Export of industrial products to China – to eliminate tariffed item up to 86% - RCEP signed on 15th

Recently Nihon Keizai Shimbun Electronic Edition reported the following:

対中工業品輸出、関税86%撤廃へ　RCEP15日署名

経済 中国・台湾

2020/11/14 20:00 (2020/11/14 23:13更新) 日本経済新聞　電子版

日本など15カ国が参加する東アジア地域包括的経済連携（RCEP）で、日本から中国に輸出する工業品の関税撤廃率が86%にのぼる見込みとなった。日中間には自由貿易協定（FTA）がなく、RCEP発効で撤廃率を現在の8%から段階的に引き上げる。自動車部品など輸出企業にメリットが出そうだ。米国との対立が続く中国はアジアでの孤立を回避し、貿易促進で譲歩したもよう。米国が貿易面でアジア太平洋地域にどう関わるかも今後の焦点になる。

東南アジア諸国連合（ASEAN）、日中韓など15カ国は15日、オンライン形式で首脳会合を開く。菅義偉首相は14日、首相官邸で「15日にRCEP協定に署名する」と表明した。参加を見送ったインドにも触れ「自由で公正な経済圏を広げるという日本の立場をしっかり発信して関係国の協力を得たい」と述べた。

RCEPは日本にとって中韓両国と結ぶ初のFTAとなる。中国に輸出する工業品は、協定発効時に無税とするものも含め、20年程度をかけて86%の品目で関税を撤廃する。自動車部品の9割弱が対象となる。経済産業省によると、撤廃対象品目の輸出実績は交渉開始時で年約5兆円あった。

現行の関税率が3%前後のガソリン車のエンジン部品の一部、3～6%の鉄鋼製品の一部、6%の農業用トラクターなどは発効時に関税をなくす。電気自動車用のモーターやリチウムイオン電池の部品は現行の関税率が10%台で、発効後16年目に撤廃する方向だ。

韓国への輸出は、工業品の関税撤廃率が現行の19%から最終的に92%となる見込み。エアバッグや電子系部品など自動車関連では8割弱の品目で関税を段階的になくす。

関税は10～20年かけて撤廃するものも多く、日本の輸出企業への恩恵は品目ごとに変化を見極める必要がある。RCEP全体で日本の工業品の関税撤廃率（品目数ベース）は最終的に輸出91.5%、輸入98.6%になる見通し。環太平洋経済連携協定（TPP）は輸出99.9%、輸入100%だった。

それでも日本の国別貿易額で1位の中国（約33兆円）、3位の韓国（約8兆円）を含む効果は大きい。ルール分野でも、投資に際し企業へ技術移転を要求することを禁じるTPPの項目が盛り込まれ、中国が参加する協定で初となる見込みだ。

ASEANへの輸出でも、タイ向けの一部の自動車部品、カンボジア向けの乗用車の一部などで新たに関税を撤廃する。日本からASEANに原料を輸出して現地で加工し、中韓に輸出する場合などでルールが統一され、貿易しやすくなる。

Translation

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in which 15 countries including Japan would participate, was expected to eliminate tariff on industrial exportation from Japan to China up to 86% of the products. There was no free trade agreement (FTA) between Japan and China at present, and the percentage of elimination would gradually be raised from 8% of all products at the present moment when Japan entered the RCEP. It seemed that export companies such as automobile parts would get the benefits. China, which continued to be in conflict with the United States, seemed to have avoided isolation in Asia and was making concessions to promote trade. The future focus would also be on how the United States might be involved in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of trade.

Fifteen countries, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Japan, China and South Korea, held an online summit on the 15th. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga at the Prime Minister's Office announced on the 14th that he would "sign the RCEP agreement on the 15th". He also touched on India which had given up participation and said, "I would like to firmly convey Japan's position to expand a free and fair economic zone and obtain the cooperation of related countries."

RCEP would be Japan's first FTA [Free Trade Agreement] connecting China and South Korea. It could eliminate tariffs of 86% of the industrial product items exported to China over a period of about 20 years, including those that could be tax-free when the agreement came into effect. Slightly under 90% of the automobile parts were targeted. According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the targeted exporting items on record to be abolished was valued at about 5 trillion yen a year at the start of negotiations.

Some of the engine parts of gasoline vehicles with the current tariff rate of around 3%, some of the steel products of from 3 to 6%, and a 6% on agricultural tractors would be exempted from tariffs when the agreement came into effect. The current tariff rate for motors and lithium-ion battery parts for electric vehicles was in the 10% range, and it was planned to be abolished 16 years after the entry came into force.

For exports to South Korea, the tariff elimination items for industrial products were expected to increase from the current 19% to reach 92% in the end. Tariffs could be gradually eliminated to reach slightly below 80% for automobile-related items such as airbags and electronic parts.

Many tariffs could be eliminated over 10 to 20 years, and the benefits to Japanese exporters needed to be determined for each individual item. The tariff elimination rate for Japanese industrial products under RCEP was expected to be 91.5% for exports and 98.6% for imports as a whole (based on the number of items). The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was 99.9% exports and 100% imports.

Even so, the effect would be great in terms of Japan’s foreign trade value by country that included China (about 33 trillion yen) that ranked first, and South Korea (about 8 trillion yen) which ranked third. Also, in the realm of rules, included in TPP was an item that prohibited companies from requesting technology transfer when doing investment, it was expected that for the first time China would participate in such an agreement.

Regarding exports to ASEAN, tariffs would be for the first time dropped for some automobile parts destined for Thailand, and some passenger cars parts destined for Cambodia. When raw materials were exported from Japan to ASEAN, it would be processed locally; also, that the rules on exports to China and South Korea were unified, making it easier to trade.

              So, trading in Asia will be easier among the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) members from now on. In the realm of rules, included in TPP was a stipulation that prohibited companies from requesting technology transfer when doing investment, it was interesting to note that for the first time China would agree to such a rule.