China
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 will complete the necessary domestic approval procedures for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement within six months, the Ministry of Commerce said.
Ukraine has started preparations for negotiations on new agreements on a free trade area (FTA) with Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia and China, Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture Ihor Petrashko has said.
France will insist on a ‘calendar’ for Beijing’s reforms instead.
Draft text shows Beijing looked to withhold telecoms sector benefits to firms from countries with restrictions on Chinese telecoms companies.
South Korea plans to speed up negotiations on free trade in the investment and services areas with Russia and China, President Moon Jae-in said.
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.
Portugal will try to conclude a free-trade agreement between the EU and the South American trade bloc Mercosur during its six-month EU presidency, and attempt to expand Europe’s ties with other potential trade partners.
Not only has India failed to agree on its own trade and investment deal with the EU, the country has failed to capture any significant share of China-based global supply chains.
China’s first FTA with an African country provides a stepping stone into the continent through the geopolitical hotspot Indo-Pacific region.
Deal will ‘vitalise cooperation between our two countries and strengthen China-Africa economic ties’, head of African affairs at Chinese foreign ministry says.
The agreement, which would roll back restrictions on investment, faces some opposition in Europe and objections from the Biden camp.
Though EU officials haven’t yet revealed the details, one senior EU diplomat said the agreement goes beyond anything Beijing has offered any foreign partner previously.
Officials say European Parliament could refuse to endorse deal over Beijing’s failure to commit to International Labour Organisation standards
TPP-11 has suddenly turned into something of an exclusive club that nations are clamoring to get in. But next year’s chair of the trade pact, Japan, will be the gatekeeper upholding the strictest standards.
Chinese investors have brought a $3.5 billion arbitration case against Ukraine for blocking the sale of a strategic aircraft engine maker whose fate Washington is closely following.
The European Commission has secured breakthroughs as China agrees to open up its market in multiple sectors for EU businesses.
Given China’s unique position, the study concludes that the EU must ensure that particularly strong protections for EU regulatory policy space are included in any future investment deal.
The ten-year old FTA between China and Peru is one of the agreements with the highest level of liberalization of goods trade that China has signed.
The latest round follows straight on the heels of ‘intensive’ talks. Negotiators hope to reach agreement by the end of the year, but issues such as market access remain a stumbling block.
bilaterals.org team, Jan 2021