Semarang, 20 August 2023 – Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan signed the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangements (AFA MRA) in Semarang, Central Java today, Sunday (20/8). The signing was conducted ad-referendum on the sidelines of the 55th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting (AEM Meeting).
“With the agreement of the AFA MRA, it will provide a legal basis for sectoral bodies in ASEAN in formulating MRAs in specific sectors that will be agreed upon by all ASEAN member countries. This aims to remove technical trade barriers in order to increase Indonesia's exports to ASEAN,” explained Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan.
AFA MRA also stipulates general conditions, in which each member country involved in the MRA must recognize or accept the results of the conformity assessment procedure made by the Conformity Assessment Bodies of other Member States as determined in the MRA.
The Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan explained that the AFA MRA consists of sixteen articles and one attachment of Suspension and Elimination of Registered Conformity Assessment Bodies. “The new AFA on MRA Agreement will enter into force after the instrument of ratification is submitted to the ASEAN Secretariat. The entry into force of the new agreement will replace the 1998 Framework Agreement and will not apply retrospectively to the previously signed MRA,” explained Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan.
MRA is an agreement to mutually recognize or accept some or all aspects of the results of an assessment carried out by a country. MRA is expected to be able to eliminate existing technical trade barriers and increase market access which can attract more business actors, especially small and medium enterprises in ASEAN.
Furthermore, the MRA can positively contribute to encouraging greater harmonization of international standards and regulations given the differences in infrastructure for standardization and conformity assessment among ASEAN member countries.
For further information please contact:
Ani Mulyati
Head of Public Relations Bureau
Ministry of Trade
Email: pusathumas@kemendag.go.id
Dina Kurniasari
Director of ASEAN Negotiations
Directorate General of International Trade Negotiations
Ministry of Trade
Email: asean@kemendag.go.id