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RCEP

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (ASEAN+6)

Regional trade pact will pave way for digital yuan
10-Feb-2021 China Daily
The RCEP will undoubtedly pave the way for China’s new digital yuan expansion throughout Asia.
Australia has a great chance to engage in trade diplomacy with China, and it must take it
9-Feb-2021 The Conversation
Australia’s efforts to end a diplomatic deep freeze with China may not be getting anywhere fast on the surface, but there are nonetheless some signs of a potential thaw.
RCEP going to parliament, instant enforcement likely
8-Feb-2021 Bangkok Post
The Commerce Ministry is scheduled to propose to parliament on Tuesday the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade pact, the world’s biggest free trade deal, signed by 15 nations in Asia-Pacific including Thailand last November.
Unsustainable RCEP
1-Feb-2021 The Statesman
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
1-Feb-2021 Foreign Brief
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
28-Jan-2021 Global Times
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
25-Jan-2021 Business World
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
18-Jan-2021 China Daily
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
18-Jan-2021 Hellenic Shipping News
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
11-Jan-2021 The Phnom Penh Post
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
21-Dec-2020 Socialist Project
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
18-Dec-2020 Korea Herald
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)
13-Dec-2020 The RCEP Secretariat
Asia’s historic trade pact to open oil-supply route to China
8-Dec-2020 Bloomberg Quint
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
7-Dec-2020 The ASEAN Post
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?
4-Dec-2020 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
1-Dec-2020 Counter Punch
“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
30-Nov-2020 Yonhap
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
30-Nov-2020 Australian Institute of International Affairs
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
27-Nov-2020 Hellenic Shipping News
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.