RCEP members worry over market access to China

November 2, 2016

The 15 Asia-Pacific nations including India of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are concern to give greater market access to Chinese goods without gaining in return.
All these countries in the RCEP grouping are also worried about agreeing to eliminate tariffs altogether, a move that will mainly help China.
What are the concerns?
These 15 Asia-Pacific nations including India fear that China may dump its excess capacity in several items including steel, as well as highly subsidised items which may harm local industry of importing countries and distort trade.
What is RCEP?

RCEP is the proposed mega-regional Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between 16 Asia-Pacific countries.
It includes India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the 10-member ASEAN bloc.
The RCEP negotiation process had started in 2013 and is unlikely to be concluded by the end of 2016.
The proposed FTA aims to open up trade in goods and services as well as liberalise investment policies.
It will cover a market of over 3 billion people in these 16 countries — whose total combined GDP is more than $17 trillion and collectively account for 40% of world trade.

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