PTA s INVESTMENT CHAPTER: THE JUXTOPOSITION OF THE INVESTMENT LIBERALISATION PROVISION Sufian Jusoh Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS) Regional Dialogue On ENHANCING THE CONTRIBUTION OF PREFERENTIAL TRADE AGREEMENTS TO INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE TRADE, 21-22 June 2017 United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok 1
Contents Investment Liberalisation and effect on ASEAN Economies Liberalisation from 3 different perspectives Implementing Investment Liberalisation post-pta: Investment Law v. PTAs (case of Myanmar and Lao PDR) Conclusions and recommendations 2
ASEAN MEMBER STATES AND ECONOMIC POWERHOUSES The Power of Investment Liberalisation? ASEAN MEMBER STATES IN TOP 40 ECONOMIES (popul) % OF GLOBAL GDP 2017 Nature of FDIs Indonesia (250m) 1.16% Market seeking, natural resources Thailand 0.53% Market seeking, efficiency seeking Malaysia (30m) 0.4% Efficiency seeking, natural resources, strategic assets Singapore 0.39% Efficiency seeking, strategic assets The Philippines 0.39% Market seeking 3
140000 ASEAN Investment Inflow 2011-2015 ASEAN FDI Inflow, 2011-2015 (in USD Million, UNCTAD) 120000 ASEAN, 125688.7517 100000 80000 Singapore, 65262.39608 60000 Malaysia, 11121.49738 Philippines, 5234.027 40000 Cambodia, 1700.968602 Indonesia, 15508.16 Myanmar, 2824 Thailand, 10844.63932 20000 Viet Nam, 11800 Brunei, 173.2433396 Lao PDR, 1219.82 0 Brunei Cambodia Indonesia Lao PDR Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Singapore Thailand Viet Nam ASEAN 4
Sources of FDI Inflows into ASEAN 30,000.0 25,000.0 20,000.0 ASEAN, 22,232.2 European Union (EU), 20,127.6 Japan, 17,559.4 All top 10 investors have FTAs with ASEAN or bilateral with ASEAN Member States, apart from Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong. Hong Kong is negotiating with ASEAN. 15,000.0 USA, 13,646.0 10,000.0 5,000.0 China, 8,256.5 Republic of Korea, 5,710.4 Australia, 5,246.7 Hong Kong, 4,542.9 Taiwan, Province of China, 2,807.0 New Zealand, 2,241.2 - source: ASEANStat, 2016 ASEAN European Union (EU) Japan USA China Republic of Korea Australia Hong Kong Taiwan, Province of China New Zealand 5
Investment Liberalisation National Treatment and MFN at preestablishment Liberalised Sectors (positive/negative) and NCM NAFTA/TPP Model: Linkages between Investment, Services, SOEs and GP Chapters Level of Liberalisation: Ratchet; Stand-still, No Roll Back; Progressive Liberalisation 6
Real Meaning of Liberalisation: Negotiator v. Implementor v. Businesses (case of TPP) Negotiator Implementor Busineses To meet the mandate: what level of liberalization does the mandate say. Investment Chapter as a bait for bigger objectives? How to implement the black letters of the Agreement requiring proper translation of the PTA into domestic legal system At the receiving end. Benefits of FDI spill over v. fear of competitions What are the level of policy space: weak and strong negotiators Negotiation strategies may be delinked from actual business needs/implementors capacity How to deal with objections from within the Government (eg SOE and GP Chapters) Can I change the Law and policies at the later stage? Post PTA, evidence of implementors breach the PTA (lack of understanding, show of domestic power) Inter-agency co-ordination and rivalries Big businesses may be able to influence negotiations. MSMEs are often left out unless there is strong leadership Need for an effective SME Chapter, NCMs. 7
Advantages of Myanmar In the Middle of India and China, Bangladesh. ASEAN and 40% of world population Neighbours economies worth USD 15 trillion or 20% of world s GDP Big Domestic Market Rich in Natural Resources, fertile land Dynamic and enthusiastic Population Inclusive Reform Process Increased transparency and public participation Myanmar FTAs: ASEAN ANZ, China, India, Japan, Korea, (RCEP). 8
Policy Pillars New Myanmar Investment Law 2016 Reform Facilitation One Stop Service Centre State and Regional Offices Centre Encourage domestic investments Information sharing Promotion The role of Myanmar Investment Commission to promote investment Structure investment promoted sectors Liberalisation Reduce negative list through consultations and notifications Promoted Sectors Protections National Treatment and Most Favoured Nations Transfer of Funds Conditions for expropriation and indirect expropriation Fair and Equitable Treatment Transparency 9
40 Potential Impact of Investment Reforms in Myanmar on Jobs 30 20 10 0 Textile & garment Food Wood, furniture & other manuf. Hotel & restaurant Retail & wholesale Other services (WBG Enterpise Survey 2014) Net job creation share Share of the stock of employment 10
But Investment Chapter is only one part of the solutions State and Private Enterprise (SOE Ch) Human Capital (MNP/ Mode 4) Legal and Reg. Reform Myanmar Economic Transformation Access to Finance (Financial services ch) Trade and Investment (PTA linked) Constraints of MSMEs Access to credit and access to land. Only 25 percent of domestic oriented SMEs in Myanmar had checking accounts compared to 75 percent average in East Asia. Access to reliable power is also a constraint for domestic oriented SMEs. Limited culture among SMEs in Myanmar to use internet to communicate with customers and suppliers to secure orders. (Rahadja, Jusoh et.al, WBG 2017, forthcoming) 11
Challenges in implementing the Investment Chapter vis-à-vis the Investment Law Framing the NCM, domestic v. PTAs Usage to systemize economy, signaling & policy space Review of domestic law v. WTO, AFAS, PTA, ACIA Making Economic v. Political Decision (best? Effective? 12
Policy Objective Cost and Benefit Analysis International Commitmemts Criteria/ Considerations for Inclusion in the Negative List Is this the best policy instrument? The scope has to be limited Is the policy going to create the net benefit for the country? Is the policy in compliance with international commitments? 13
Thank You Sufian Jusoh@gmail.com 14