sub-Section applies to measures by a Party relating to licensing requirements and procedures, qualification requirements and procedures and technical standards (46) that affect:

(a)    cross-border trade in services as defined in subparagraph (d) of Article 8.2;

(b)    establishment as defined in subparagraph (i) of Article 8.2 or operation as defined in subparagraph (p) of Article 8.2; or

(c)    the supply of a service through the presence of a natural person of a Party in the territory of the other Party, in accordance with Article 8.24.

2.    This Sub-Section does not apply to licensing requirements and procedures, qualification requirements and procedures and technical standards:

(a)    pursuant to a measure that does not conform with Article 8.7 or 8.8 and is referred to in subparagraphs 1(a) to (c) of Article 8.12 or with Article 8.15 or 8.16 and is referred to in subparagraphs 1(a) to (c) of Article 8.18; or

(b)    pursuant to a measure referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 8.12 or paragraph 2 of Article 8.18.

3.    For the purposes of this Sub-Section, a "competent authority" is a central, regional or local government or authority, or a non-governmental body in the exercise of powers delegated by central, regional or local governments or authorities, which is entitled to take a decision concerning the authorisation to supply a service, including through establishment, or concerning the authorisation to establish an enterprise in order to engage in an economic activity other than a service.

(46) For greater certainty, as far as measures relating to technical standards are concerned, this Sub-Section applies only to such measures affecting trade in services.

Article 8.30. Conditions for Licensing and Qualification

Measures relating to licensing requirements and procedures, and qualification requirements and procedures of each Party shall be based on the following criteria:

(a)    clarity;

(b)    objectivity;

(c)    transparency;

(d)    advance public availability; and

(e)    accessibility.

Article 8.31. Licensing and Qualification Procedures

1.    Licensing and qualification procedures shall be clear, made public in advance and be such as to ensure that the applications are dealt with objectively and impartially.

2.    Licensing and qualification procedures shall be as simple as possible and shall not in themselves be a restriction on the supply of a service or the pursuit of any other economic activity. Any authorisation fee (47) which the applicants may incur from their application should be reasonable, transparent and shall not in themselves restrict the supply of a service or the pursuit of any other economic activity.

3.    The procedures used by, and the decisions of, the competent authority in the authorisation process shall be impartial with respect to all applicants. The competent authority should reach its decision in an independent manner and should not be accountable to any person supplying the services or carrying out the economic activities for which the authorisation is required.

4.    If a specific period of time for applications exists, the competent authority shall allow an applicant a reasonable period of time for the submission of an application. The competent authority shall initiate the processing of an application without undue delay. If possible, the competent authority should accept an application in electronic format under the same conditions of authenticity as an application in paper format.

5.    The competent authority shall complete the processing of an application, including reaching a final decision, within a reasonable period of time from the submission of a complete application. Each Party shall endeavour to establish an indicative timeframe for the processing of an application and shall make publicly available that timeframe, when established.

6.    The competent authority shall, within a reasonable period of time after the receipt of an application which it considers incomplete, inform the applicant, and, to the extent feasible, identify the additional information required to complete the application and provide the opportunity to correct deficiencies.

7.    The competent authority should, where possible, accept authenticated copies in place of original documents.

8.    If the competent authority rejects an application by an applicant, it shall inform the applicant, in principle in writing, and without undue delay. It shall also, on request of the applicant, inform the applicant of the reasons for rejection of the application and the timeframe for an appeal against that decision.

9.    The competent authority shall grant an authorisation as soon as it is established, in the light of an appropriate examination, that the applicant meets the conditions for obtaining it.

10.    The competent authority shall ensure that an authorisation, once granted, enters into effect without undue delay in accordance with the terms and conditions specified therein.

(47) Authorisation fees do not include fees for the use of natural resources, payments for auction, tendering or other non-discriminatory means of awarding concessions or mandated contributions to universal service provision.

Article 8.32. Technical Standards

Each Party shall encourage its competent authorities, when adopting technical standards, to adopt technical standards developed through open and transparent processes, and shall encourage any body designated to develop technical standards to use open and transparent processes.

Subsection 2. Provisions of General Application

Article 8.33. Administration of Measures of General Application

1.    Each Party shall ensure that all measures of general application affecting trade in services are administered in a reasonable, objective and impartial manner.

2.    Paragraph 1 does not apply to:

(a)    the aspects of a measure that do not conform with Article 8.7 or 8.8 and are referred to in subparagraphs 1(a) to (c) of Article 8.12 or with Article 8.15 or 8.16 and are referred to in subparagraphs 1(a) to (c) of Article 8.18; or

(b)    a measure referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 8.12 or paragraph 2 of Article 8.18.

Article 8.34. Review Procedures for Administrative Decisions

1.    Each Party shall maintain judicial, arbitral or administrative tribunals or procedures which provide, upon request of an affected entrepreneur or service supplier of the other Party, for a prompt review of, and where justified, appropriate remedies for, administrative decisions that affect:

(a)    cross-border trade in services as defined in subparagraph (d) of Article 8.2;

(b)    establishment as defined in subparagraph (i) of Article 8.2 or operation as defined in subparagraph (p) of Article 8.2; or

(c)    the supply of a service through the presence of a natural person of a Party in the territory of the other Party, in accordance with Article 8.24.

2.    If the procedures referred to in paragraph 1 are not independent of the agency entrusted with the administrative decision concerned, each Party shall ensure that the procedures in fact provide for an objective and impartial review.

Article 8.35. Mutual Recognition

1.    Nothing in this Section shall prevent a Party from requiring that natural persons must possess the necessary qualifications or professional experience specified in the territory where the service is supplied, for the sector of activity concerned.

2.    Each Party shall encourage the relevant professional bodies in its territory to provide joint recommendations on mutual recognition to the Committee, for the purpose of the fulfilment, in whole or in part, by entrepreneurs and service suppliers of the criteria applied by that Party for the authorisation, licensing, operation and certification of entrepreneurs and service suppliers and, in particular in the sector of professional services.

3.    On receipt of a joint recommendation referred to in paragraph 2, the Committee shall, within a reasonable period of time, review that recommendation with a view to ensuring its consistency with this Agreement and, on the basis of the information contained therein, assess in particular:

(a)    the extent to which the standards and criteria applied by each Party for the authorisation, licensing, operation and certification referred to in paragraph 2 are converging; and

(b)    the potential economic value of a mutual recognition agreement for the authorisation, licensing, operation and certification referred to in paragraph 2.

4.    Where those requirements are satisfied, the Committee shall establish the necessary steps to negotiate. Thereafter the Parties shall enter into negotiations, through their competent authorities, of a mutual recognition agreement for the authorisation, licensing, operation and certification referred to in paragraph 2.

5.    Any mutual recognition agreement that the Parties may conclude shall be in conformity with the relevant provisions of the WTO Agreement and, in particular, Article VII of GATS.

Subsection 3. Postal and Courier Services

Article 8.36. Scope and Definitions

1.    This Sub-Section sets out the principles of the regulatory framework for the supply of postal and courier services, and applies to measures by a Party affecting trade in postal and courier services.

2.    For the purposes of this Sub-Section:

(a)    "licence" means an authorisation that an independent regulatory authority of a Party may require of an individual supplier, in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Party, in order for that supplier to offer postal and courier services; and

(b)    "universal service" means the permanent supply of a postal service of specified quality at all points in the territory of a Party at affordable prices for all users.

Article 8.37. Universal Service

1.    Each Party has the right to define the kind of universal service obligation it wishes to maintain. That obligation will not be regarded per se as anti-competitive, provided that it is administered in a transparent, non-discriminatory and competitively neutral manner and is not more burdensome than necessary for the kind of universal service defined by the Party, with regard to all suppliers subject to the obligation.

2.    Within the framework of its postal legislation or by other customary means, each Party shall set out the scope of the universal service obligation, fully taking into account the needs of the users and national conditions, including market forces, of that Party.

3.    Each Party shall ensure that a supplier of postal and courier services in its territory which is subject to a universal service obligation under its laws and regulations does not engage in the following practices:

(a)    excluding the business activities of other enterprises by cross-subsidising, with revenues derived from the supply of the universal service, the supply of express mail services (EMS) (48) or any non-universal service in a way which constitutes a private monopolisation in contravention of Article 3 of the Law Concerning Prohibition of Private Monopoly and Maintenance of Fair Trade (Law No. 54 of 1947) of Japan or an abuse of a dominant market position in contravention of the competition law of the European Union respectively; (49) or

(b)    unjustifiably differentiating among customers, such as large volume mailers or consolidators, where like conditions prevail with respect to charges and the provisions concerning acceptance, delivery, redirection, return and the number of days required for delivery for the supply of a service subject to a universal service obligation.

(48) For the purposes of this subparagraph, "express mail services (EMS)" means services referred to in subparagraph 1.3 of Article 1 of the Universal Postal Convention, done at Istanbul on 6 October 2016. 
(49) For greater certainty, the enforcement of each Party's competition law and the related decisions by competition authority shall be covered by the provisions of Chapter 11.

Article 8.38. Border Procedures

1.    The border procedures for international postal services and international courier services (50) are enforced in accordance with related international agreements and the laws and regulations of each Party.

2.    Without prejudice to paragraph 1, each Party shall not unduly accord less favourable treatment with respect to border procedures to international courier services than it accords to international postal services.

(50) For the purposes of this Article, "international postal services" means services that designated operators referred to in subparagraph 1.12 of Article 1 of the Universal Postal Convention supply in accordance with the Acts of the Universal Postal Union. "International courier services" means services consisting of the collection, sorting, transport and delivery of documents, printed matter, parcels and goods for foreign destinations, not regulated by the Acts of the Universal Postal Union.

Article 8.39. Licences

1.    Each Party may require a licence for the supply of a service covered by this Sub-Section.

2.    If a Party requires a licence, it shall make publicly available:

(a)    all the licensing criteria and the period of time normally required to reach a decision concerning an application for a licence; and

(b)    the terms and conditions of licences.

3.    If a licence application is rejected by the competent authority, it shall upon request inform the applicant of the reasons for the rejection of the licence. Each Party shall establish an appeal procedure through an independent body available to applicants whose licence has been rejected. That procedure shall be transparent, non-discriminatory, and based on objective criteria.

Article 8.40. Independence of the Regulatory Body

Each Party shall ensure that:

(a)    its regulatory body (51) for the services covered by this Sub-Section is legally separated from, and not accountable to, any supplier of those services; and,

(b)    subject to the laws and regulations of each Party, decisions of, and procedures used by, its regulatory body are impartial.

(51) For the purposes of this Article, "international postal services" means services that designated operators referred to in subparagraph 1.12 of Article 1 of the Universal Postal Convention supply in accordance with the Acts of the Universal Postal Union. "International courier services" means services consisting of the collection, sorting, transport and delivery of documents, printed matter, parcels and goods for foreign destinations, not regulated by the Acts of the Universal Postal Union

Subsection 4. Telecommunications Services

Article 8.41. Scope

1.    This Sub-Section sets out the principles of the regulatory framework for all telecommunications services and applies to measures by a Party affecting trade in telecommunications services, which consist in the conveyance of signals including, inter alia, transmission of video and audio signals (irrespective of the types of protocols and technologies used) through public telecommunications transport networks.

  • Chapter   1 GENERAL PROVISIONS 1
  • Article   1.1 Objectives 1
  • Article   1.2 General Definitions 1
  • Article   1.3 Territorial Application 1
  • Article   1.4 Taxation 1
  • Article   1.5 Security Exceptions 1
  • Article   1.6 Confidential Information 1
  • Article   1.7 Fulfilment of Obligations and Delegated Authority 1
  • Article   1.8 Laws and Regulations and Their Amendments 1
  • Article   1.9 Relation to other Agreements 1
  • Chapter   2 TRADE IN GOODS 1
  • Section   A General Provisions 1
  • Article   2.1 Objective 1
  • Article   2.2 Scope 1
  • Article   2.3 Definitions 1
  • Article   2.4 Customs Duty 1
  • Article   2.5 Agricultural Safeguards 1
  • Section   B National Treatment and Market Access for Goods 1
  • Article   2.6 Classification of Goods 1
  • Article   2.7 National Treatment 1
  • Article   2.8 Reduction and Elimination of Customs Duties on Imports 1
  • Article   2.9 Goods Re-entered after Repair and Alteration 1
  • Article   2.10 Temporary Admission of Goods 1
  • Article   2.11 Customs Valuation 2
  • Article   2.12 Export Duties 2
  • Article   2.13 Standstill 2
  • Article   2.14 Export Competition 2
  • Article   2.15 Import and Export Restrictions 2
  • Article   2.16 Fees and Formalities Connected with Importation and Exportation 2
  • Article   2.17 Import and Export Licensing Procedures 2
  • Article   2.18 Remanufactured Goods 2
  • Article   2.19 Non-tariff Measures 2
  • Article   2.20 Restrictions to Safeguard the Balance of Payments 2
  • Article   2.21 Origin Marking 2
  • Article   2.22 General Exceptions 2
  • Section   C Facilitation of Wine Product Export 2
  • Article   2.23 Scope 2
  • Article   2.24 General Principle 2
  • Article   2.25 Authorisation of Oenological Practices – Phase One 2
  • Article   2.26 Authorisation of Oenological Practices - Phase Two 2
  • Article   2.27 Authorisation of Oenological Practices – Phase Three 2
  • Article   2.28 Self-certification 2
  • Article   2.29 Review, Consultations and Temporary Suspension of Self-certification 2
  • Article   2.30 Standstill 2
  • Article   2.31 Amendments 2
  • Section   D Other Provisions 2
  • Article   2.32 Exchange of Information 2
  • Article   2.33 Special Measures Concerning the Management of Preferential Tariff Treatment 2
  • Article   2.34 Committee on Trade In Goods 2
  • Article   2.35 Working Group on Wine 2
  • Chapter   3 RULES OF ORIGIN AND ORIGIN PROCEDURES 2
  • Section   A Rules of Origin 2
  • Article   3.1 Definitions 2
  • Article   3.2 Requirements for Originating Products 2
  • Article   3.3 Wholly Obtained Products 3
  • Article   3.4 Insufficient Working or Processing 3
  • Article   3.5 Accumulation 3
  • Article   3.6 Tolerances 3
  • Article   3.7 Unit of Qualification 3
  • Article   3.8 Accounting Segregation 3
  • Article   3.9 Sets 3
  • Article   3.10 Non-alteration 3
  • Article   3.11 Returning Products 3
  • Article   3.12 Accessories, Spare Parts, Tools and Instructional or other Information Materials 3
  • Article   3.13 Neutral Elements 3
  • Article   3.14 Packing Materials and Containers for Shipment 3
  • Article   3.15 Packaging Materials and Containers for Retail Sale 3
  • Section   B Origin Procedures 3
  • Article   3.16 Claim for Preferential Tariff Treatment 3
  • Article   3.17 Statement on Origin 3
  • Article   3.18 Importer's Knowledge 3
  • Article   3.19 Record Keeping Requirements 3
  • Article   3.20 Small Consignments and Waivers 3
  • Article   3.21 Verification 3
  • Article   3.22 Administrative Cooperation 4
  • Article   3.23 Mutual Assistance In the Fight Against Fraud 4
  • Article   3.24 Denial of Preferential Tariff Treatment 4
  • Article   3.25 Confidentiality 4
  • Article   3.26 Administrative Measures and Sanctions 4
  • Section   C Miscellaneous 4
  • Article   3.27 Application of this Chapter to Ceuta and Melilla 4
  • Article   3.28 Committee on Rules of Origin and Customs-Related Matters 4
  • Article   3.29 Transitional Provisions for Products In Transit or Storage 4
  • Chapter   4 CUSTOMS MATTERS AND TRADE FACILITATION 4
  • Article   4.1 Objectives 4
  • Article   4.2 4
  • Article   4.3 Transparency 4
  • Article   4.4 Procedures for Import, Export and Transit 4
  • Article   4.5 Release of Goods 4
  • Article   4.6 Simplification of Customs Procedures 4
  • Article   4.7 Advance Rulings 4
  • Article   4.8 Appeal and Review 4
  • Article   4.9 Risk Management 4
  • Article   4.10 Post-clearance Audit 4
  • Article   4.11 Transit and Transhipment 4
  • Article   4.12 Customs Cooperation 4
  • Article   4.13 Temporary Admission 4
  • Article   4.14 Committee on Rules of Origin and Customs-Related Matters 5
  • Chapter   5 TRADE REMEDIES 5
  • Section   A General Provisions 5
  • Article   5.1 Definitions 5
  • Section   B Bilateral Safeguard Measures 5
  • Article   5.2 Application of Bilateral Safeguard Measures 5
  • Article   5.3 Conditions and Limitations 5
  • Article   5.4 Investigation 5
  • Article   5.5 Notification 5
  • Article   5.6 Consultations and Compensations 5
  • Article   5.7 Provisional Bilateral Safeguard Measures 5
  • Article   5.8 Miscellaneous 5
  • Section   C Global Safeguard Measures 5
  • Article   5.9 General Provisions 5
  • Article   5.10 Application of Safeguard Measures 5
  • Section   D Anti-dumping and Countervailing Measures 5
  • Article   5.11 General Provisions 5
  • Article   5.12 Transparency and Disclosure of Essential Facts 5
  • Article   5.13 Consideration of Public Interest 5
  • Article   5.14 Anti-dumping Investigation 5
  • Chapter   6 SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 5
  • Article   6.1 Objectives 5
  • Article   6.2 Scope of Application 5
  • Article   6.3 Definitions 5
  • Article   6.4 Relation to the WTO Agreement 5
  • Article   6.5 Competent Authorities and Contact Points 5
  • Article   6.6 Risk Assessment 5
  • Article   6.7 Import Conditions, Import Procedures and Trade Facilitation 5
  • Article   6.8 Audit 5
  • Article   6.9 Procedure for Listing of Establishments or Facilities 5
  • Article   6.10 Adaptation to Regional Conditions 6
  • Article   6.11 Transparency and Exchange of Information 6
  • Article   6.12 Technical Consultations 6
  • Article   6.13 Emergency Measures 6
  • Article   6.14 Equivalence 6
  • Article   6.15 Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 6
  • Article   6.16 Dispute Settlement 6
  • Chapter   7 TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE 6
  • Article   7.1 Objectives 6
  • Article   7.2 Scope 6
  • Article   7.3 Incorporation of Certain Provisions of the TBT Agreement 6
  • Article   7.4 Definitions 6
  • Article   7.5 Technical Regulations 6
  • Article   7.6 International Standards 6
  • Article   7.7 Standards 6
  • Article   7.8 Conformity Assessment Procedures 6
  • Article   7.9 Transparency 6
  • Article   7.10 Market Surveillance 7
  • Article   7.11 Marking and Labelling 7
  • Article   7.12 Cooperation 7
  • Article   7.13 Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade 7
  • Article   7.14 Contact Points 7
  • Chapter   8 Trade In Services, Investment Liberalisation and Electronic Commerce 7
  • Section   A General Provisions 7
  • Article   8.1 Scope 7
  • Article   8.2 Definitions 7
  • Article   8.3 General Exceptions 7
  • Article   8.4 Committee on Trade In Services, Investment Liberalisation and Electronic Commerce 7
  • Article   8.5 Review 7
  • Section   B Investment Liberalisation 7
  • Article   8.6 Scope 7
  • Article   8.7 Market Access 7
  • Article   8.8 National Treatment 8
  • Article   8.9 Most-favoured-nation Treatment 8
  • Article   8.10 Senior Management and Boards of Directors 8
  • Article   8.11 Prohibition of Performance Requirements 8
  • Article   8.12 Non-conforming Measures and Exceptions 8
  • Article   8.13 Denial of Benefits 8
  • Section   C Cross-border Trade In Services 8
  • Article   8.14 Scope 8
  • Article   8.15 Market Access 8
  • Article   8.16 National Treatment 8
  • Article   8.17 Most-favoured-nation Treatment 8
  • Article   8.18 Non-conforming Measures 8
  • Article   8.19 Denial of Benefits 8
  • Section   D Entry and Temporary Stay of Natural Persons 8
  • Article   8.20 General Provisions and Scope 8
  • Article   8.21 Definitions 8
  • Article   8.22 General Obligations 9
  • Article   8.23 Transparency 9
  • Article   8.24 Obligations In other Sections 9
  • Article   8.25 Business Visitors for Establishment Purposes, Intra-corporate Transferees and Investors 9
  • Article   8.26 Contractual Service Suppliers and Independent Professionals 9
  • Article   8.27 Short-term business Visitors 9
  • Article   8.28 Contact Points 9
  • Section   E Regulatory Framework 9
  • Subsection   1 Domestic Regulation 9
  • Article   8.29 Scope and Definitions 9
  • Article   8.30 Conditions for Licensing and Qualification 9
  • Article   8.31 Licensing and Qualification Procedures 9
  • Article   8.32 Technical Standards 9
  • Subsection   2 Provisions of General Application 9
  • Article   8.33 Administration of Measures of General Application 9
  • Article   8.34 Review Procedures for Administrative Decisions 9
  • Article   8.35 Mutual Recognition 9
  • Subsection   3 Postal and Courier Services 9
  • Article   8.36 Scope and Definitions 9
  • Article   8.37 Universal Service 9
  • Article   8.38 Border Procedures 9
  • Article   8.39 Licences 9
  • Article   8.40 Independence of the Regulatory Body 9
  • Subsection   4 Telecommunications Services 9
  • Article   8.41 Scope 9
  • Article   8.42 Definitions 10
  • Article   8.43 Approaches to Regulation 10
  • Article   8.44 Access and Use 10
  • Article   8.45 Number Portability 10
  • Article   8.46 Resale 10
  • Article   8.47 Enabling Use of Network Facilities and Interconnection 10
  • Article   8.48 Obligations Relating to Major Suppliers 10
  • Article   8.49 Regulatory Authority 10
  • Article   8.50 Universal Service 10
  • Article   8.51 Authorisation to Provide Telecommunications Networks and Services 10
  • Article   8.52 Allocation and Use of Scarce Resources 10
  • Article   8.53 Transparency 10
  • Article   8.54 Resolution of Telecommunications Disputes 10
  • Article   8.55 Relation to International Organisations 10
  • Article   8.56 Confidentiality of Information 10
  • Article   8.57 International Mobile Roaming (56) 10
  • Subsection   5 Financial Services 10
  • Article   8.58 Scope 10
  • Article   8.59 Definitions 10
  • Article   8.60 Financial Services New to the Territory of a Party 11
  • Article   8.61 Payment and Clearing Systems 11
  • Article   8.62 Self-regulatory Organisations 11
  • Article   8.63 Transfers of Information and Processing of Information 11
  • Article   8.64 Effective and Transparent Regulation 11
  • Article   8.65 Prudential Carve-out 11
  • Article   8.66 Supply of Insurance Services by Postal Insurance Entities 11
  • Article   8.67 Regulatory Cooperation on Financial Regulation 11
  • Subsection   6 International Maritime Transport Services 11
  • Article   8.68 Scope and Definitions 11
  • Article   8.69 Obligations 11
  • Section   F Electronic Commerce 11
  • Article   8.70 Objective and General Provisions 11
  • Article   8.71 Definitions 11
  • Article   8.72 Customs Duties 11
  • Article   8.73 Source Code 11
  • Article   8.74 Domestic Regulation 11
  • Article   8.75 Principle of No Prior Authorisation 11
  • Article   8.76 Conclusion of Contracts by Electronic Means 11
  • Article   8.77 Electronic Authentication and Electronic Signature 11
  • Article   8.78 Consumer Protection 11
  • Article   8.79 Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Messages 11
  • Article   8.80 Cooperation on Electronic Commerce 11
  • Article   8.81 Free Flow of Data 12
  • Chapter   9 CAPITAL MOVEMENTS, PAYMENTS AND TRANSFERS AND TEMPORARY SAFEGUARD MEASURES 12
  • Article   9.1 Current Account 12
  • Article   9.2 Capital Movements 12
  • Article   9.3 Application of Laws and Regulations Relating to Capital Movements, Payments or Transfers 12
  • Article   9.4 Temporary Safeguard Measures 12
  • Chapter   10 GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT 12
  • Article   10.1 Incorporation of the GPA 12
  • Article   10.2 Additional Scope of Application 12
  • Article   10.3 Additional Rules 12
  • Article   10.4 Publication of Notices 12
  • Article   10.5 Conditions for Participation 12
  • Article   10.6 Qualification of Suppliers 12
  • Article   10.7 Selective Tendering 12
  • Article   10.8 Technical Specifications 12
  • Article   10.9 Test Reports 12
  • Article   10.10 Environmental Conditions 12
  • Article   10.11 Treatment of Tenders and Awarding of Contracts 12
  • Article   10.12 Domestic Review Procedures 12
  • Article   10.13 Collection and Reporting of Statistics 12
  • Article   10.14 Modifications and Rectifications to Coverage 12
  • Article   10.15 Cooperation 12
  • Article   10.16 Committee on Government Procurement 12
  • Article   10.17 Contact Points 12
  • Chapter   11 COMPETITION POLICY 12
  • Article   11.1 Principles 12
  • Article   11.2 Anticompetitive Practices 13
  • Article   11.3 Legislative and Regulatory Framework 13
  • Article   11.4 Operational Independence 13
  • Article   11.5 Non-discrimination 13
  • Article   11.6 Procedural Fairness 13
  • Article   11.7 Transparency 13
  • Article   11.8 Enforcement Cooperation 13
  • Article   11.9 Dispute Settlement 13
  • Chapter   12 SUBSIDIES 13
  • Article   12.1 Principles 13
  • Article   12.2 Definitions 13
  • Article   12.3 Scope 13
  • Article   12.4 Relation to the WTO Agreement 13
  • Article   12.5 Notification 13
  • Article   12.6 Consultations 13
  • Article   12.7 Prohibited Subsidies 13
  • Article   12.8 Use of Subsidies 13
  • Article   12.9 General Exceptions 13
  • Article   12.10 Dispute Settlement 13
  • Chapter   13 STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES, ENTERPRISES GRANTED SPECIAL RIGHTSOR PRIVILEGES AND DESIGNATED MONOPOLIES 13
  • Article   13.1 Definitions 13
  • Article   13.2 Scope 13
  • Article   13.3 Relation to the WTO Agreement 13
  • Article   13.4 General Provisions 13
  • Article   13.5 Non-discriminatory Treatment and Commercial Considerations 13
  • Article   13.6 Regulatory Framework 13
  • Article   13.7 Information Exchange 13
  • Article   13.8 General Exceptions 13
  • Chapter   14 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 13
  • Section   A General Provisions 14
  • Article   14.1 Initial Provisions 14
  • Article   14.2 Agreed Principles 14
  • Article   14.3 International Agreements 14
  • Article   14.4 National Treatment 14
  • Article   14.5 Most-favoured-nation Treatment 14
  • Article   14.6 Procedural Matters and Transparency 14
  • Article   14.7 Promotion of Public Awareness Concerning Protection of Intellectual Property 14
  • Section   B Standards Concerning Intellectual Property 14
  • Subsection   1 Copyright and Related Rights 14
  • Article   14.8 Authors 14
  • Article   14.9 Performers 14
  • Article   14.10 Producers of Phonograms 14
  • Article   14.11 Broadcasting Organisations 14
  • Article   14.12 Use of Phonograms 14
  • Article   14.13 Term of Protection 14
  • Article   14.14 Limitations and Exceptions 14
  • Article   14.15 Artist's Resale Right In Works of Art 14
  • Article   14.16 Collective Management 14
  • Article   14.17 Protection of Existing Subject Matter 14
  • Subsection   2 Trademarks 14
  • Article   14.18 Rights Conferred by a Trademark 14
  • Article   14.19 Exceptions 14
  • Article   14.20 Preparatory Acts Deemed as Infringement 14
  • Article   14.21 Well-known Trademarks 14
  • Subsection   3 Geographical Indications 14
  • Article   14.22 Scope 14
  • Article   14.23 System of Protection of Geographical Indications 14
  • Article   14.24 Lists of Geographical Indications 14
  • Article   14.25 Scope of Protection of Geographical Indications 14
  • Article   14.26 Scope of the Use of Geographical Indications 15
  • Article   14.27 Relationship with Trademarks 15
  • Article   14.28 Enforcement of Protection 15
  • Article   14.29 Exceptions 15
  • Article   14.30 Amendment of the Lists of Geographical Indications 15
  • Subsection   4 Industrial Designs 15
  • Article   14.31 Industrial Designs (96) 15
  • Subsection   5 Unregistered Appearance of Products 15
  • Article   14.32 Unregistered Appearance of Products 15
  • Subsection   6 Patents 15
  • Article   14.33 Patents 15
  • Article   14.34 Patents and Public Health 15
  • Article   14.35 Extension of the Period of Protection Conferred by a Patent on Pharmaceutical Products and Agricultural Chemical Products (103) (104) 15
  • Subsection   7 Trade Secrets and Undisclosed Tests or other Data 15
  • Article   14.36 Scope of Protection of Trade Secrets 15
  • Article   14.37 Treatment of Test Data In Marketing Approval Procedure 15
  • Subsection   8 New Varieties of Plants 15
  • Article   14.38 New Varieties of Plants 15
  • Subsection   9 Unfair Competition 15
  • Article   14.39 Unfair Competition 15
  • Section   C Enforcement 15
  • Subsection   1 General Provisions 15
  • Article   14.40 Enforcement – General 15
  • Article   14.41 Entitled Applicants 15
  • Subsection   2 Enforcement – Civil Remedies (114) (115) 15
  • Article   14.42 Measures for Preserving Evidence 15
  • Article   14.43 Right of Information 15
  • Article   14.44 Provisional and Precautionary Measures 15
  • Article   14.45 Corrective Measures 15
  • Article   14.46 Injunctions 16
  • Article   14.47 Damages 16
  • Article   14.48 Costs 16
  • Article   14.49 Presumption of Authorship or Ownership 16
  • Subsection   3 Enforcement of Protection Against Misappropriation of Trade Secrets 16
  • Article   14.50 Civil Procedures and Remedies 16
  • Subsection   4 Enforcement – Border Measures 16
  • Article   14.51 Enforcement – Border Measures 16
  • Section   D Cooperation and Institutional Arrangements 16
  • Article   14.52 Cooperation 16
  • Article   14.53 Committee on Intellectual Property 16
  • Article   14.54 Security Exceptions 16
  • Article   14.55 Dispute Settlement 16
  • Chapter   15 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 16
  • Article   15.1 Objectives 16
  • Article   15.2 Definitions 16
  • Article   15.3 General Principles 16
  • Article   15.4 Rights of Shareholders and Ownership Functions 16
  • Article   15.5 Roles of the Board 16
  • Article   15.6 Takeovers 16
  • Article   15.7 Dispute Settlement 16
  • Chapter   16 TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 16
  • Article   16.1 Context and Objectives 16
  • Article   16.2 Right to Regulate and Levels of Protection 16
  • Article   16.3 International Labour Standards and Conventions 16
  • Article   16.4 Multilateral Environmental Agreements 16
  • Article   16.5 Trade and Investment Favouring Sustainable Development 16
  • Article   16.6 Biological Diversity 16
  • Article   16.7 Sustainable Management of Forests and Trade In Timber and Timber Products 17
  • Article   16.8 Trade and Sustainable Use of Fisheries Resources and Sustainable Aquaculture 17
  • Article   16.9 Scientific Information 17
  • Article   16.10 Transparency 17
  • Article   16.11 Review of Sustainability Impacts 17
  • Article   16.12 Cooperation 17
  • Article   16.13 Committee on Trade and Sustainable Development 17
  • Article   16.14 Contact Points 17
  • Article   16.15 Domestic Advisory Group 17
  • Article   16.16 Joint Dialogue with Civil Society 17
  • Article   16.17 Government Consultations 17
  • Article   16.18 Panel of Experts 17
  • Article   16.19 Review 17
  • Chapter   17 TRANSPARENCY 17
  • Article   17.1 Definitions 17
  • Article   17.2 Transparent Regulatory Environment 17
  • Article   17.3 Publication 17
  • Article   17.4 Enquiries 17
  • Article   17.5 Administration of Measures of General Application 17
  • Article   17.6 Review and Appeal 17
  • Article   17.7 Cooperation on the Promotion of Increased Transparency 17
  • Article   17.8 Relation to other Chapters 17
  • Chapter   18 GOOD REGULATORY PRACTICES AND REGULATORY COOPERATION 17
  • Section   A Good Regulatory Practices and Regulatory Cooperation 17
  • Subsection   1 General Provisions 17
  • Article   18.1 Objectives and General Principles 17
  • Article   18.2 Definitions 17
  • Article   18.3 Scope 18
  • Subsection   2 Good Regulatory Practices 18
  • Article   18.4 Internal Coordination 18
  • Article   18.5 Regulatory Processes and Mechanisms 18
  • Article   18.6 Early Information on Planned Regulatory Measures 18
  • Article   18.7 Public Consultations 18
  • Article   18.8 Impact Assessment 18
  • Article   18.9 Retrospective Evaluation 18
  • Article   18.10 Opportunity to Submit Comments 18
  • Article   18.11 Exchange of Information on Good Regulatory Practices 18
  • Subsection   3 Regulatory Cooperation 18
  • Article   18.12 Regulatory Cooperation Activities 18
  • Article   18.13 Good Practices to Promote Regulatory Compatibility 18
  • Subsection   4 Institutional Provisions 18
  • Article   18.14 Committee on Regulatory Cooperation 18
  • Article   18.15 Contact Points 18
  • Article   18.16 Exchange of Information on Planned or Existing Regulatory Measures 18
  • Section   B Animal Welfare 18
  • Article   18.17 Animal Welfare 18
  • Section   C Final Provisions 18
  • Article   18.18 Application of Section a 18
  • Article   18.19 Dispute Settlement 18
  • Chapter   19 COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE 18
  • Article   19.1 Objectives 18
  • Article   19.2 Scope 18
  • Article   19.3 Cooperation for the Improvement of the Business Environment 18
  • Article   19.4 Request for Information 18
  • Article   19.5 Committee on Cooperation In the Field of Agriculture 18
  • Article   19.6 Contact Points and Communications 18
  • Article   19.7 Relation to other Chapters 18
  • Article   19.8 Dispute Settlement 18
  • Chapter   20 SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES 18
  • Article   20.1 Objective 18
  • Article   20.2 Information Sharing 18
  • Article   20.3 SME Contact Points 19
  • Article   20.4 Dispute Settlement 19
  • Chapter   21 DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 19
  • Section   A Objective, Scope and Definitions 19
  • Article   21.1 Objective 19
  • Article   21.2 Scope 19
  • Article   21.3 Definitions 19
  • Section   B Consultations and Mediation 19
  • Article   21.4 Request for Information 19
  • Article   21.5 Consultations 19
  • Article   21.6 Mediation 19
  • Section   C Panel Procedure 19
  • Article   21.7 Establishment of a Panel 19
  • Article   21.8 Composition of a Panel 19
  • Article   21.9 List of Arbitrators 19
  • Article   21.20 Qualifications of Arbitrators 19
  • Article   21.21 Replacement of Arbitrators 19
  • Article   21.22 Functions of Panels 19
  • Article   21.13 Terms of Reference 19
  • Article   21.14 Decision on Urgency 19
  • Article   21.15 Panel Proceedings 19
  • Article   21.16 Rules of Interpretation 19
  • Article   21.17 Receipt of Information 19
  • Article   21.18 Interim Report 19
  • Article   21.19 Final Report 19
  • Article   21.20 Compliance with the Final Report 19
  • Article   21.21 Compliance Review 19
  • Article   21.22 Temporary Remedies In Case of Non-compliance 20
  • Article   21.23 Compliance Review after the Adoption of Temporary Remedies 20
  • Article   21.24 Suspension and Termination of Proceedings 20
  • Section   D General Provisions 20
  • Article   21.25 Administration of the Dispute Settlement Procedure 20
  • Article   21.26 Mutually Agreed Solution 20
  • Article   21.27 Choice of Forum 20
  • Article   21.28 Time Period 20
  • Article   21.29 Expenses 20
  • Article   21.30 Rules of Procedure and Code of Conduct 20
  • Chapter   22 INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS 20
  • Article   22.1 Joint Committee 20
  • Article   22.2 Decisions and Recommendations of the Joint Committee 20
  • Article   22.3 Specialised Committees 20
  • Article   22.4 Working Groups 20
  • Article   22.5 Work of Specialised Committees, Working Groups and other Bodies 20
  • Article   22.6 Contact Points 20
  • Chapter   23 FINAL PROVISIONS 20
  • Article   23.1 General Review 20
  • Article   23.2 Amendments 20
  • Article   23.3 Entry Into Force 20
  • Article   23.4 Termination 20
  • Article   23.5 No Direct Effect on Persons 20
  • Article   23.6 Annexes, Appendices and Footnotes 20
  • Article   23.7 Future Accessions to the European Union 20
  • Article   23.8 Authentic Texts 21