Refers to an official document recording the terms of an international agreement, similar to a treaty but often supplementary or less formal.
The two countries signed a protocol on environmental protection.
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997.
Representatives of each country signed the protocol.
Japan has not ratified this protocol.
The protocol is scheduled to take effect next year.
協定 is a general agreement or accord between parties, whereas 議定書 specifically denotes the formal written document recording such terms.
覚書 is a more informal memorandum recording an understanding, while 議定書 is a formal, often legally binding international document.
議定書 refers specifically to a formal diplomatic treaty document, while プロトコル is a broader loanword that can also mean this in diplomatic contexts.
議事録 is the minutes of a meeting recording discussion, while 議定書 is a formal treaty-like document recording agreed terms.
Compound of 議定 (agreement, decision) and 書 (document). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is used in modern Japanese for international protocols.