LAST June, the ministers of RCEP countries underscored their determination to sign the free-trade agreement amid unprecedented headwinds in global trade, investment and supply chains. Following almost a decade of talks, 15 countries are poised to sign the world’s largest free-trade pact during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit. In contrast, the RCEP will intensify multilateral trade integration in Asia, the world’s most dynamic region. It can also serve as a platform toward greater global economic integration. Despite the Trump trade wars, Chinese export growth improved once again in September to almost 10 percent on a year-to-year basis.

Source: Manila Times November 15, 2020 16:07 UTC