The ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) is the broader, region-wide trade agreement between Japan and all ten ASEAN member states, including Vietnam. It covers tariff reduction on goods, and later additions expanded it to services and investment. For most Vietnam-Japan trade, this is the agreement in play unless a shipment specifically qualifies under the older bilateral VJEPA instead.
Where this matters in practice
If you’re a Japanese buyer sourcing components or finished goods from Vietnam, or a Vietnamese exporter shipping to Japan, AJCEP is usually the default framework your customs broker will reference for preferential tariff treatment. It also matters for regional supply chains: a product assembled in Vietnam using inputs from other ASEAN countries can sometimes still qualify for preferential treatment under AJCEP’s cumulative rules of origin.
What to check before assuming it applies
Qualifying isn’t automatic. The product has to meet AJCEP’s specific rules of origin, which vary by product category, and you need the correct certificate of origin on file before the shipment moves. Assuming a lower tariff applies and finding out otherwise at customs is a costly way to learn the difference.
How we handle it
We check whether your specific product and supply chain actually qualify under AJCEP’s rules of origin before you rely on the preferential rate, and help make sure the documentation holds up at customs on both ends.