Myanmar Implements the RCEP Reduced Tariff for Nine Members

On 7 May 2025, the Ministry of Planning and Finance issued Notification No. 29/2025 (“Notification 29”) implementing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (“RCEP”) tariff reductions based on the 2017 HS Code version.

Myanmar signed the RCEP agreement in 2020, along with 14 other Asia-Pacific countries. The agreement entered into force for Myanmar on 1 January 2022, but its implementation was initially limited to trade with China.

With the issuance of Notification 29, RCEP preferential tariff rates will now apply to goods originating from the following nine of the 15 RCEP member states:

1. Brunei
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Indonesia
5. Lao
6. Malaysia
7. Singapore
8. Thailand
9. Vietnam

The remaining member countries—Australia, Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand, and South Korea—are not yet covered.

Following Notification 29’s issuance, the Myanmar Customs Department issued Notification No. 009/2025 dated 13 May 2025 providing guidance on customs declarations using the reduced RCEP tariff. Eligible importers need to use Form RCEP issued from those countries and select “R” (for RCEP) for the Customs Duty Type Code on the IDA screen.

The implementation of the RCEP tariff reduction is expected to help to reduce import costs and enhance trade relations with the applicable member countries.