The Potential Impacts of the RCEP on the Asia-Pacific Region

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), concluded on November 15, 2020, is the world’s largest free trade agreement (FTA) in terms of the population it covers and aggregate GDP of member states. The RCEP is expected to further integrate the economies in the Asian and Pacific region. RCEP hosts 15 member states, including all the member states of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and five major economies in the Asia-Pacific region, namely, Australia, China, Japan, Korea and New Zealand. Given the centrality of the RCEP to international economic law in Asia, this webinar seeks to address the following questions: how is RCEP designed and negotiated? To what extent is RCEP different from existing FTA instruments in the region? How will RCEP impact the social and economic development in the region as a whole, and transitional economies in particular? Does RCEP stand for high standards of modern FTAs? How will RCEP impact commercial transactions and dispute settlement in the region? What are the potentials of RCEP in restructuring international trade relations in the region and beyond? In this webinar, experts from international organizations and national governments, as well as leading scholars on international trade and investment law in the Asia-Pacific will explore the potential impact of the RCEP on the region.

Speakers:

  • Chiann Bao (International Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong SAR)
  • Mary Elizabeth Chelliah (Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore)
  • Manjiao Chi (University of International Business and Economics, China) Moderator
  • Jaemin Lee (Seoul National University, Korea)
  • Mia Mikic (UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Thailand)
  • Trinh Hai Yen (Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, Vietnam)

This session was organized by ASIL’s Asia-Pacific Interest Group