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RCEP

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (ASEAN+6)


Unsustainable RCEP
If the latest flare ups over the contentious territorial issues and popular anti-China sentiments in the region are anything to go by, it seems likely that uncertainty over domestic ratification of the RCEP agreement by the signatory states would persist in the days ahead.
Brunei to host the RCEP Interim Joint Committee meeting
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Interim Joint Committee is to hold a virtual meeting on 30 January 2021 and will be the first joint committee meeting since the formal signing of the RCEP agreement.
As largest FDI recipient, China improves business climate for investors
As its economy maintains recovery momentum, the country aims to attract foreign investors this year by encouraging investment in more industries, shortening negative lists for foreign investment, and further expanding the free-trade network.
RCEP seen highlighting PHL manufacturing weakness
A recently signed 15-country trade deal may not significantly benefit the Philippine economy and instead expose its lack of competitiveness in manufacturing, a senior equities research executive for Regis Partners said.
CPTPP a chance for China to further integrate into Asia-Pacific
If both the US and China join the CPTPP, and it becomes the world’s largest free trade agreement, then the RCEP would recede in significance. CPTPP, comprising both the US and China, sensing more economic benefits in committing to the RCEP.
China to greenlight RCEP in six months
China will complete the necessary domestic approval procedures for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement within six months, the Ministry of Commerce said.
China set to expand free trade network
China will step up efforts to expand its free trade area network with trading partners across the world to enlarge its “circle of friends”, while eliminating more tariffs on goods and broadening market access for services trade and investment, according to commerce minister Wang Wentao.
RCEP: an unjust deal and added burden in the time of a pandemic
RCEP will only deepen inequalities that already exist and were exacerbated further by the pandemic. It will further undermine the livelihoods of farmers, fishers, indigenous peoples and rural women, and threaten jobs for workers.
S. Korea inks free trade pact with Indonesia
South Korea formally inked a comprehensive trade deal with Indonesia, paving the way for local exporters to penetrate deeper into the Southeast Asian market.
RCEP legal text (Nov 2020)
Asia’s historic trade pact to open oil-supply route to China
South Korea and Japan look set to be the biggest winners in the Asian oil and chemicals marketplace as the world’s largest regional free-trade agreement paves the way for a gradual reduction in tariffs.
RCEP fails to promote a people-centred ASEAN
If indeed the RCEP is an ASEAN-led initiative, it fell short of supporting the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. The RCEP offers little in terms of shedding ASEAN’s elitist image and committing to the development of a highly inclusive, people-oriented and people-centred community.
India’s withdrawal From RCEP: is it better off?
India’s focus has shifted to the creation of a strong domestic agricultural and industrial base, and therefore, joining the RCEP no longer appears to be a priority.
Far from a change, RCEP agreement is more capitalism as usual
“It’s not as bad as the worst agreements out there” really shouldn’t be a cause for celebration.
China’s push for FTA with S. Korea, Japan appears aimed at checking US influence
China’s renewed pursuit of a free trade agreement with South Korea and Japan appears aimed at undercutting US influence and shaping regional economic cooperation on terms favorable to it.
RCEP has limited trade gains and ignores labour and human rights
Australia’s recent signature of the RCEP has attracted world attention for its significance in consolidating Asia-Pacific geopolitical relations. But in celebrating this agreement, we seem to have forgotten its unfinished business regarding labour and human rights.
China vows to expand global free trade area network
China will step up efforts to expand the free trade area network across the world to enlarge its “circle of friends”, according to China’s Commerce Minister Zhong Shan.
India will likely go for bilateral trade pacts for now — not mega deals like RCEP
The inclination is clearly towards bilateral trade agreements, where India has more flexibility in negotiating terms that it feelss wouldn’t disadvantage domestic manufacturers.
RCEP trade deal: US should worry less about China’s role and more about being left out
The challenge is not that the world’s biggest trade deal is China-led or heralds a Sinocentric order – both of which are misrepresentations anyway – but that the Asia-Pacific region has shown no need of US leadership or even involvement.
India set to resume talks on free trade agreements with EU, US
India, which has not signed any trade agreement since 2012, will soon revive talks on the possible free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union and the US.