Page 473 - Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

of the RCEP Ministers, and every year thereafter unless the (d) a Committee on the Business Environment, to cover work
Parties agree otherwise. on intellectual property; electronic commerce; competition;
and government procurement.
2. The RCEP Joint Committee shall convene alternately, and on a
rotational basis, in a Party which is a Member State of ASEAN 2. Each Committee established pursuant to paragraph 1 shall have
and a Party which is not a Member State of ASEAN, unless the the functions set out for it in Annex 18A (Functions of the
Parties agree otherwise. Subsidiary Bodies of the RCEP Joint Committee), and any other
functions as set out for it in this Agreement or agreed by the
3. The RCEP Joint Committee shall be co-chaired by a Parties.
representative appointed by the Parties which are Member States
of ASEAN and a representative appointed by the Parties which 3. The RCEP Joint Committee may establish additional subsidiary
are not Member States of ASEAN on a rotational basis, unless bodies including other committees, as it deems necessary.
the Parties agree otherwise. The role of the co-chairs of the
RCEP Joint Committee shall be to ensure the effective and 4. Each Committee established pursuant to paragraph 1 shall meet
impartial management of the meetings, with a view to facilitating within one year of the date of entry into force of this Agreement
consensus among the Parties. and every year thereafter unless the Parties agree otherwise.

4. Each Party shall be responsible for the composition of its
delegation. Article 18.7: Meetings of Subsidiary Bodies

5. The RCEP Joint Committee may carry out its work through Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any subsidiary body:
whatever means that are appropriate, which may include
electronic mail, videoconferencing, or other means. (a) shall be composed of representatives from each Party;

(b) shall be co-chaired by a representative appointed by the
Article 18.6: Subsidiary Bodies of the RCEP Joint Committee Parties which are Member States of ASEAN and a
representative appointed by the Parties which are not
1. The RCEP Joint Committee shall establish at its first meeting: Member States of ASEAN on a rotational basis, unless the
Parties agree otherwise;
(a) a Committee on Goods, to cover work on trade in goods;
rules of origin; customs procedures and trade facilitation; (c) shall take decisions on any matter within its functions by
sanitary and phytosanitary measures; standards, technical consensus;
2
regulations, and conformity assessment procedures; and
trade remedies; (d) may carry out its work through whatever means that are
appropriate, which may include electronic mail,
(b) a Committee on Services and Investment, to cover work videoconferencing, or other means; and
on trade in services including financial services,
telecommunication services, and professional services; (e) shall meet as directed by the RCEP Joint Committee or as
temporary movement of natural persons; and investment; otherwise agreed by the Parties.

(c) a Committee on Sustainable Growth, to cover work on
small and medium enterprises; economic and technical
cooperation; and emerging issues; and 2 A subsidiary body shall be deemed to have taken a decision by consensus 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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