RCEP nations to sign Asian trade megadeal, with clause for India

China, Japan and dozen other countries reach long-sought pact after 'blood, sweat and tears'

A container ship is seen at a port in Shenzhen: RCEP will be the first trade agreement to include East Asia's three biggest economies. © Reuters

TAKAKO GAKUTO, Nikkei staff writer

November 12, 2020 01:01 JST

TOKYO -- Ministers from 15 countries in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreed Wednesday to sign the long-awaited trade deal at a summit Sunday, leaving the door open for reluctant India to return later.

The 15 nations "have concluded negotiations and will sign the RCEP Agreement this Sunday" at the summit, Mohamed Azmin Ali, Malaysia's international trade and industry minister, said in a statement.