China-Backed Free Trade Giant RCEP Mulls Expansion and Upgrade

China backed RCEP targets expansion and upgrades at the leaders’ summit as ASEAN weighs new entrants and buffers against fresh U.S. tariffs.
ASEAN Secretary General in Nanning, China. (Photo: Asean Secretariat)

China-backed trade platform in Asia, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), will return to the leaders’ level in October for the first time since 2020.

Malaysia, the summit host, says the 15-economy pact will consider targeted upgrades and weigh applications from would-be entrants. The timing reflects a broader push to use multilateral rules as a buffer against a new round of U.S. tariffs.

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by Edwin Shri Bimo

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