Page 471 - Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

CHAPTER 18 (f) to supervise and coordinate the work of all subsidiary
bodies;
INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
(g) to consider and take any decisions on issues referred to it
by any subsidiary body;
Article 18.1: Meetings of the RCEP Ministers
(h) to restructure, reorganise, or dissolve any subsidiary body,
1. The Ministers of the RCEP (hereinafter referred to as the “RCEP if necessary;
Ministers” in this Chapter) shall meet within one year of the date
of entry into force of this Agreement, and every year thereafter (i) to establish and thereafter supervise an RCEP Secretariat,
unless the Parties agree otherwise, to consider any matter on terms agreed by the Parties, to provide secretariat and
relating to this Agreement. technical support to the RCEP Joint Committee and its
subsidiary bodies;
2. The RCEP Ministers shall take decisions on any matter by
consensus. (j) to hold dialogue forums on topics to be agreed by Parties,
which may include participation from the business sector,
experts, academia, and other stakeholders, as
Article 18.2: Establishment of the RCEP Joint Committee appropriate; and

The Parties hereby establish an RCEP Joint Committee consisting of (k) to carry out any other function as the Parties may agree.
senior officials designated by each Party.
2. The RCEP Joint Committee shall report to the RCEP Ministers
and may, as appropriate, refer matters to the RCEP Ministers for
Article 18.3: Functions of the RCEP Joint Committee consideration and decision.

1. The functions of the RCEP Joint Committee shall be as follows:
Article 18.4: Rules of Procedure of the RCEP Joint Committee
(a) to consider any matter relating to the implementation and
operation of this Agreement; 1. The RCEP Joint Committee shall take decisions on any matter by
1
consensus.
(b) to consider any proposal to amend this Agreement;
2. The RCEP Joint Committee shall establish its rules of procedure
(c) to discuss differences that may arise regarding the at its first meeting.
interpretation or application of this Agreement and to issue
interpretations of the provisions of this Agreement as it
may deem appropriate and necessary; Article 18.5: Meetings of the RCEP Joint Committee

(d) to seek expert advice on any matter within its functions; 1. The RCEP Joint Committee shall meet within one year of the date
of entry into force of this Agreement and prior to the first meeting
(e) to refer matters, assign tasks, or delegate functions to any
subsidiary body established pursuant to Article 18.6
(Subsidiary Bodies of the RCEP Joint Committee)
(hereinafter referred to as “subsidiary body” in this 1 The RCEP Joint Committee shall be deemed to have taken a decision by consensus
Chapter); if no Party present at the meeting when the decision is taken objects to the proposed
decision. In case a Party is absent from the meeting, the decision shall be circulated
to that Party for it to consider the decision, seek clarification where required, and that
Party may convey its acknowledgement within 14 days of the circulation of the decision.

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