Minister Of Trade Signs MRA AFA Agreement, Removes Trading Obstacles In ASEAN

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan signed the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Joint Recognition Arrangement or ASEA Framework Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangements (AFA MRA).

The agreement aims to remove barriers in trading in ASEAN.

The signing was carried out by ad-referendum in the 55th series of ASEAN Economics Ministers' Meetings (55th ASEAN Economic Ministers) in Semarang, Central Java.

Zulhas, as Zulkifli Hasan is familiarly called, said that it was agreed that the AFA MRA would provide a legal basis for sectoral entities in ASEAN in drafting the MRA in a special sector that would be agreed upon by all ASEAN member countries.

"This aims to remove technical trade barriers in order to increase Indonesia's exports to ASEAN," Zulhas said as quoted on Monday, August 21.

AFA MRA also stipulates a general condition, in which every member state involved in the MRA must recognize or receive the results of the regularity assessment procedure made by the Member State Assessment Agency as determined in the MRA.

Zulhas explained, AFA MRA consists of sixteen articles and one attachment to Suspension and Elimination of Administrative Approval that is Registered. The new AFA on MRA agreement will take effect after the ratification instrument is submitted to the ASEAN Secretariat.

"The enactment of a new agreement will replace the 1998 Framework Agreement and does not apply retrospectively to the previously signed MRA," explained Zulhas.

For your information, MRA is an agreement to recognize or accept several or all aspects of the results of an assessment carried out by a country.

MRA is expected to eliminate existing technical trade barriers and increase market access that can attract more business actors, especially small and medium enterprises in ASEAN.

The MRA can contribute positively in encouraging greater harmonization of international standards and regulations given the difference in infrastructure for standardization and assessment of suitability between ASEAN member countries.