

RCEP

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a so-called mega-regional economic agreement being negotiated since 2012 between the 10 ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) governments and their six FTA partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
RCEP is largely driven by ASEAN. Indeed, the project originated in, and expands upon, the stitching together of five existing ASEAN+1 trade agreements, that ASEAN signed with Japan, South Korea, China, India, Australia and New Zealand. The stated goal of the negotiations is to “boost economic growth and equitable economic development, advance economic cooperation and broaden and deepen integration in the region through the RCEP,” according to the ASEAN website. From what is known of the agreement’s contents, the proposed RCEP would cover almost every aspect of economy such as goods, services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, intellectual property rights (IPR), rules of origin, competition and dispute settlement.
The negotiations have missed several deadlines repeatedly, even though they have gained momentum since 2016.
Concerns about the RCEP have been voiced in a number of contexts and cover a range of issues. A 2015 leaked text on intellectual property rights proposed by Japan’s negotiators confirmed concerns that the deal could go beyond the rules agreed to at the World Trade Organisation, known as the Trade Related Aspects of IPRs (TRIPS) agreement.
Various movements, including environmental groups, trade unions, domestic workers, farmers, hawkers, and people living with HIV have been raising their concerns over the trade deal since the text got leaked. Thousands of them marched against the harmful provisions in the trade deal, demanding transparency from governments, in Hyderabad, India, in July 2017 and organised a People’s Convention on RCEP.
The 2015 leaks also show that Japan and South Korea want to get all Asian countries into UPOV, the Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties, under the terms of its 1991 convention. UPOV is a specialised system of seed patenting, which makes it illegal – indeed, a criminal offense — for farmers to save and reuse patented seeds. This has huge implications for food security and farmers’ rights in the region.
The implications for access to medicines are even more alarming. Japan and South Korea are channeling demands by big pharma for longer patent terms and for monopoly rights over clinical trial data. These provisions could undermine access to price-lowering generic medicines, and thus, life-saving treatment for millions of people in the developing world.
On copyright and digital rights, groups say the deal could be “even worse than TPP or ACTA”, referring to the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement that was stopped due to public pressure. On services and other chapters as well, the RCEP appears to overlap and compete with the higher-profile TPP agreement which has been signed by 11 Pacific Rim countries. (Seven of the states negotiating RCEP are TPP members.)
To date, no official text has been made public, even though the agreement would affect several billion people. This continues to fuel concerns. In fact, civil society groups were completely shut out of the 22nd negotiation round in Singapore in March 2018 while transnational corporations were invited for a business dialogue.
Last update: June 2018 / Photo: Siddharth Singh
Articles
-
22-Feb-2019 The Hindu Business Line RCEP: India moves to narrow differences with China on tariff elimination in Bali Round
India will hold intense bilateral discussions with China to narrow differences on import duty cuts and the implementation period that both seek under the trade pact. -
18-Feb-2019 Prensa Latina Reiniciarán en Indonesia pláticas de pacto comercial de Asia-Pacífico
Las negociaciones para completar el Acuerdo Integral de Asociación Económica Regional (RCEP), mayor tratado comercial de Asia Pacífico, se reanudarán el próximo martes en Indonesia, según publicó hoy la web del grupo. -
18-Feb-2019 Bangkok Post Thailand seeks Indian support for new RCEP regional trade bloc
Thailand is looking for India’s support to help settle talks and conclude the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by the end of this year. -
13-Feb-2019 The Nation Asean credibility at stake if RCEP not concluded this year, forum hears
Concluding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will be the biggest challenge during Thailand’s Asean chairmanship this year. -
10-Feb-2019 The New Indian Express India should not sign this trade deal
Alleged the proposed RCEP would be detrimental Indian trade and access to medicine, government asked to not to sign it. -
7-Feb-2019 The Hindu Business Line RCEP: India must exercise caution
There are several costs that may arise and need to be accounted for before India launches for RCEP. -
30-Jan-2019 The Edge Markets Leiking hopes RCEP talks can be concluded by year’s end
Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Datuk Darell Leiking is hopeful that the ongoing negotiations on the RCEP will be concluded by the end of the year. -
30-Jan-2019 The Phnom Penh Post Thailand to push RCEP deal
Thailand, as Asean chair, will push for conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations by the year-end in order to counterbalance the negative impacts of the US-China trade war. -
24-Jan-2019 The Tribune India must keep agriculture out of RCEP
India’s foray into the RCEP treaty is being seen as a risky adventure. More so at a time when agriculture is passing through a terrible agrarian crisis and manufacturing sector continues to limp -
23-Jan-2019 Business Standard India raises trade deficit, discusses RCEP with China
India raised with China its concerns over the widening trade deficit and doubts over the Beijing-proposed free trade pact, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). -
9-Jan-2019 Nikkei Asian Review Asia trade pact RCEP aims for fall signing, after India elections
India asked other RCEP members to enter final negotiations after India’s elections. -
7-Jan-2019 The Economic Times India to hold bilateral meetings with some RCEP members; next round of talks in Feb
Indian officials will hold bilateral meetings with a few countries, including China to iron out issues hindering negotiations of RCEP mega trade deal -
12-Dec-2018 The Hindu Business Online India’s FTAs with ASEAN, Japan and Korea have widened trade deficit: Study
Over the past decade, India’s trade imbalance vis-à-vis its existing CEPA partners has steadily increased, says a study by Third World Network. -
3-Dec-2018 Economic Times Government brings in three think tanks to strategise for RCEP talks
The government has roped in three of India’s premier think tanks to prepare a road map for negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement. -
28-Nov-2018 Financial Express Trade talks: Government study to weigh RCEP impact
Concerned over domestic resistance to the RCEP agreement, and pressured by RCEP partners to extend greater commitment to liberalise its goods trade, India has decided to conduct a study on potential gains or losses to its economy from such a pact. -
28-Nov-2018 Indian Express India to push for better deal with China under RCEP
In services sector, India is pushing for business visitor commitment for smooth movement of professionals, according to the government official. -
26-Nov-2018 The Diplomat Indonesia and RCEP: Beware the public health risks
Proposals from Japan and South Korea would require patent law changes in several RCEP countries, including Indonesia. -
19-Nov-2018 The Star Not all smooth at regional meetings
Malaysia punched above its weight at last week’s Asean Summit, where key decisions on the RCEP trade deal were postponed because many issues were unresolved. -
19-Nov-2018 Statement of opposition to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership at the 4th global people’s health assembly, Savar Bangladesh, 15-19 November
We condemn the secretly negotiated Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which will erode people’s sovereignty and undermine health equity. -
16-Nov-2018 Malaysia Kini No go on RCEP if deal isn’t right for the people
Malaysia Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reiterated his stand that Malaysia will not agree to lopsided trade deals. Malaysia had raised concerns, one of which is market access, said the source who requested anonymity.
-
AFTINET RCEP page
Australia Fair Trade and Investment Network’s campaign page on RCEP -
MSF RCEP page
Medecins Sans Frontiere’s access to medecine campaign page on RCEP -
NO RCEP regional week of action
Facebook page maintained by the Asia-Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development for the regional week of action against the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, 10-15 October 2016. -
RCEP Legal
Legal documents and analyses relating to the Regional Economic Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP)
Links
RCEP resistance
-
19-Nov-2018
Statement of opposition to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership at the 4th global people’s health assembly, Savar Bangladesh, 15-19 November
We condemn the secretly negotiated Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which will erode people’s sovereignty and undermine health equity. -
19-Sep-2018 La Via Campesina South Asia
Indian farmers reject RCEP trade agreement, plan major national level agitations
Two major farmers protests are planned in New Delhi on 2 October and 30 November and RCEP will be high on the agenda. -
30-Jul-2018 IGJ
IGJ Sampaikan Sejumlah Catatan Merah dalam Perundingan RCEP
Direktur Eksekutif Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ) Rachmi Hertanti menyampaikan beberapa catatan merah yang harus diperhatikan oleh negosiator terkait dengan bab investasi pada perundingan RCEP ke-23 di Bangkok, Thailand, diantaranya soal ISDS, performance requirements dan export taxes. -
26-Jul-2018 Peoples Dispatch
RCEP: People’s movements resist free trade agreement
Organizations across the Asia Pacific region have come together to oppose the secrecy surrounding the negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. -
25-Jul-2018 IGJ
Oral Statement: Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ) for the 23rd round RCEP negotiation, Bangkok, Thailand, July 23rd, 2018
Redlines for investment provision in RCEP negotiation -
25-Jul-2018 La Via Campesina
RCEP negotiation must stop, demands Assembly of the Poor, Thailand
Free trade negotiation never benefits the poor. But it gives opportunities for the capitalist transnational corporations to control and dictate the food and agriculture systems absolutely. -
23-Jul-2018 Peoples Dispatch
Activists gather in Bangkok to discuss countering RCEP
The deal is likely to deal a huge blow to the less developed countries in the Asia-Pacific region and benefit big corporations and the richer countries. -
20-Jul-2018 APWLD
Peoples movements reject the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
More than 80 participants representing trade union, farmers, indigenous peoples, health and patients networks, women’s organisations, academia and civil society organisations from the region have gathered in Thailand on the sidelines of the 23rd round of RCEP negotiations.