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RCEP

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (ASEAN+6)

Thailand starts CPTPP application process driven by fears for inward investment and the economy
27-Oct-2021 Thai Examiner
Just ahead of the ASEAN summit in Brunei came a strong indication that Thailand is taking steps to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Parliament passes RCEP enabling legislation, despite acknowledging flaws in the agreement
26-Oct-2021 AFTINET
The government will now proceed with the ratification process by exchanging letters with RCEP governments as required by the agreement.
Miti: Malaysia in the process of amending Acts in order to ratify RCEP
14-Oct-2021 Malay Mail
The Malaysia government is currently refining the draft amendments to three Acts as it moves towards ratifying the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Brunei becomes sixth country to ratify RCEP
12-Oct-2021 The Scoop
Brunei has ratified the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world’s largest free trade agreement, almost one year after signing the 15-nation pact.
RoK submits bill on RCEP for parliamentary approval
1-Oct-2021 Vietnam Plus
The Republic of Korea (RoK) said on October 1 that it has submitted a bill to the National Assembly to ratify the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Piyush Goyal urges US firms to push for trade agreement
30-Sep-2021 The HIndu
India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal exhorted U.S. businesses to convince the administration of the need for a trade agreement that would enhance the bilateral flow of goods and services.
Vietnam set to ratify RCEP by November
27-Sep-2021 Vietnam Plus
Vietnam is taking final steps and scheduled to complete the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by November this year.
China will likely fail in its CPTPP bid — but it’s a ‘smart’ move against the US, say analysts
27-Sep-2021 CNBC
China will likely fail in its bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership — but its move to submit an application highlighted the lack of U.S. economic policy in Asia-Pacific, said analysts.
Senate approves draft laws on RCEP, bilateral FTA with China
22-Sep-2021 Phnom Penh Post
The senate on September 20 unanimously passed (38-0) two draft laws authorising the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement and the bilateral Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA).
China’s entry to CPTPP trade pact is closer than you think
20-Sep-2021 Nikkei Asia
China’s entry to the CPTPP trade pact will not be easy, requiring the agreement of all existing members, including countries experiencing strained ties with Beijing such as Canada and Australia.
Malacanang ratifies RCEP, Senate for concurrence
20-Sep-2021 Manila Bulletin
Malacanang has ratified the Regional Comprehensive Economic Cooperation (RCEP), a mega free trade deal seeking to grant zero duty on goods traded among 15 countries that account for 29 percent of global gross domestic product.
RCEP edges closer to ratification in an Indonesia battered by COVID-19
20-Sep-2021 The Diplomat
Despite some obstacles, the country is slated to become the third Southeast Asian nation to ratify the mega trade pact. While there is still a chance that RCEP’s enabling legislation could get stuck in the DPR’s slow machinations.
S. Korea to expand FTAs with more emerging countries in S.E. Asia, Latin America
15-Sep-2021 The Korea Herald
South Korea said it plans to implement or launch negotiations for a set of new FTAs with trading counterparts from Southeast Asia and Latin America this year, as part of efforts to reduce its reliance on major economies.
China and ASEAN push for timely RCEP start as Jan. 1 looms
15-Sep-2021 Nikkei Asia
Countries that have signed on to the East Asia-spanning RCEP trade deal are going full speed ahead with plans to implement it on Jan. 1, 2022, despite foot-dragging by a majority, with China and ASEAN especially keen, for their own reasons, on seeing the pact come into force soon.
The people of Asia against free trade: “society endures the trauma of debt”
13-Sep-2021 Capire
The struggle against free trade has been strategic for social movements, especially La Via Campesina, which has actually built a proposal for food sovereignty to counter the capitalist free trade model for agriculture.
Cambodian Parliament ratifies RCEP
10-Sep-2021 Socialnews XYZ
The National Assembly of Cambodia has ratified the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest free trade agreement (FTA), which comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries.
Bangladesh decides to join largest trade bloc
8-Sep-2021 The Business Standard
Bangladesh has decided to join the world’s largest trading bloc, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), to stay eligible for duty-free trade facilities in the markets of nearly one-third of the global economies after it graduates to a developing nation in 2026.
JSCOT Committee report on RCEP supports implementation
3-Sep-2021 Scoop
AFTINET’s submission to the JSCOT RCEP argues that the RCEP has serious flaws and should be renegotiated and amended to address these flaws.
Beijing will back Hong Kong’s entry into world’s biggest free-trade deal, China’s commerce minister tells belt and road summit
1-Sep-2021 South China Morning Post
Wang pledged to support Hong Kong in joining “as soon as possible” the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s biggest free-trade deal covering China and 14 other nations in the Asia-Pacific region.
How a new trade deal could make it harder to improve life for Australians in aged care
29-Jul-2021 The Conversation
When negotiations for the RCEP began in 2012, the aged care industry in Australia was dominated by local not-for-profits. The sector is now dominated by for-profit providers, with a jointly-owned Singapore company, Opal, one of the largest.