WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/REG140/N/1
S/C/N/206
14 November 2002
(02-6330)
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements
Council for Trade in ServicesOriginal:  English
AGREEMENT BETWEEN JAPAN AND SINGAPORE
FOR A NEW-AGE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP
Notification Pursuant to Article XXIV:7(a) of GATT 1994 and Article V:7(a) of the GATS
The following joint communication, dated 8 November 2002, has been received from the
Permanent Missions of Japan and Singapore with the request that it be circulated to WTO Members.
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The Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva and the
Permanent Mission of Singapore to the United Nations office in Geneva have the honour to notify to
the Members of the WTO that their respective authorities have concluded the Agreement between
Japan and the Republic of Singapore for a New-Age Economic Partnership (hereinafter referred to as
"the JSEPA").1
The JSEPA has established a free-trade area within the meaning of  Article XXIV of the
GATT 1994.  The JSEPA also provides for the liberalization of trade in services within the meaning
of Article V of the GATS.
The JSEPA was signed on 13 January 2002 and will enter into force on 30 November 2002.
The duration of the JSEPA is indefinite.
This joint notification is presented:
(i) pursuant to paragraph 7(a) of Article XXIV of the GATT 1994 and the Understanding
on the Interpretation of Article XXIV of the GATT 1994;  and
(ii) in accordance with paragraph 7(a) of Article V of the GATS.
Japan and the Republic of Singapore wish to express their willingness to contribute to the
process of examination in accordance with the procedures agreed upon in the Committee on Regional
Trade Agreements.
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1 The text of the Agreement is being distributed as WT/REG140/1.  The full text of the
JSEPA is available at http://www.mti.gov.sg /public/FTA/frm_FTA_Default.asp?sid=28 and
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/singapore/jsepa.html