The Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) was originally known as the Bangkok Agreement. The Bangkok Agreement was signed in 1975, and was the oldest Preferential Tariff Agreement (PTA) among the developing countries. It is facilitated by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), which acts as its Secretariat.
Its original members were Bangladesh, India, Lao PDR, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Republic of Korea (ROK). Thailand and Philippines did not ratify the Agreement. Lao PDR has not issued any customs notifications on tariff concessions. China joined the Agreement in 2001.
Revision of the Agreement was made 2005, and was renamed as the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). APTA targets gradual tariff liberalization. To download the Amended Agreement, click here.
The new agreement has devised a common rules of origin (RoO). To download the APTA RoO, click here.
Following the 1st and 2nd rounds of negotiations concluded in 1975 and 1990 respectively, a process of revitalization began in the early 2000s. This brought the conclusion of the 3rd round of negotiations in 2005. This round involved 4,270 products with and average Margin of Preference (MoP) of 27.22%.
To download the general concessions available under APTA in China, India, Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka, click on the respective list below:
To download the special concessions available only for LDC’s, including Bangladesh, under APTA in China, India, Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka, click on the respective list below:
For more details and updated information on APTA issues, visit www.unescap.org/apta
China national list of concessions 3rd round
China special list of concessions 3rd round
India national list of concessions 3rd round
India special list of concessions 3rd round
RoK national list of concessions 3rd round
RoK special list of concessions 3rd round
Sri Lanka national list of concessions 3rd round
Sri Lanka special list of concessions 3rd round