Australia - Japan EPA (2014)
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2. The customs administrations of the Parties shall exchange information, including best practices, on risk management techniques and other enforcement techniques.

3.4. Advance Rulings

1. For the purposes of paragraph 2 of Article 4.5 (Customs Procedures - Advance Rulings) of the Basic Agreement, procedures for issuing advance rulings shall ensure that:

(a) the requirements for the application for an advance ruling, including the information to be provided and the format, are publicly available;

(b) the customs administration of the importing Party is allowed to request, at any time during the course of the evaluation of the application for an advance ruling, the applicant to provide additional information deemed necessary for such evaluation;

(c) an advance ruling is based on the facts and circumstances presented by the applicant and any other relevant information in the possession of the customs officers responsible for the issuance of the advance rulings;

(d) the customs administration of the importing Party endeavours to issue an advance ruling within 30 days, or 90 days for customs valuation, from the date of receipt of the application with all the necessary information, and in cases where the customs administration of the importing Party fails to issue the advance ruling within the aforementioned 30 or 90 days, the applicant is informed accordingly;

(e) an issued advance ruling is provided in writing and includes the reasons for the ruling; and

(f) the conditions for the use of an issued advance ruling, such as the period of validity thereof, are specified.

2. For the purposes of paragraph 4 of Article 4.5 (Customs Procedures - Advance Rulings) of the Basic Agreement, the customs administration of the importing Party may modify or revoke the issued advance ruling in the following cases:

(a) if the advance ruling has been issued based on erroneous facts or the applicant for the advance ruling omitted to provide all relevant information;

(b) if there has been a change in the law, facts or circumstances on which the issued advance ruling was based;

(c) if there has been an amendment of the Basic Agreement or this Agreement which affects the issued advance ruling, since the issuance of the ruling;

(d) if there has been a change in the procedures relating to advance rulings which affects the issued advance ruling, since the issuance of the ruling, provided that such change is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Basic Agreement and this Agreement, including the requirements specified in paragraph 1; or

(e) if the customs administration of the importing Party has other reasonable grounds to modify or revoke the issued advance ruling.

3.5. Enforcement Against Illegal Trafficking

1. The Parties shall, to the extent permitted by the competence and available resources of their respective customs administrations, cooperate and exchange information in their enforcement against:

(a) the trafficking of illicit drugs and other prohibited goods; and

(b) the illegal trafficking of controlled goods.

2. The Parties shall endeavour to promote regional cooperation under the Customs Cooperation Council in combating trafficking of illicit drugs and other prohibited goods.

3.6. Intellectual Property Rights

The customs administrations of the Parties shall, within their respective competence and available resources, cooperate and exchange information in the application of border measures under the provisions of Article 16.18 {Intellectual Property - Enforcement - Border Measures) of the Basic Agreement.

3.7. Exchange of Information and Confidentiality

1. Neither Party shall use or disclose information provided pursuant to this Chapter except for the purpose of discharging the functions of its customs administration in accordance with its customs laws, or otherwise with the consent of the providing customs administration.

2. Each Party may limit the information it communicates to the other Party when the other Party is unable to give the assurance requested by the former Party with respect to the maintenance of confidentiality or the limitations of purposes for which the information will be used.

3. If a Party that requests information would be unable to comply with a similar request in case such a request were made by the other Party, the requesting Party shall draw attention to that fact in its request. Responding to such a request shall be at the discretion of the other Party.

4. Information provided by the customs administration of a Party to the customs administration of the other Party pursuant to this Chapter shall not be used by the other Party in criminal proceedings carried out by a court or a judge, unless the other Party has obtained prior written consent of the customs administration which provided the information.

5. Nothing in paragraph 4 shall prevent a Party from submitting a request for such information to the other Party through diplomatic channels or other channels established in accordance with the domestic laws and regulations of the other Party.

6. This Article shall not preclude the use or disclosure of information provided pursuant to this Chapter to the extent such use or disclosure is required by the domestic laws and regulations of the Party of the customs administration receiving the information. Such customs administration shall, wherever possible, give advance notice of any such disclosure to the customs administration providing the information.

7. The Parties may refuse to communicate information pursuant to this Chapter, where to do so would:

(a) be likely to prejudice sovereignty, public policy, security or other essential interests;

(b) violate or prejudice a legitimate industrial, commercial or professional interest;

(c) be contrary to the domestic laws and regulations of the Party receiving the request for information; or

(d) impede law enforcement.

Chapter 4. Final Provisions

4.1. Implementation

This Agreement shall be implemented by the Parties in accordance with the Basic Agreement and their respective domestic laws and regulations in force.

4.2. Entry Into Force

This Agreement shall enter into force at the same time as the Basic Agreement and shall remain in force as long as the Basic Agreement remains in force.

4.3. Amendment

This Agreement may be amended by written agreement between the Parties. The Parties shall, on request of a Party, consult as to whether to amend this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorised by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement.

DONE at Canberra on this eighth day of July in the year 2014, in duplicate in the Japanese and English languages, both texts being equally authentic.

For the Government of Australia:

Tony Abbott

For the Government of Japan:

Shinzo Abe

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  • Chapter   1 General Provisions 1
  • Article   1.1 Establishment of a Free Trade Area 1
  • Article   1.2 General Definitions 1
  • Article   1.3 Transparency 1
  • Article   1.4 Public Comment Procedures 1
  • Article   1.5 Administrative Proceedings 1
  • Article   1.6 Review and Appeal 1
  • Article   1.7 Confidential Information 1
  • Article   1.8 Taxation 1
  • Article   1.9 General Exceptions 1
  • Article   1.10 Security Exceptions 1
  • Article   1.11 Relation to other Agreements 1
  • Article   1.12 Implementing Agreement 1
  • Article   1.13 Joint Committee 1
  • Article   1.14 Communications 1
  • Chapter   2 Trade In Goods 1
  • Section   1 General Rules 1
  • Article   2.1 Definitions 1
  • Article   2.2 Classification of Goods 1
  • Article   2.3 National Treatment 1
  • Article   2.4 Elimination or Reduction of Customs Duties 1
  • Article   2.5 Customs valuation 1
  • Article   2.6 Export duties 2
  • Article   2.7 Export subsidies 2
  • Article   2.8 Non- tariff measures 2
  • Article   2.9 Administrative fees and charges 2
  • Article   2.10 Administration of trade regulations 2
  • Article   2.11 Import licensing 2
  • Article   2.12 Anti-dumping measures and countervailing measures 2
  • Section   2 Safeguard measures 2
  • Article   2.13 Application of bilateral safeguard measures 2
  • Article   2.14 Investigation 2
  • Article   2.15 Conditions and limitations 2
  • Article   2.16 Compensation 2
  • Article   2.17 Provisional bilateral safeguard measures 2
  • Article   2.18 Special safeguard measures on specific agricultural goods 2
  • Article   2.19 Relation to safeguard measures under the wto agreement 2
  • Section   3 Other provisions 2
  • Article   2.20 Reviews of market access and protection of competitiveness 2
  • Article   2.21 Sub-committee on trade in goods 2
  • Article   2.22 Amendment of annex 2
  • Article   2.23 Operational procedures 2
  • Chapter   3 Rules of origin 2
  • Article   3.1 Definitions 2
  • Article   3.2 Originating goods 2
  • Article   3.3 Wholly obtained goods 2
  • Article   3.5 Calculation of qualifying value content 2
  • Article   3.6 Accumulation 3
  • Article   3.7 Non-qualifying operations 3
  • Article   3.8 Consignment 3
  • Article   3.9 Unassembled or disassembled goods 3
  • Article   3.10 Fungible goods and materials 3
  • Article   3.11 Indirect materials 3
  • Article   3.12 Accessories, spare parts and tools 3
  • Article   3.13 Packing materials and containers 3
  • Article   3.14 Documentary evidence of origin 3
  • Article   3.15 Certificate of origin 3
  • Article   3.16 Origin certification document 3
  • Article   3.17 Claim for preferential tariff treatment 3
  • Article   3.18 Waiver of documentary evidence of origin 3
  • Article   3.19 Measures regarding an erroneous or false documentary evidence of origin 3
  • Article   3.20 Record-keeping requirements 3
  • Article   3.21 Origin verification 3
  • Article   3.22 Verification visit 3
  • Article   3.23 Denial of preferential tariff treatment 3
  • Article   3.24 Non-party invoices 3
  • Article   3.25 Confidentiality 3
  • Article   3.26 Penalties 4
  • Article   3.27 Transitional provisions for goods in transport or storage 4
  • Article   3.28 Sub-committee on rules of origin 4
  • Article   3.29 Amendments to annexes 2 and 3 4
  • Chapter   4 Customs procedures 4
  • Article   4.1 Scope 4
  • Article   4.2 Definitions 4
  • Article   4.3 Transparency 4
  • Article   4.4 Customs clearance 4
  • Article   4.5 Advance rulings 4
  • Article   4.6 Temporary admission and goods in transit 4
  • Article   4.7 Cooperation and exchange of information 4
  • Article   4.8 Review process 4
  • Article   4.9 Sub-committee on customs procedures 4
  • Chapter   5 Sanitary and phytosanitary cooperation 4
  • Article   5.1 Scope 4
  • Article   5.2 Reaffirmation of rights and obligations 4
  • Article   5.3 Cooperation 4
  • Article   5.4 Sub-committee on sanitary and phytosanitary cooperation 4
  • Article   5.5 Chapter coordinator 4
  • Article   5.6 Non-application of chapter 19 (dispute settlement) 4
  • Chapter   6 Technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures 4
  • Article   6.1 Scope 4
  • Article   6.2 Definitions 4
  • Article   6.3 Reaffirmation of rights and obligations 4
  • Article   6.4 International standards, guides or recommendations 4
  • Article   6.5 Technical regulations 4
  • Article   6.6 Conformity assessment procedures 4
  • Article   6.7 Transparency 4
  • Article   6.8 Sub-committee on technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures 4
  • Article   6.9 Chapter coordinator 4
  • Article   6.11 Non-application of chapter 19 (dispute settlement) 4
  • Chapter   7 Food supply 4
  • Article   7.1 Basic principle 5
  • Article   7.2 Definitions 5
  • Article   7.3 Export restrictions on essential food 5
  • Article   7.4 Promotion and facilitation of investment 5
  • Article   7.5 Consultations for supply of essential food 5
  • Chapter   8 Energy and mineral resources 5
  • Article   8.1 Basic principle 5
  • Article   8.2 Definitions 5
  • Article   8.3 Stable supply of energy and mineral resources 5
  • Article   8.4 Export restrictions 5
  • Article   8.5 Export licensing procedures and administrations 5
  • Article   8.6 Energy and mineral resource regulatory measures 5
  • Article   8.7 Cooperation 5
  • Article   8.8 Sub-committee on energy and mineral resources 5
  • Chapter   9 Trade in services 5
  • Article   9.1 Scope 5
  • Article   9.2 Definitions 5
  • Article   9.3 Market access 5
  • Article   9.4 National treatment 5
  • Article   9.5 Most-favoured-nation treatment 5
  • Article   9.6 Local presence 5
  • Article   9.7 Non-conforming measures 5
  • Article   9.8 Domestic regulation 5
  • Article   9.9 Recognition 6
  • Article   9.10 Monopolies and exclusive service suppliers 6
  • Article   9.11 Subsidies 6
  • Article   9.12 Payments and transfers 6
  • Article   9.13 Restrictions to safeguard the balance-of-payments 6
  • Article   9.14 Denial of benefits 6
  • Article   9.15 Sub-committee on trade in services 6
  • Chapter   10 Telecommunications services 6
  • Article   10.1 Scope 6
  • Article   10.2 Definitions 6
  • Article   10.3 Access and use 6
  • Article   10.4 Submarine cables 6
  • Article   10.5 Number portability 6
  • Article   10.6 Dialling parity 6
  • Article   10.7 Competitive safeguards 6
  • Article   10.8 Treatment by major suppliers 6
  • Article   10.9 Resale 6
  • Article   10.10 Interconnection 6
  • Article   10.11 Unbundling of network elements 7
  • Article   10.12 Provisioning and pricing of leased circuit services 7
  • Article   10.13 Co-location 7
  • Article   10.15 Independent telecommunications regulatory body 7
  • Article   10.16 Universal service 7
  • Article   10.17 Licensing process 7
  • Article   10.18 Allocation and use of scarce resources 7
  • Article   10.19 Transparency 7
  • Article   10.20 Unsolicited electronic messages 7
  • Article   10.21 Resolution of telecommunications disputes 7
  • Article   10.22 Sub-committee on telecommunications 7
  • Article   10.23 Relation to international organisations 7
  • Chapter   11 Financial services 7
  • Article   11.1 Scope 7
  • Article   11.2 Definitions 7
  • Article   11.4 Domestic regulation 7
  • Article   11.5 Recognition 7
  • Article   11.6 Transfers of information and processing of information 7
  • Article   11.7 Regulatory transparency 7
  • Article   11.8 Self-regulatory organisations 7
  • Article   11.9 Payment and clearing systems 7
  • Article   11.10 Sub-committee on financial services 7
  • Article   11.11 Consultations 7
  • Article   11.12 Dispute settlement 7
  • Chapter   12 Movement of natural persons 7
  • Article   12.1 Scope 7
  • Article   12.2 Definitions 7
  • Article   12.3 Specific commitments 7
  • Article   12.4 Transparency 7
  • Article   12.5 Requirements and procedures relating to the movement of natural persons 7
  • Article   12.6 Dispute settlement 8
  • Chapter   13 Electronic commerce 8
  • Article   13.1 Basic principles 8
  • Article   13.2 Definitions 8
  • Article   13.3 Customs duties 8
  • Article   13.4 Non-discriminatory treatment of digital products 8
  • Article   13.5 Domestic regulation 8
  • Article   13.6 Electronic signature 8
  • Article   13.7 Consumer protection 8
  • Article   13.8 Personal data protection 8
  • Article   13.9 Paperless trade administration 8
  • Article   13.10 Cooperation 8
  • Chapter   14 Investment 8
  • Article   14.1 Scope 8
  • Article   14.2 Definitions 8
  • Article   14.3 National treatment 8
  • Article   14.4 Most-favoured-nation treatment 8
  • Article   14.5 Minimum standard of treatment 8
  • Article   14.6 Access to the courts of justice 8
  • Article   14.7 Special formalities and information requirements 8
  • Article   14.8 Senior management and boards of directors 8
  • Article   14.9 Prohibition of performance requirements 8
  • Article   14.10 Non-conforming measures and exceptions 9
  • Article   14.11 Expropriation and compensation 9
  • Article   14.12 Treatment in case of strife 9
  • Article   14.13 Transfers 9
  • Article   14.14 Subrogation 9
  • Article   14.15 General exceptions 9
  • Article   14.16 Temporary safeguard measures 9
  • Article   14.17 Denial of benefits 9
  • Article   14.18 Sub-committee on investment 9
  • Article   14.19 Review 9
  • Chapter   15 Competition and consumer protection 9
  • Article   15.1 Objectives 9
  • Article   15.2 Definitions 9
  • Article   15.3 Promotion of competition by addressing anticompetitive activities 9
  • Article   15.4 State-owned enterprises 9
  • Article   15.5 Cooperation on addressing anticompetitive activities 9
  • Article   15.6 Cooperation on consumer protection 9
  • Article   15.7 Consultations 9
  • Article   15.8 Confidentiality of information 9
  • Article   15.9 Non-application of chapter 19 (dispute settlement) 9
  • Chapter   16 Intellectual property 9
  • Article   16.1 General provisions 9
  • Article   16.2 Definitions 9
  • Article   16.3 National treatment 10
  • Article   16.4 Streamlining of procedural matters 10
  • Article   16.5 Acquisition and maintenance of intellectual property rights 10
  • Article   16.6 Transparency 10
  • Article   16.7 Promotion of public awareness of protection of intellectual property 10
  • Article   16.8 Patents 10
  • Article   16.9 Trade marks 10
  • Article   16.10 Geographical indications 10
  • Article   16.11 New varieties of plants 10
  • Article   16.12 Copyright and related rights 10
  • Article   16.13 Protection of undisclosed information 10
  • Article   16.14 Utility models 10
  • Article   16.15 Unfair competition 10
  • Article   16.16 Internet service providers 10
  • Article   16.17 Enforcement — general 10
  • Article   16.18 Enforcement — border measures 10
  • Article   16.19 Enforcement — civil remedies 10
  • Article   16.20 Enforcement — criminal procedures and penalties 10
  • Article   16.21 Sub-committee on intellectual property 10
  • Chapter   17 Government procurement 10
  • Article   17.1 Scope 10
  • Article   17.2 Definitions 10
  • Article   17.3 National treatment and non-discrimination 10
  • Article   17.4 Rules of origin 10
  • Article   17.5 Valuation of contracts 10
  • Article   17.6 Prohibition of offsets 11
  • Article   17.7 Technical specifications 11
  • Article   17.8 Tendering procedures 11
  • Article   17.9 Conditions for participation 11
  • Article   17.10 Notice of procurement 11
  • Article   17.11 Selective tendering 11
  • Article   17.12 Time-limits for tendering 11
  • Article   17.13 Tender documentation 11
  • Article   17.14 Submission, receipt and opening of tenders and awarding of contracts 11
  • Article   17.15 Limited tendering 11
  • Article   17.16 Post-award information 11
  • Article   17.17 Information on the procurement system 11
  • Article   17.18 Non-disclosure of information 11
  • Article   17.19 Challenge procedure 11
  • Article   17.20 Exceptions 11
  • Article   17.21 Ensuring integrity in procurement processes 11
  • Article   17.22 Rectifications or modifications 11
  • Article   17.23 Privatisation of procuring entities 11
  • Article   17.24 Further negotiation 11
  • Article   17.25 Cooperation 11
  • Chapter   18 Promotion of a closer economic relationship 11
  • Article   18.1 Cooperation 11
  • Article   18.2 Sub-committee on promotion of a closer economic relationship 11
  • Article   18.3 Functions of the contact point 12
  • Article   18.4 Non-application of chapter 19 (dispute settlement) 12
  • Chapter   19 Dispute settlement 12
  • Article   19.1 Scope 12
  • Article   19.2 Definitions 12
  • Article   19.3 Choice of dispute settlement procedure 12
  • Article   19.4 Consultations 12
  • Article   19.5 Good offices, conciliation or mediation 12
  • Article   19.6 Establishment and composition of arbitral tribunals 12
  • Article   19.7 Terms of reference of arbitral tribunals 12
  • Article   19.8 Functions of arbitral tribunals 12
  • Article   19.9 Proceedings of arbitral tribunals 12
  • Article   19.10 Information in proceedings 12
  • Article   19.11 Suspension and termination of proceedings 12
  • Article   19.12 Award 12
  • Article   19.13 Implementation of award 12
  • Article   19.14 Disagreement concerning implementation 12
  • Article   19.15 Compensation and suspension of concessions 12
  • Article   19.16 Rules of Procedure 13
  • Article   19.17 Modifications of Time Periods, Rules and Procedures 13
  • Article   19.18 Expenses 13
  • Chapter   20 Final Provisions 13
  • Article   20.1 Table of Contents and Headings 13
  • Article   20.2 Annexes and Notes 13
  • Article   20.3 Amendment 13
  • Article   20.4 Entry Into Force 13
  • Article   20.5 General Review 13
  • Article   20.6 Termination 13
  • Article   20.7 Authentic Texts 13
  • Annex 6  Referred to in chapter 9 (trade in services) and chapter 14 (investment) 13
  • Part   1 Schedule of Australia 13
  • Section   1 Notes for Sections 2 and 3 13
  • Section   2 13
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  • 2 13
  • 3 13
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  • 31 15
  • Section   3 15
  • 32 15
  • 33 15
  • 34 15
  • 35 16
  • Part   2 Schedule of japan 16
  • Section   1 Notes for section 2 16
  • Section   2 16
  • 1 16
  • 2 16
  • 3 16
  • 4 16
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  • 6 16
  • 7 16
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  • 48 19
  • 49 19
  • 50 19
  • 51 19
  • 52 19
  • 53 19
  • 54 19
  • 55 19
  • 56 20
  • Annex 7  Referred to in chapter 9 (trade in services) and chapter 14 (investment) 20
  • Part   1 Schedule of australia 20
  • Section   1 Notes for sections 2 and 3 20
  • Section   2 20
  • 1 20
  • 2 20
  • 3 20
  • 4 20
  • 5 20
  • 6 20
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  • 8 20
  • 9 20
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  • 16 21
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  • 18 21
  • 19 21
  • Section   3 21
  • 20 21
  • 21 21
  • 22 21
  • 23 21
  • 24 21
  • Part   2 Schedule of japan 21
  • Section   1 Notes for section 2 21
  • Section   2 21
  • 1 21
  • 2 21
  • 3 21
  • 4 21
  • 5 22
  • 6 22
  • 7 22
  • 8 22
  • 9 22
  • 10 22
  • 11 22
  • 12 22
  • 13 22
  • 14 22
  • 15 22
  • Annex 8  Referred to in chapter 9 (trade in services) 22
  • 1 Scope 22
  • 2 Provision of information 22
  • 3 Recognition of qualifications 22
  • Annex 9  Referred to in chapter 11 (financial services) 22
  • Annex 10  Referred to in chapter 12 (movement of natural persons) 23
  • Part   1 Specific commitments of australia 23
  • Section   1 Business visitors of japan 23
  • Section   2 Intra-corporate transferees of japan 23
  • Section   3 Investors of japan 23
  • Section   4 Contractual service suppliers of japan 23
  • Section   5 Accompanying spouse and dependents 23
  • Part   2 Specific commitments of japan 23
  • Section   1 Short-term business visitors of australia 23
  • Section   2 Intra-corporate transferees of australia 23
  • Section   3 Investors of australia 23
  • Section   4 Natural persons of australia who engage in professional services 23
  • Section   5 Natural persons of australia who engage in business activities, which require technology or knowledge at an advanced level, on the basis of a personal contract with public or private organisations in japan 23
  • Section   6 Accompanying spouse and children 23
  • Annex 12  Referred to in chapter 14 (investment) 23
  • Implementing agreement between the government of japan and the government of australia pursuant to article 1.12 of the agreement between japan and australia for an economic partnership 23
  • Chapter   1 General provisions 23
  • 1.1 Scope and relationship to the basic agreement 23
  • Chapter   2 Rules of origin 23
  • 2.1 Issuance of certificate of origin 23
  • 2.2 Modification 23
  • 2.3 Language of documentary evidence of origin 23
  • 2.4 Consignment 23
  • 2.5 Minor errors 23
  • 2.6 Communications on origin verification 23
  • Chapter   3 Customs procedures 23
  • 3.1 Mutual assistance 23
  • 3.2 Information and communications technology 23
  • 3.3 Risk management 23
  • 3.4 Advance rulings 24
  • 3.5 Enforcement against illegal trafficking 24
  • 3.6 Intellectual property rights 24
  • 3.7 Exchange of information and confidentiality 24
  • Chapter   4 Final provisions 24
  • 4.1 Implementation 24
  • 4.2 Entry into force 24
  • 4.3 Amendment 24