Simplification of Origin Certification for Exports to Japan Starting Next Year

Exporter and Producer Voluntary Certification Implementation Agreement

The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced on the 14th that starting January 1 next year, the certification of origin required to apply preferential tariffs under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) for domestic companies exporting to Japan, Australia, and New Zealand will be simplified.

Cargo is stacked on a container ship docked at Busan Port.

RCEP is a multilateral free trade agreement (FTA) involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and five non-ASEAN countries (Korea, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand). Japan, which does not have bilateral FTAs, currently applies preferential tariffs eliminating tariffs on 83% of items through RCEP.

Currently, under RCEP, there are two systems in place: the 'institutional certification system,' where customs or chambers of commerce issue certificates of origin, and the 'authorized exporter self-certification system,' where certified exporters with legal authority directly prepare certificates of origin.

Going forward, a 'self-certification system' allowing exporters and producers to directly issue certificates of origin will be added. Among RCEP member countries, the self-certification system is already implemented between Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, and Korea has agreed to newly implement this system with these three countries starting next year.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance stated, "Domestic companies that previously had to apply for and receive certificates of origin from the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry or customs when exporting to Japan will now be able to choose the self-certification method," adding, "We expect the burden of issuing certificates of origin to be alleviated."