RCEP member countries to work in resolving outstanding issues: Joint statement

The 16 RCEP participating nations that are negotiating a mega free trade agreement have agreed to work together to iron out outstanding issues which are fundamental to conclude the talks this year, a joint statement said on Sunday.

The statement was issued after the seventh RCEP ministerial meeting in Bangkok.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement is being negotiated among 10 ASEAN members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and their six trade partners -- Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand.

"Notwithstanding the remaining challenges in the negotiations, RPCs (RCEP participating countries) are working on addressing outstanding issues that are fundamental to conclude the agreement this year as mandated by the Leaders," it said.

While noting that certain developments in the global trade environment may affect member countries' individual positions in the course of the ...