Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
RCEP

Type	Trade agreement
Effective	Not in force
Original signatories	16  Australia  Brunei  Cambodia  China  India  Indonesia  Japan  Laos  Malaysia  Myanmar  New Zealand  Philippines  Singapore  South Korea  Thailand  Vietnam

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and the six states with which ASEAN has existing free trade agreements (Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand).

RCEP negotiations were formally launched in November 2012 at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia.^[1] The agreement is scheduled to be finalized by the end of 2017.^[2] RCEP is viewed as an alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed trade agreement which includes several Asian and American nations but excludes China and India.^[3]

In 2017, prospective RCEP member states accounted for a population of 3.4 billion people with a total Gross Domestic Product (GDP, PPP) of $49.5 trillion, approximately 39 percent of the world's GDP,^[4] with the combined GDPs of China and India making up more than half that amount.

Membership

The arrangement is also open to any other external economic partners, such as nations in Central Asia and remaining nations in South Asia and Oceania.^[5]

The RCEP 16 countries

• the 10 members of ASEAN
  •  Indonesia
  •  Malaysia
  •  Philippines
  •  Singapore
  •  Thailand
  •  Brunei
  •  Vietnam
  •  Laos
  •  Myanmar
  •  Cambodia
• plus the three additional members of ASEAN Plus Three
  •  China
  •  Japan
  •  South Korea
• plus the three additional members of ASEAN Plus Six
  •  India
  •  Australia
  •  New Zealand

^[6]

Basic indicators of the RCEP 16 countries

Flag	Country	Capital	Area (km²)	Population	Nominal GDP (millions of US$)	GDP per cap. (Nominal, US$)	PPP GDP (millions of Int$)	GDP per cap. (PPP, Int$)	HDI	Currency	Official languages	Leaders
	Australia Commonwealth of Australia	Canberra	7,692,024	24,419,900	1,359,723	7004552150000000000♠55,215	1,246,640	7004508170000000000♠50,817	6999939000000000000♠0.939	Australian dollar ($) (AUD)	None National and de facto: English	Monarch: Elizabeth II Governor-General: Peter Cosgrove Prime Minister: Malcolm Turnbull
	Brunei Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace Negara Brunei Darussalam	Bandar Seri Begawan	5,765	417,200	12,326	7004287400000000000♠28,740	35,817	7004765670000000000♠76,567	6999865000000000000♠0.865	Brunei dollar ($) (BND)	Malay	Monarch: Hassanal Bolkiah
	Cambodia Kingdom of Cambodia Preăh Réachéanachâk Kâmpŭchéa	Phnom Penh	181,035	15,626,444	20,953	7003130800000000000♠1,308	64,365	7003402200000000000♠4,022	6999562999999900000♠0.563	Cambodian riel (៛) (KHR)	Khmer	Monarch: Norodom Sihamoni Prime Minister: Hun Sen
	China People's Republic of China Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó	Beijing	9,596,961	1,382,580,000	11,795,297	7003848000000000000♠8,480	23,066,062	7004166760000000000♠16,676	6999738000000000000♠0.738	Renminbi (Chinese yuan, ¥) (CNY)	Standard Chinese written in simplified characters see also: Languages of China	Premier: Li Keqiang President: Xi Jinping
	India Republic of India Bhārat Gaṇarājya	New Delhi	3,287,263	1,314,470,000	2,454,458	7003185000000000000♠1,850	9,585,371	7003715300000000000♠7,153	6999624000000000000♠0.624	Indian rupee (₹) (INR)	Hindi 21 other official languages see also: Languages of India	President: Ram Nath Kovind Prime Minister: Narendra Modi
	Indonesia Republic of Indonesia Republik Indonesia	Jakarta	1,910,931	263,510,000	1,020,515	7003389500000000000♠3,895	3,256,730	7004124320000000000♠12,432	6999689009999900000♠0.689	Indonesian rupiah (Rp) (IDR)	Indonesian see also: Languages of Indonesia	President: Joko Widodo
	Japan Nippon-koku	Tokyo	377,930	126,760,000	4,841,221	7004382810000000000♠38,281	5,066,064	7004428600000000000♠42,860	6999903000000000000♠0.903	Japanese yen (¥) (JPY)	Japanese	Monarch: Akihito Prime Minister: Shinzō Abe
	Laos Lao People's Democratic Republic Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao	Vientiane	236,800	6,492,400	14,971	7003205100000000000♠2,051	44,880	7003611500000000000♠6,115	6999586000000000000♠0.586	Lao kip (₭) (LAK)	Lao	Prime Minister: Thongloun Sisoulith President: Bounnhang Vorachith
	Malaysia	Kuala Lumpur Putrajaya (administrative)	330,803	32,019,500	309,860	7003962300000000000♠9,623	922,894	7004286360000000000♠28,636	6999789000000000000♠0.789	Malaysian ringgit (RM) (MYR)	Malaysian see also: Languages of Malaysia	Monarch: Muhammad V Prime Minister: Najib Razak
	Myanmar (Burma) Republic of the Union of Myanmar Pyidaunzu Thanmăda Myăma Nainngandaw	Naypyidaw	676,578	54,836,000	72,368	7003137400000000000♠1,374	342,205	7003636000000000000♠6,360	6999556000000000000♠0.556	Burmese kyat (K) (MMK)	Burmese see also: Languages of Myanmar	President: Htin Kyaw State Counsellor: Aung San Suu Kyi
	New Zealand Aotearoa	Wellington	270,467	4,786,710	198,043	7004411070000000000♠41,107	183,431	7004387060000000000♠38,706	6999915000000000000♠0.915	New Zealand dollar ($) (NZD)	English Māori	Monarch: Elizabeth II Governor-General: Patsy Reddy Prime Minister: Bill English
	Philippines Republic of the Philippines Republika ng Pilipinas	Manila	300,000	103,874,000	329,716	7003310200000000000♠3,102	873,966	7003827000000000000♠8,270	6999682000000000000♠0.682	Philippine peso (₱) (PHP)	Filipino (Tagalog) English	President: Rodrigo Duterte
	Singapore Republic of Singapore Republik Singapura Xīnjiāpō Gònghéguó Ciṅkappūr Kuṭiyaracu	Singapore (city-state)	719	5,607,300	291,860	7004514310000000000♠51,431	508,449	7004907240000000000♠90,724	6999925000000000000♠0.925	Singapore dollar ($) (SGD)	Malay English Mandarin Tamil see also: Languages of Singapore	President: Tony Tan Prime Minister: Lee Hsien Loong
	South Korea Republic of Korea Daehan Minguk	Seoul	100,210	51,446,201	1,498,074	7004291140000000000♠29,114	2,029,861	7004394460000000000♠39,446	6999901000000000000♠0.901	South Korean won (₩) (KRW)	Korean	Prime Minister: Hwang Kyo-ahn President: Hwang Kyo-ahn (acting)
	Thailand Kingdom of Thailand Ratcha-anachak Thai	Bangkok	513,120	68,298,000	432,898	7003626500000000000♠6,265	1,225,090	7004177490000000000♠17,749	6999740000000000000♠0.740	Thai baht (฿) (THB)	Thai	Monarch: Vajiralongkorn Prime Minister: Prayut Chan-o-cha
	Vietnam Socialist Republic of Vietnam Cộng hòa Xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam	Hanoi	331,212	92,700,000	215,829	7003230500000000000♠2,305	645,333	7003692500000000000♠6,925	6999683000000000000♠0.683	Vietnamese đồng (₫) (VND)	Vietnamese	Prime Minister: Nguyễn Xuân Phúc President: Trần Đại Quang

Presence in the world

RCEP potentially includes more than 3 billion people or 45% of the world's population, and a combined GDP of about $21.3 trillion, accounting for about 40 percent of world trade.^[7] The combined GDP of potential RCEP members surpassed the combined GDP of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) members in 2007. Continued growth, particularly in China, India and Indonesia could see total GDP in RCEP grow to over $100 trillion by 2050, roughly double the project size of TPP economies.^[8]

On January 23, 2017, United States President Donald Trump signed a memorandum that stated withdrawal of the country from the TPP, a move which is seen to improve the chances of success for RCEP.^[9]

Guiding principles and objectives for negotiation

At the launch of negotiations on Tuesday, 20 November 2012, the leaders of each relevant country endorsed the "Guiding Principles and Objectives for Negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership." The key points of this document are as follows.

Scope of negotiations

RCEP will cover trade in goods, trade in services, investment, economic and technical co-operation, intellectual property, competition, dispute settlement and other issues.

Commitment levels

The RCEP will have broader and deeper engagement with significant improvements over the existing ASEAN+1 FTAs, while recognising the individual and diverse circumstances of the participating countries.

Negotiations for trade in goods

Negotiations should aim to achieve the high level of tariff liberalisation, through building upon the existing liberalisation levels between participating countries.

Negotiations for trade in services

The RCEP will be comprehensive, of high-quality and consistent with WTO rules and all service sectors will be subject to negotiations.

Negotiations for investment

Negotiations will cover the four pillars of promotion, protection, facilitation and liberalisation.

Participating countries

Participants will be ASEAN members and FTA Partners. After the completion of the negotiations, countries other than the 16 states may join.^[10]

History and timeline

14–19 November 2011

• During the 19th ASEAN Summit in November 2011, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was introduced.^[11]

25 August - 1 September 2012

• During the 44th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Meeting and Related Meetings in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Economic ministers from the 10 ASEAN countries and six partners agreed to declare by the end of 2012 the start of negotiation among the 16 nations on a free trade agreement, known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP.^[12]

18–20 November 2012

• Leaders at the 21st ASEAN Summit in November 2012 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia endorsed the framework of RCEP and announced the launch of their negotiations.^[10]

Round 1: 9–13 May 2013 in Brunei

• Officials of the 16 governments participating in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – the 10 ASEAN Member States and its Free Trade Agreement Partners (Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand) – met in Brunei Darussalam to start detailed negotiations aimed at concluding RCEP by the end of 2015.
• Consistent with the RCEP Leaders’ Joint Declaration on the Launch of Negotiations for the RCEP of 20 November 2012 and the Guiding Principles and Objectives for Negotiating the RCEP endorsed by RCEP Ministers on 30 August 2012, the RCEP negotiations will aim to:

1. achieve a modern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement establishing an open trade and investment environment in the region to facilitate the expansion of regional trade and investment and contribute to global economic growth and development; and
2. boost economic growth and equitable economic development, advance economic co-operation and broaden and deepen integration in the region through the RCEP, which will build upon our existing economic linkages.^[6]

Round 2: 23–27 September 2013 in Brisbane, Australia

• The second round of RCEP negotiations were going well during 23–27 September 2013 in Australia.^[13]
• Delegations primarily focused on trade in goods, trade in services and investment. They also engaged on economic and technical co-operation, competition, intellectual property, dispute settlement and other issues, in line with the RCEP Guiding Principles.^[14]

Round 3: 20–24 January 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• At the third round of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Negotiations, the 16 participating countries pursued an intensive exchange of views to advance the negotiations to meet the target of concluding the negotiations by the end of 2015.
• Participating countries continued technical work on trade in goods, trade in services, and investment:

1. On Trade in goods, participating countries conducted a constructive discussion on the modalities for the tariff negotiations, non-tariff measures, Standards, Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures (STRACAP), Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) as well as on Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation (CPTF) and Rules of Origin (ROO).
2. On Trade in services, participating countries discussed the structure and elements of the RCEP Services Chapter, areas of market access interests and a number of specific issues at good length.
3. On Investment, participating countries exchanged views on investment modalities and deliberated further on the elements for the RCEP Investment Chapter.

• To advance negotiations on the broad range of issues, four working groups were established, namely on;

1. Intellectual Property
2. Competition
3. Economic and Technical Cooperation
4. Dispute Settlement

Some delegations made presentations on other issues that are of particular interest to some RCEP participating countries.

• Two Seminars were held at the sidelines of negotiations round.

1. Malaysia and Japan organised a Seminar on Intellectual Property (IP), discussing a broad range of issues in IP and how IP may support trade and investment further.
2. Australia organised a seminar on the cross cutting areas of Services and Investment. The participating countries had a good discussion on the issues.^[15]

Round 4: April 2014 in Nanning, China

Round 4 The 4th round of RCEP negotiations took place in Nanning, China 31 March – 4 April 2014. The participating countries continued intensive discussion on a range of issues to advance the negotiations.

Participating countries engaged on the development of trade in goods texts, intensified consideration of modalities to be used for tariff negotiations and continued discussions on non-tariff measures, Standards, Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures (STRACAP), Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) as well as on Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation (CPTF) and Rules of Origin (ROO).

On Trade in services, participating countries deliberated on the elements of text, the scope of provisions, the approach to scheduling market access commitments, market access commitments, and a number of other specific issues. On Investment, participating countries engaged in discussions on text, and an in-depth discussion on the elements including investment modalities.

At the Nanning meeting, the new working groups on Intellectual Property, Competition, and Economic and Technical Cooperation commenced their work. Other issues of particular interest to a number of RCEP participating countries were discussed. Experts met to discuss Dispute Settlement and broader legal and institutional issues. A formal working group will be established to continue these discussions at the next meeting.

Round 5: June 2014 in Singapore

The 5th RCEP negotiation round was held on 21–27 June 2014 in Singapore.^[16]

Round 6: December 2014 in India

The 6th round of RCEP Trade Negotiation Committee(TNC) and related meetings took place 1–5 December 2014 in New Delhi, India^[17] The Indians held an outreach event with their business community to educate them on the goals of RCEP. The Japanese asked to set up a workshop on e-Commerce.

Round 7: February 2015 in Thailand

The 7th round of RCEP meetings took place in Bangkok, Thailand 9–13 February 2015. An expert group on electronic commerce met during this round. The Asian Trade Centre (based in Singapore) submitted a proposal regarding an e-Commerce chapter and gave a presentation on the paper.

Round 8: June 2015 in Japan

The 8th round of the RCEP talks took place in Kyoto, Japan 5–13 June.

Round 9: August 2015 in Myanmar

The 9th round of the RCEP talks took place in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar 3–7 August 2015

Round 10: October 2015 in South Korea

The 10th round of the RCEP talks took place in Busan, South Korea in 12–16 October 2015. The meetings took place at BEXCO (Busan's Convention and Exhibition Centre). This round included the first region wide stakeholder meeting (organized by the Singapore-based Asian Trade Centre) which involved an informal meeting between government officials and business representatives over lunch followed by an afternoon seminar focused on what RCEP can do to help business operate in the e-Commerce space.

Round 11: February 2016 in Brunei

On February 14–19, the 11th round of negotiations of the RCEP was held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. This round of negotiation consisted of four group sessions: the first conference and trade in goods, service trade, investment, and rules for the country of origin. The conference focused on promoting the market access negotiation and the textual discussion, involving these 3 core fields: goods, service and investment. The conference was guided by the leader's instruction to strive to conclude the negotiations in 2016. It has preliminarily defined the negotiation plan of 2016. Representatives from China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, the ASEAN ten countries and the ASEAN Secretariat attended this round of negotiation.^[18]

Round 12: April 2016 in Australia

On April 17–29, the 12th round of negotiation of RCEP was held in Perth, Australia. Delegations of 10 ASEAN countries, China, Japan, ROK, Australia, New Zealand, India and the Secretariat of ASEAN attended the meeting. All the parties had in-depth discussion on goods, service, investment, intellectual property, economic and technological cooperation, e-commerce and articles of law. The negotiation has gained positive progress.^[19]

Round 13: June 2016 in New Zealand

China is said to have triggered a sudden impasse in the recent trade negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in New Zealand. It led to some nations, particularly those belonging to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), pushing for dismantling of the three-tier system followed in the initial round of offers for goods liberalisation.

As part of India's current three-tier approach to tariff reduction, the Asean countries are being offered 80 per cent tariff liberalisation. Of this, 65 per cent elimination of tariff will come into force immediately after the agreement is implemented. Another 15 per cent tariff elimination will happen over a period of 10 years. In the second tier, India has offered 65 per cent tariff elimination to South Korea and Japan, with whom it has free trade agreements (FTAs). These two countries offered 80 per cent tariff elimination to India. In third tier, India has proposed 42.5 per cent reduction in tariff lines to China, Australia and New Zealand. These countries will offer India 42.5 per cent, 80 per cent and 65 per cent tariff lines reductions, respectively.^[20]

Round 14: August 2016 in Vietnam

The 14th round of RCEP negotiation was held on August 15–18 in Vietnam.

Round 15: October 2016 in China

The 15th round of RCEP negotiation was held on October 11–22 in Tianjin, China. ^[21]

Round 18: May 2017 in Philippines

The 18th round of RCEP negotiation was held on May 8-12 in Manila, Philippines.^[22]

Round 19: July 2017 in India

The 19th round of RCEP negotiation was held on July 24-28 in Hyderabad, India.

The 16 countries agreed to constitute a Working Group on government procurement to take forward negotiations on the topic and include it as a separate chapter in the final agreement. They, however said India would not given in to the demands from these countries for "market access and national treatment (equal treatment of foreign and local firms)" pertaining to government procurement in the RCEP agreement, and not even undertake any commitment on a "best endeavour basis. "Even in India's separate FTAs with Japan, South Korea and Singapore (that are already in force), "market access and national treatment" have been kept out of the government procurement chapter. The maximum extent that India could go to, is to agree t ensure transparency and cooperation in government procurement matters (including information exchange and sharing of knowledge) as part of the RCEP agreement.

Relationship with other frameworks

East Asia Free Trade Agreement & Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia

The RCEP takes into account the East Asia Free Trade Agreement (EAFTA) and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA) initiatives, with the difference that the RCEP is not working on a pre-determined membership. Instead, it is based on open accession which enables participation of any of the ASEAN FTA partners (China, Korea, Japan, India and Australia-New Zealand) at the outset or later when they are ready to join. The arrangement is also open to any other external economic partners, such as nations in Central Asia and remaining nations in South Asia and Oceania.^[5]

Trans Pacific Partnership

Along with the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), the RCEP is a possible pathway to a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific, and a contribution to building momentum for global trade reform. Both the RCEP and TPP are ambitious FTAs and will involve complex negotiations as it involves multiple parties and sectors. The TPP and RCEP are potentially mutually-reinforcing parallel tracks for regional integration,^[5] which could ultimately lead to a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific.

Controversies and criticism

RCEP has been criticized by free culture activists for containing "quite simply the worst provisions on copyright [...] ever seen in a trade agreement."^[23] Global health care activists have criticized the agreement for potentially forcing India to end its cheap supply of generic medications to poor countries.^[2]

See also

• CEPEA
• East Asian Community
• East Asia Summit
• South Asian Free Trade Area
• ASEAN+3
• EPA
• FTA (Free Trade Agreement)
• FTAAP
• TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership)

References

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/india-pressed-to-open-up-procurement/article19367394.ece Jump up ^ RCEP: Challenges and Opportunities for India, 25 July 2013, RSIS, Singapore ^ Jump up to: a b Chandran, Nyshka (2017-01-12). "China-backed trade deal may not gain from TPP's loss. Blame India". CNBC. Jump up ^ RCEP: The next trade deal you need to know about, 14 October 2015, CNBC Jump up ^ Stefani Ribka/Linda Yulisman (December 7, 2016). "RCEP talks speed up amid TPP failure". ^ Jump up to: a b c What is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)? Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore November 2012 ^ Jump up to: a b Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Joint Statement The First Meeting of Trade Negotiating Committee | 10 May 2013 Jump up ^ Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP): Issues and Way Forward 30 July 2013 ^ Jump up to: a b "Understanding and applying long-term GDP projections | EABER". www.eaber.org. Retrieved 2016-06-17. Jump up ^ [1] ^ Jump up to: a b Announcement of the Launch of Negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Japan 20 November 2012 Jump up ^ Nineteenth ASEAN Summit, Bali, Indonesia | 14-19 November 2011 Jump up ^ ASEAN plus 6 agree to start RCEP talks | 09-01-2012 Jump up ^ Australia hosts second round of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Negotiations in Brisbane Jump up ^ Australia Hosts Second Round of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Negotiations in Brisbane | HighBeam Research in US| 4 October 2013 Jump up ^ Media Release : 3rd Meeting of the RCEP Trade Negotiation Committee 20-24 January 2014, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 27 Jan 2014 08:40 AM | The Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia Jump up ^ "5th negotiation of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP)". Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2015. Jump up ^ Welcome Address Jump up ^ http://fta.mofcom.gov.cn/enarticle/rcepen/enrcepnews/201603/30820_1.html Jump up ^ http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/newsrelease/significantnews/201605/20160501312566.shtml Jump up ^ http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/china-backed-asean-opposes-india-s-stand-on-rcep-116062301192_1.html Jump up ^ http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/newsrelease/significantnews/201608/20160801383647.shtml Jump up ^ http://www.dti.gov.ph/media/latest-news/10511-asean-fta-partners-meet-for-rcep-in-manila Jump up ^ "RCEP: The Other Closed-Door Agreement to Compromise Users' Rights". Electronic Frontier Foundation. 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-04-28.

External links

• Facebook Group

1. ↑ RCEP: Challenges and Opportunities for India, 25 July 2013, RSIS, Singapore
2. 1 2 Chandran, Nyshka (2017-01-12). "China-backed trade deal may not gain from TPP's loss. Blame India". CNBC. 
3. ↑ RCEP: The next trade deal you need to know about, 14 October 2015, CNBC
4. ↑ Stefani Ribka/Linda Yulisman (December 7, 2016). "RCEP talks speed up amid TPP failure". 
5. 1 2 3 What is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)? Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore November 2012
6. 1 2 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Joint Statement The First Meeting of Trade Negotiating Committee | 10 May 2013
7. ↑ Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP): Issues and Way Forward 30 July 2013
8. 1 2 "Understanding and applying long-term GDP projections | EABER". www.eaber.org. Retrieved 2016-06-17. 
9. ↑
10. 1 2 Announcement of the Launch of Negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Japan 20 November 2012
11. ↑ Nineteenth ASEAN Summit, Bali, Indonesia | 14-19 November 2011
12. ↑ ASEAN plus 6 agree to start RCEP talks | 09-01-2012
13. ↑ Australia hosts second round of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Negotiations in Brisbane
14. ↑ Australia Hosts Second Round of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Negotiations in Brisbane | HighBeam Research in US| 4 October 2013
15. ↑ Media Release : 3rd Meeting of the RCEP Trade Negotiation Committee 20-24 January 2014, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 27 Jan 2014 08:40 AM | The Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia
16. ↑ "5th negotiation of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP)". Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2015. 
17. ↑ Welcome Address
18. ↑ http://fta.mofcom.gov.cn/enarticle/rcepen/enrcepnews/201603/30820_1.html
19. ↑ http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/newsrelease/significantnews/201605/20160501312566.shtml
20. ↑ http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/china-backed-asean-opposes-india-s-stand-on-rcep-116062301192_1.html
21. ↑ http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/newsrelease/significantnews/201608/20160801383647.shtml
22. ↑ http://www.dti.gov.ph/media/latest-news/10511-asean-fta-partners-meet-for-rcep-in-manila
23. ↑ "RCEP: The Other Closed-Door Agreement to Compromise Users' Rights". Electronic Frontier Foundation. 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-04-28.