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RCEP

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (ASEAN+6)

In secret
20-Aug-2018 Real World Radio
Organizations denounce that RCEP is moving forward without respecting minimum transparency and public participation standards.
RCEP and beyond
20-Aug-2018 The Hindu
The Centre does not appear to be comfortable with the general drift of negotiations in the 16-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
RCEP trade ministers to meet on Aug 30-31 in Singapore
13-Aug-2018 The Hindu
The meeting is important as the 16-member bloc now needs specific political guidance to move the negotiations further.
Trade for All is a lie
8-Aug-2018 Daily Blog
New Zealand Labour-led government’s ‘Trade for All agenda’ is somehow meant to re-engender confidence without addressing any issues.
RCEP is intended to prevent government regulation and maximize private profit
3-Aug-2018 Newsclick
Newsclick and Peoples Dispatch discuss the context in which the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is being negotiated.
RCEP talks make small progress in Bangkok, while resistance grows
3-Aug-2018 AFTINET
The 23rd round of the 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership talks over 10 days in Bangkok managed to resolve two more chapters, one on customs procedures and trade facilitation and one on government procurement.
Asia’s evolving ‘free’ trade deal may not benefit workers
3-Aug-2018 Manila Times
Labor unions and workers’ rights advocates fear that the secretive RCEP agreement will further erode workers’ rights in the Asian region, while strengthening the hands of investors who may be able to sue governments for changing laws such as setting minimum wages, that would erode their profitability.
ASEAN urges partners to speed up RCEP talks amid US-China trade war
3-Aug-2018 Nikkei
The escalating trade war between the US and China has prompted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to call for accelerated negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a free trade framework involving ASEAN and six partner countries.
Dozens of grassroots groups want changes to ‘secret’ trade pact
2-Aug-2018 Asia Times
While some states in East and Southeast Asia favor the 16-nation RCEP trade deal, many civil society groups say it lacks transparency and public participation.
Singapore eyes year-end to conclude world’s biggest free-trade deal
2-Aug-2018 AFP
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Southeast Asian countries were "redoubling their efforts to conclude the RCEP … by the end of the year".
16 nations reach 2 more deals in RCEP talks
31-Jul-2018 The Japan News
Negotiators from Asia-Oceania countries struck deals on customs procedures and trade facilitation and government procurement covered by RCEP free trade agreement. Adding to two previously concluded chapter of economic and technical cooperation as well as small businesses.
RCEP: People’s movements resist free trade agreement
26-Jul-2018 Peoples Dispatch
Organizations across the Asia Pacific region have come together to oppose the secrecy surrounding the negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Oral Statement: Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ) for the 23rd round RCEP negotiation, Bangkok, Thailand, July 23rd, 2018
25-Jul-2018 IGJ
Redlines for investment provision in RCEP negotiation
RCEP negotiation must stop, demands Assembly of the Poor, Thailand
25-Jul-2018 La Via Campesina
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.
RCEP has human rights concerns: Women’s groups
24-Jul-2018 APWLD
The women’s groups strongly reject RCEP as it reinforces a destructive development model that the existing free trade agreements and the policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation have inflicted upon the world’s poor and particularly poor women.
RCEP agreement puts future of Thai people at risk
24-Jul-2018 Bangkok Post
The Thai government is about to enter a trade deal that could seriously harm the reform agenda and deprive communities of the ability to make decisions for fear of violating investors’ rights.
Activists gather in Bangkok to discuss countering RCEP
23-Jul-2018 Peoples Dispatch
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.
Peoples movements reject the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
20-Jul-2018 APWLD
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.
Trade deals putting health at risk
20-Jul-2018 Bangkok Post
A leaked draft of the negotiating text has revealed some proposed harmful intellectual property provisions that could undermine access to price-lowering, generic medicines, and thus, life-saving treatment to millions of people.
Secret RCEP trade deal fails international standards of transparency, experts warn
20-Jul-2018 Friends of the Earth International
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership involving 16 nations from Asia-Pacific will impact the lives of over three billion people, yet a new study reveals how the deal fails international standards of transparency and public engagement.