ASEAN and China signed a protocol to implement the second package of
commitments under the ASEAN-China Trade in Services Agreement (AC-TIS)
on the sidelines of the ASEAN-China Summit in Bali, Indonesia on Nov.
19.
Addressing the signing ceremony, Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN Secretary General
said that the protocol will further liberalise trade and services among
10 ASEAN member countries and China with substantial improvement in
their level of commitments on trade in services, contributing to
boosting trade and investment between ASEAN and China.
Under
the new protocol, the eleven countries will expand the sectoral coverage
of their commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services
(GATS) and the first package of AC-TIS, further liberalise the level of
restrictions and remove discriminatory measures in those commitments.
Signed in 2007, AC – TIS serves as a foundation for the two sides
to continue ne
gotiations on commitment packages to strengthen trade and
investment cooperation./.