More ASEAN members agree on goods of origin certificate

BANGKOK, Feb 10 (TNA) - Thai goods exporters to Laos, Indonesia and the Philippines -- all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- could issue goods of origin certificates by themselves from the middle of 2013 instead of using certificates issued by the government, said Piramol Charoenpao, director-general of Commerce Ministry’s Trade Negotiations Department The practice will facilitate Thai exporters as they will now require lesser time in exporting their goods to those three countries whose exporters will start issuing goods of origin certificates by themselves next month, Mrs. Piramol said. Thai exporters are expected to start joining the scheme middle of this year after approval was given earlier by members of the parliament, she said. Earlier, governments of Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei have agreed that their exporters could export goods among the four countries by having goods of origin certificates issued by the exporters themselves until 2015 when ASEAN members implement the ASEAN Economic Community at the end of that year, Mrs. Piramol said. (TNA)