The ASEAN-China Free Trade Area Joint Committee

By：BPOC Update：2016-05-30

The parties hereby establish the ASEAN-China FREE Trade Area Joint Committee (ACFTA-JC) as the permanent body to assist the ASEAN Economic Ministers and the Minister of Commerce of China (hereinafter referred to as “AEM-MOFCOM”) in ensuring the effective operation and implements/legal instruments concluded or to be concluded under this Agreement.

The functions of the ACFTA-JC shall be to:

(1) review, monitor, oversee, supervise and coordinate the implementation and operation of this Agreement and all legal instruments under it;

(2) consider and recommend to the AEM-MOFCOM any amendments to this Agreement and all legal instruments under it;
(3) negotiate amendments to or any matter arising from the operation of this Agreement and all legal instruments under it;
(4) supervise and co-ordinate the work of subsidiary bodies to be established under this Agreement and all legal instruments under it;
(5)adopt, where appropriate, decisions and recommendations of subsidiary bodies established or to be established pursuant to this Agreement and all legal instruments under it;
(6) consider any other matter that may affect the operation of this Agreement and all legal instruments under it or that is entrusted to the ACFTA-JC by the Parties;
(7) carry out any other functions as the Parties may agree.

To assist in the fulfillment of its functions, the ACFTA-JC may establish additional subsidiary bodies, including adhoc bodies, and assign them with tasks on specific matters, or delegate its responsibilities to any subsidiary body established pursuant to this Agreement or any legal instruments under it.

The ACFTA-JC shall convene the meetings at least twice a year or as and when it deems necessary. The ASEAN Country Coordinator for comprehensive economic cooperation with China, and China, shall assume the co-chairmanship of the ACFTA-JC. The ACFTA-JC meetings shall be held alternately in an ASEAN Member State and Commerce (MOFCOM) of China shall provide the ACFTA-JC with the necessary secretariat support.

The ACFTA-JC shall regularly report to the AEM-MOFCOM Consultations, through the meetings of their Senior Economic Officials.