China and New Zealand have launched negotiations on the negative list for trade in services under a free trade agreement

　　On June 13, in the presence of Premier Li Qiang of The State Council and Prime Minister Malcolm Lacson of New Zealand, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and Minister of Trade of New Zealand Michael Mackay signed an exchange of letters to launch the negotiations on the negative list of services trade under the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement。

　　New Zealand is the first developed country to conclude a bilateral free trade agreement with China, and the China-New Zealand free trade Agreement is the first comprehensive and high-level free trade agreement that China has signed in such areas as goods, services, investment, personnel flow and standard recognition。The launch of the service trade negotiations of the China-New Zealand free trade Agreement in the form of a negative list will help promote a higher level of institutional opening-up of China's service trade, stimulate the potential of bilateral service trade cooperation, and make the agreement more beneficial to the enterprises and people of the two countries。

　　(Source: Business micro News)

　　Laos signed an effective agreement with the European Patent Organization

　　Laos has signed a Validation Agreement with the European Patent Office (EPO), becoming the second Southeast Asian country after Cambodia to sign an agreement with the EPO。Once the agreement comes into force, it will simplify access to the Lao market for European patent applicants, thereby facilitating foreign direct investment, trade and technology transfer。

　　Epo validation is the process of converting a single granted European patent into a national patent of one or more of the member States of the European Patent Organization, the extended countries and the countries in force。It is generally required to make an effective request in the country designated by the applicant within 3 months from the date of publication of the European patent grant。When making an effective request, the relevant documents submitted may include power of attorney, translation, effective registration request, etc., depending on the requirements of different countries, and pay a fee。In general, if an applicant wishes to obtain patent protection in multiple member States of the European Patent Organization, as well as in the countries of extension and entry into force, filing a European patent application at the EPO and entering into force in different countries is a more economical and convenient way than filing a patent application separately in different countries。

　　Based on the effective agreement signed between Laos and the EPO, the patent system in Laos will benefit from the EPO's high level of quality search and examination。This will enhance legal certainty, clarity and protection for innovators and businesses in Laos, and promote an environment that encourages innovation and growth。

　　(Source: European Patent Office)

　　Chile has formally applied to join the RCEP

　　On June 14, local time, Chile's Deputy Minister of International Economic Relations, Sanueza, submitted Chile's application to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP)。

　　According to the Chilean Foreign Ministry, Sanueza, who is on a visit to Indonesia, submitted a formal application letter for Chile to join the RCEP to Satvinder Singh, deputy Secretary General of ASEAN for Economic Community Affairs, at a meeting in Jakarta on the same day。

　　According to public information，Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)，RCEP was initiated by ASEAN in 2012，In eight years，The agreement was formulated by a total of 15 members, including China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the 10 ASEAN countries。

　　On November 15, 2020, the Fourth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Leaders' Meeting was held by video. After the meeting, 10 ASEAN countries and 15 Asia-Pacific countries including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand officially signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.。The signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement marks the official launch of the free trade area with the largest population, the largest economic and trade scale and the greatest development potential in the world。

　　On March 22, 2021, the head of the International Department of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China said that China has completed the approval of RCEP, becoming the first country to ratify the agreement。On April 15, China officially deposited the instrument of ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with the ASEAN Secretary-General。11月2日，The ASEAN Secretariat, custodian of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, issued a notice，It was announced that six ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and four non-ASEAN member states (China, Japan, New Zealand and Australia) have formally submitted their instruments of approval to the ASEAN Secretary-General，The threshold for entry into force of the agreement was reached。

　　On January 1, 2022, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) officially entered into force, with the first batch of countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and six ASEAN countries and four non-ASEAN countries including China, Japan, New Zealand and Australia。

　　The RCEP will become effective for South Korea on February 1, 2022。Effective for Malaysia from 18 March 2022。Effective May 1, 2022 for Myanmar。Effective from 2 January 2023 for Indonesia。It entered into force for the Philippines on 2 June 2023。

　　(Source: China Macro Network, International Legal Affairs)