China-backed RCEP pushed back to 2019home/Business/Top Business/China-backed RCEP pushed back to 2019DTI’s Lopez notes progress, says talks in the ‘final stage’SINGAPORE/MANILA: A China-backed bid to complete the world’s largest trade deal — without the United States — was pushed back to next year after Asia-Pacific trade ministers failed to agree on key terms at a Singapore summit. Lopez said President Rodrigo Duterte would be joining today’s 2nd RCEP Leaders Summit to welcome the progress made and push for the trade deal’s conclusion next year. “It (RCEP) is going to deliver real benefits to the people of our region,” he said in an address. “It’s going to send a message to the international community that we stand by free trade… with rising protectionism and strains on free trade we need to advance the RCEP negotiations,” Li said. The TPP is still alive even without Washington, but RCEP is now the world’s biggest trade deal.

Source: Manila Times November 13, 2018 16:34 UTC