RCEP is raising hopes for Asia's post-COVID economic recovery, as well as questions about how non-signatories India and the U.S. will respond. © Nikkei illustration

RCEP: China to gain as trade pact ripples across post-COVID world

Japan and South Korea also likely winners; outsiders US and India eye next moves

KENTARO IWAMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

January 5, 2021 06:11 JST

SINGAPORE -- About two weeks after China signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade megadeal with 14 other Asia-Pacific economies, Premier Li Keqiang stressed the need to walk the talk.

"As a member of the RCEP, our country should actively promote the implementation of the agreement with our own actions, safeguard free trade and expand new space for win-win cooperation," Li said at a State Council executive meeting in Beijing on Dec. 1.