TPT-WG16

Report of RTHP Group
To Steering Committee
on MCTI

Hong Kong; China 9 November 1999

1. The meeting was attended by representatives of the delegation of Australia; Chile; the Peoples Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Japan; New Zealand; Peru; Republic of the Philippines; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; and United States of America. Representatives of the International Vehicle Manufacturers Association (OICA), International Motor Cycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA) and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) also attended as official guests.
   
   
2. The meeting was chaired by Australia.
   
   
3. Members considered the draft final report of RTHP Phase V Stage 1 (TPT 02/99) prepared by the consultant, the Japan Automobile Standards Internationalisation Center (JASIC). The report provides guidelines for APEC economies to actively participate in the United Nations ECE Working Party 29 and working with Australia and Thailand, provides advice and steps to achieve effective certification systems and harmonised vehicle regulations to enable free trade for automotive product in the region. To assist this process, the arrangements used in a number of European countries, Japan and the United States of America were studied during the course of the project. Detailed comment was received from the United States of America on 5 November 1999 arriving too late for inclusion in the draft Final Report. Considerable amendment had been made to the 2^nd Progress Report to address concerns about the discussion on self certification systems received earlier from Canada.
   
4. The US delegate expressed objections to Progress Report No.2 because, according to the US, it did not characterise objectively some of the self-certification systems that are implemented in the US and Canada.
   
5. The consultant sought comment on the draft Final Report by 30 November 1999 to allow production of the Final Report by mid December 1999. This timing is necessary to meet the conditions of the Request for Proposal where the Final Report is required by 17 December 1999.
   
6. Members considered the draft Request for Proposal (RFP) for Phase V Stage 2 to commence in 2000 which was accepted after minor amendment. It was agreed to forward the draft RFP to the Steering Committee CTI for endorsement. All economies were requested to indicate to the RTHP Group Chair their willingness to participate in Phase V Stage 2 by 31 December 1999.
   
7. It was agreed that members would provide suggestions to the RTHP Chair on a possible New Project Proposal for 2001. The detail of any new project proposal will depend on the commitment of APEC economies to participate in Phase V Stage 2.
   
8. The Chair provided a report on the first meeting of the Automotive Dialogue held in Bali Indonesia in July. He advised that the brief considered by the More Competitive Transportation Industry Steering Committee at TPT-WG15 was delivered at the meeting. Senior officials from the public sector and private sector chief executives attending the Dialogue expressed support for the work of the RTHP Group.
   
9. A proposal was made to the industry sector participants at the Automotive Dialogue to consider funding (US$50 000) a workshop in Asia to support RTHP Phase V Stage 2 activities. The OICA representative to the RTHP Group meeting advised that the request had industry support and indicated that a decision would be made shortly.
   
10. The Automotive Trade Policy Council of the United States of America volunteered to coordinate the exchange of information on international automotive standards harmonisation activities. The proposal is to support and expand the development of automotive regulatory harmonisation among APEC member economies. This information is to be provided on an internet web page and will include information on activities in UN/ECE regarding the 1958 and 1998 Agreements, the RTHP, the Trilateral Group consisting of US, Japanese and European vehicle manufacturers and the OICA standards harmonisation group.
    
11. The OICA representative applauded the consultant on the work conducted in RTHP Phase V Stage 1. He raised industry concerns about the lack of process and targets in UN/ECE WP.29 for the development of globally harmonised regulations under the 1958 and 1998 Agreements. OICA advised that industry had developed detailed proposals for 10 regulations for consideration as global regulations by WP.29 and expressed the view that these proposals should be dealt with expeditiously. He advised that the concept of "tested once; accepted everywhere" was one that needed to be actively pursued in APEC and that this can be achieved by introducing a simplified version of current type approval systems.
    
12. In supporting the OICA views, the IMMA representative raised the need for WP.29 to develop the global regulations at various levels of stringency to allow use by developing economies. He stressed this as an important issue where personal mobility is paramount and low cost vehicles are required to achieve this objective.
    
13. The FIA representative supported the harmonisation activity of high safety and emission standards identifying the reduced cost to consumers as a major factor indicating that expeditious resolution was required. For its part, consumer organisations involved in New Car Assessment Programs were working to harmonise their test regimes to allow supply of consistent safety information to consumers around the world. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Australian NCAP and EuroNCAP.
    
14. The meeting was advised of an important conference to be held in Manila 10-12 April 2000 by the SAE where issues of regulation/standards harmonisation are to be discussed dealing with both the environment and vehicle safety.
    
15. Japan presented a resume of developments in UN/ECE WP.29 which it had undertaken at the last RTHP meeting. Members commented favourably on the paper and suggested that contact should be made with the Automotive Trade Policy Council to coordinate this information on the proposed internet web page.
    
16. It was reported that there is an expectation that sufficient countries will sign the 1998 Agreement to allow it to come into force early in 2000.
    Since the last meeting of RTHP Group, Canada, France, Japan and the EU have signed the 1998 Agreement. A further three countries are required to sign the Agreement before it comes into force. Several countries are expected to sign soon. The US delegate invited other APEC economies to sign the 1998 Agreement.
    
17. Member economies provided the following information on progress to implement internationally harmonised regulations:
    

Australia – To sign the 1958 Agreement in the near future following signature by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and consideration by the Executive Council.

Peoples Republic of China – A special report to the State Council proposing China sign the 1998 Agreement. Authority has been obtained for the China State Administration of Machinery Industry to participate in UN/ECE WP.29. In recent years, the Chinese government has participated in the Expert Meetings of UN/ECE WP.29.

Thailand – Currently considering adoption of further ECE Regulations. Has planned to participate in meetings of WP.29 in Geneva next year as an observer.


Japan – Has became a Contracting Party to the 1998 Agreement in August 1999. It plans to progressively increase adoption of ECE Regulations.


Chile – Introducing an innovative approach to vehicle safety where actual safety performance in service will be monitored to set taxes. Vehicles with a poor safety record will be penalised and suppliers of safe vehicle will receive taxation benefits.

18. As foreshadowed at the last RTHP Group meeting, Australia and Thailand signed an MRA on automotive product based on the APEC ‘model’ MRA on 22 April 1999. The Australia/Thai MRA covers automotive glass, seat belts, light duty gasoline engine emissions and light duty diesel engine emissions.
    
19. All member economies were encouraged to consider using the APEC ‘model’ MRA to facilitate trade in the short to medium term.
    
20. Members agreed that it is important to maintain the regulatory information contained in the Phase III and IV reports to ensure the information remains relevant. It was agreed that a draft procedure be developed allowing RTHP Group contact points to generate proposed input to the database for circulation to all members for comment before amending the data on the web site. Japan agreed to develop draft procedures for consideration by members.
    
21. The RTHP Group recommend that the More Competitive Transportation Industry Steering Committee consider the following:

Note the report of the RTHP Group.

Note the draft Final Report for Phase V Stage 1 (TPT 02/99) recognising that further comment is to be provided by member economies before issue of the Final Report by mid December 1999.

Endorse the Request for Proposal for RTHP Phase V Stage 2.

Encourage participation by all APEC economies in RTHP Phase V Stage 2 activities and note that indication of intention to participate is requested by 31 December 1999.

This page was last updated on 1 Feb, 2008