The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said on Monday it was concerned the United States was being leftbehind after 15 Asia-Pacific economies on Sunday formed the world’s largest free-trade bloc, cementing China’s dominant role in regional trade, Reuters reports. The Chamber welcomed the trade-liberalizing benefits of the new Regional Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (RCEP), saying U.S. exporters, workers and farmers needed greater access to Asian markets. Trump has not concluded any comprehensive new trade deals in Asia since then, Brilliant said. “Given the shortcomings of RCEP, we would not recommend the United States joining,” Brilliant said, without elaborating. He underscored the importance of the Asia-Pacific market, citing forecasts that call for an average growth rate of over 5 percent in 2021 and a rapid expansion in the middle class.

Source: The Standard November 17, 2020 06:26 UTC