ISDS Case Map
RCEP
The intellectual property provisions initiated by Japan and South Korea go far beyond the requirements needed under international trade rules.
With other mega regional trade agreements like the Trans–Pacific Partnership in uncertainty, trade treaties like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will acquire greater significance beyond their original ASEAN-centred grouping. The RCEP needs to be tracked for its implications for both the global trading system and the livelihoods of people.
ASEAN centrality has also ensured that RCEP has incorporated Asia’s other large power — Japan — and reflects Japanese preferences as much as those of China.
The RCEP will have the effect of locking in Vietnam - and all the other signatories - and prevent them from modifying or withdrawing investors’ rights they have granted, even if some years later they decide that granting those rights did not contribute to development in the country.
Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan said Malaysia would continue to focus on efforts to conclude the RCEP negotiations as the TPP would not be implemented.
Manila has asked Seoul to bring down to zero the tariff it slaps on Philippine pineapple exports to South Korea.
RCEP aims, among other goals, to ease obstacles to trade by solving the so-called "spaghetti bowl" effect, the confusion caused by the proliferation of free trade deals. Trading partners are sometimes both members of more than one deal and the question arises -- which rules apply?
The Philippines while chair of Asean this year, will push for the conclusion of an agreement on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to pave the way for a mega regional free trade agreement (FTA) next year.
RCEP is neither China-led nor a rival to the TPP
102 organizations submitted an international open letter to the Japanese Government asking for a stakeholders meeting during the 17th RCEP negotiations in Kobe.
