On 7 May 2025, the Ministry of Planning and Finance issued Notification No. 29/2025 (“Notification 29/2025”) implementing Myanmar’s Tariff Reduction Schedule under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (“RCEP”) Agreement based on the HS 2017 version. This notification became effective immediately upon issuance.
The RCEP is the largest Free Trade Agreement in the Asia-Pacific region, encompassing 15 member countries. The RCEP Agreement was signed on 15 November 2020 and came into force in Myanmar on 1 January 2022.
Before the issuance of Notification No. 29/2025, Myanmar had reportedly only applied the RCEP deal unilaterally with China since 2022. Now, the RCEP will reciprocally apply to goods originating from the following RCEP signatory countries:
- Cambodia
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Brunei Darussalam
- Lao PDR
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- People’s Republic of China
The RCEP-signatory countries not covered by this notification are Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, and South Korea.
To implement Notification 29/2025, the Myanmar Customs Department issued Announcement No. 009/2025 dated 13 May 2025, stating that tariff reductions under the RCEP agreement can now be applied to eligible import declarations using “Form RCEP” from the specified countries. Importers must select “R” (RCEP) in the Customs Duty Type Code on the IDA Screen of the MACCS system. The MACCS system has completed all necessary settings for imported goods to benefit from tariff reductions, effective from 14 May 2025.
Conclusion
The implementation of Myanmar’s Tariff Reduction Schedule under the RCEP Agreement marks a significant step towards enhancing trade relations with other RCEP member countries. This initiative is anticipated to streamline and enhance trade processes, benefiting importers and exporters alike. This move not only fosters economic growth but also promotes regional cooperation and integration, ultimately benefiting the broader economic landscape of Myanmar and its trading partners.
The information provided here is for information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Legal advice should be obtained from qualified legal counsel for all specific situations.
