Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

By Amigos IAS

Why is it in the news?

More about the news

  • Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are moving away from protectionist policies and see regional markets as crucial for their economies.
  • Bangladesh is expected to graduate from Least Developed Country status by November 2026, which may affect its access to global markets.
  • Joining RCEP could potentially increase Bangladesh’s exports by $5 billion and simplify trade agreements with RCEP member countries.
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

About

  • RCEP is a trade deal between the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and five other nations: China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

 

Aims and Objectives

  • Lower tariffs, open up trade in services, and promote investment to support emerging economies in catching up with the rest of the world.
  • Simplify trade by allowing companies to export products within the bloc without meeting separate requirements for each country.
  • Includes provisions on intellectual property but does not cover environmental protections and labor rights.

 

Significance

  • RCEP will encompass approximately 30% of global GDP, amounting to $26.2 trillion, and nearly one-third of the world’s population, around 2.2 billion people.
  • It aims to eliminate around 90% of trade tariffs within the bloc.
  • RCEP will establish common rules in areas such as trade, intellectual property, e-commerce, and competition.

 

Why India didn’t join RCEP

  • India withdrew from RCEP due to concerns about the potential influx of Chinese goods and the existing trade imbalance with China.
  • India was also dissatisfied with the level of market access for its services sector.

 

Need for India’s Presence in RCEP

  • India’s participation was seen as crucial for building an inclusive economic architecture in the region.
  • RCEP would provide Indian companies with access to larger markets to showcase their strengths.
  • Rising U.S.-China tensions and the pandemic heightened the need for regional cooperation.

 

Challenges ahead for RCEP

  • The absence of the United States allows China to solidify its economic role in the region.
  • Economic benefits from RCEP may take time to materialize fully.
  • Smaller countries within ASEAN could face challenges, as the trade deal does not cover some of their major industries.
  • Least developed countries in Asia could see their benefits from inter-ASEAN trade eroded by RCEP.
  • Smaller ASEAN nations might lose certain trade preference benefits, affecting their exports to countries outside ASEAN.

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