A Japanese buyer sourcing from Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia usually has more than one trade agreement to choose from. Each of those countries has its own economic partnership agreement with Japan, all of them are in the ASEAN–Japan agreement, and all of them are in RCEP. Three agreements, three sets of rules of origin, and not always the same duty rate.
This page is a routing guide for that choice from the Japanese import side: which agreement to claim, which proof of origin each one accepts, and the one option most buyers overlook — under RCEP, the importer in Japan can declare origin itself.
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Which proof of origin each agreement accepts
For goods from Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia, the bilateral EPA and AJCEP work on a certificate issued in the exporting country, while RCEP also accepts a declaration made by the Japanese importer.
| Agreement | Proof of origin accepted by Japan Customs | Who prepares it |
|---|---|---|
| Japan–Thailand EPA, Japan–Malaysia EPA, Japan–Indonesia EPA | Certificate of origin | Issuing authority of the exporting country |
| ASEAN–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) | Certificate of origin | Issuing authority of the exporting country |
| RCEP | Certificate of origin, or a declaration of origin by an approved exporter, or a declaration of origin by the importer | Issuing body; approved exporter; or the importer in Japan |
| Goods made in Taiwan | No agreement with Japan | Ordinary rate applies |
Japan Customs lists the Japan–Thailand, Japan–Malaysia, Japan–Indonesia and ASEAN–Japan agreements under third-party certification, where “importers may make a claim for preferential tariff treatment by submitting a certificate of origin issued by the competent authority of the exporting party”. For RCEP it describes four systems, of which the exporter and producer self-declaration is available only for Australia and New Zealand.
Checked against Japan Customs’ published guidance on 24 September 2026. Confirm the position for your HS code before you rely on it.
The RCEP option most buyers miss: the importer declares
Under RCEP, the importer in Japan can prepare the declaration of origin itself — a system Japan Customs says can only be used for imports into Japan.
With the other agreements, the buyer depends on the supplier to apply for and send a certificate. Under RCEP, a Japanese importer that holds the evidence can prepare its own declaration of origin and submit it with the import declaration.
What that evidence looks like matters. Japan Customs describes it in two parts: an explanation of how the goods meet the origin criteria, and supporting documents such as a price list, a bill of materials and a production flowchart. The importer must be able to obtain those from the supplier — which is the point where a buyer without a relationship on the ground often gets stuck.
| Route | Advantage | What the importer needs |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate issued in Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia | The supplier and its authority take on the origin work | A supplier able and willing to apply for the certificate |
| RCEP importer declaration | No dependence on a certificate from abroad | Enough information from the supplier to show the goods meet the rule of origin |
💬 The supplier’s bill of materials is in Thai or Bahasa and nobody has asked for it? We collect it as part of sourcing from across Asia.
How to choose between the three agreements
Compare the preferential rate for your exact HS code under each agreement, then check which agreement’s rule of origin the product actually meets.
Japan publishes a preferential rate for each agreement, and for a given product they can differ. A practical order of work:
- Fix the HS code with the supplier, so every comparison uses the same line.
- Look up the rate under the bilateral EPA, AJCEP and RCEP.
- Check the rule of origin under each. The product may meet one agreement’s rule and not another’s.
- Consider inputs from other countries. AJCEP includes an accumulation provision, and RCEP counts materials from its other parties under its own rules. A product built from parts made in several Asian countries can qualify under one of these when it fails a bilateral rule.
- Decide who does the origin paperwork: a certificate from the supplier’s country, or — under RCEP only — the importer’s own declaration.
Taiwan: plan for the ordinary rate
Japan has no economic partnership agreement with Taiwan, and Taiwan is not in RCEP, so goods made in Taiwan enter Japan at the ordinary rate.
For electronic components, machinery and precision parts, a Taiwanese supplier may still be the right choice. The duty simply belongs in the comparison. Origin follows where the goods are made under the rules of origin, not where they are shipped from, so goods routed through Taiwan but made elsewhere should be assessed on their real origin.
Where the claim goes wrong
Most lost preferences come from mismatched paperwork rather than goods that fail to qualify.
| Mistake | Result | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate issued under one agreement, claim made under another | Preference refused | Decide the agreement before the certificate is applied for |
| HS code on the certificate differs from the import declaration | Claim questioned | Agree the HS code with the supplier first |
| RCEP importer declaration without supporting documents | Claim cannot be substantiated | Obtain the bill of materials and production details before shipment |
| Taiwanese goods costed at a preferential rate | Landed cost higher than planned | Use the ordinary rate for Taiwan |
For the same routing question with Vietnam as the destination, see importing into Vietnam from Thailand, Malaysia or Taiwan. For goods made in Vietnam, see which proof of origin a Vietnamese shipment travels on, and for making two quotations comparable, how to compare supplier quotations.
💬 Want suppliers in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam compared for delivery to Japan? Send us the specification.
Frequently asked questions
1. Which agreement should I use for goods from Thailand going to Japan?
Compare the preferential rate for your HS code under the Japan–Thailand EPA, AJCEP and RCEP, and check which rule of origin the product meets. The proof of origin must match the agreement you claim.
2. Can the Japanese importer declare origin itself?
Under RCEP, yes. Japan Customs accepts a declaration of origin prepared by the importer, and states that this system can only be used for imports into Japan. The importer needs evidence that the goods meet the rule of origin.
3. Can a supplier in Malaysia self-certify under RCEP for Japan?
Japan Customs says the exporter and producer self-declaration under RCEP is available for Australia and New Zealand. A Malaysian supplier would use a certificate of origin or, if approved, a declaration as an approved exporter.
4. What evidence does an RCEP importer declaration need?
Japan Customs describes an explanation of how the goods meet the origin criteria, together with supporting documents such as a price list, bill of materials and production flowchart.
5. Is there a preferential rate for goods made in Taiwan?
No. Japan has no economic partnership agreement with Taiwan and Taiwan is not in RCEP, so the ordinary rate applies.
Sources: Japan Customs, “Origin Certification Procedure”; Japan Customs, RCEP guide, step 3 (proof of origin); Japan Customs FAQ 4022 on the ASEAN–Japan agreement. Checked on 24 September 2026.