General

According to the Huacheng Import and Export Data Observation, in 2020, the RCEP, which lasted for eight years and 28 rounds of negotiations, was officially signed, marking the birth of the world's largest free trade zone with a total population, economic volume and total trade volume accounting for about 30% of the world's total. What is particularly valuable is that its members have diversified economic levels, including the most developed, relatively developed, developing and partially developed members of various development levels, and have broad cooperation potential, It will have a profound impact on a series of important international economic and trade principles, including WTO reform. This is not only another breakthrough in the face of the changing and complex situation in the world, but also another landmark event in support of multilateralism and free trade. It can be said to have a huge role and far-reaching significance.

RCEP was first launched by the ten ASEAN countries, and the 15 member countries included the major countries in East and Southeast Asia. At present, ASEAN has become China's largest trading partner. At the same time, China has become ASEAN's largest trading partner for 10 consecutive years. Most of the other members of RCEP are also important trading partners of China, with close economic ties. According to Huacheng Import and Export Data Observation, in 2021, China's total imports and exports to RCEP member countries accounted for about 30.9% of China's total imports and exports. Up to now, the number of effective members among the 15 signatories of the RCEP has reached 13.

According to the Huacheng Import and Export Data Observation Report, after the formal entry into force of the RCEP on January 1, 2022, a series of economic data in the first half of the year showed that the implementation of the RCEP had a significant effect on the economic and trade promotion of the member countries: the trade volume between China and the RCEP member countries increased by 5.6% year-on-year; in the first eight months of this year, China's import and export to ASEAN increased by 14% year-on-year; in the same period, China's import and export to the other 14 members of the RCEP increased by 7.5% year-on-year; Chinese export enterprises apply for the RCEP certificate of origin and issue 266000 copies of the declaration of origin, with a value of 97.9 billion yuan, and can enjoy a tariff reduction of 710 million yuan from the importing country. The value of preferential imports under RCEP was 23.86 billion yuan, and the tariff reduction was 520 million yuan.

RCEP covers a wide range of contents, from tariff reduction to reduction of non-tariff barriers, from trade in goods to trade facilitation in services, from finance to telecommunications, from trade to investment, from rules of origin to trade facilitation, from intellectual property rights to dispute settlement, from small and medium-sized enterprises to economic and technological cooperation, and integrates ASEAN, China, Japan The "10+1" free trade agreements of South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the existing multi-party free trade partnership between China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, have not only reflected the general direction of high standards in the field of traditional economic and trade rules, but also established a flexible mechanism to encourage developing economies, achieving a balance between high standards and applicability, in order to jointly build high-level economic and trade rules, An important demonstration was made, demonstrating the determination and courage of the 15 member countries, including China, to face the vast Pacific Ocean and globalization, and continue to ride the wind and waves and set sail. Your sincere efforts are worthy of respect. Huacheng Import and Export Data Observation Report.

For example, in terms of trade in goods, the overall level of openness has reached more than 90%, and the commitment is made to reduce the tariff to zero immediately or within ten years; In terms of service trade, except Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, the number of service sectors committed by other parties has increased to more than 100 (160 service sectors divided by WTO), and developing economies are allowed to adopt the positive list model in service trade, but should gradually transition to the negative list. Among them, on the basis of about 100 sectors that China has committed to enter the WTO, 22 new sectors such as research and development, management consulting, manufacturing-related services, and air transport have been added, and 37 sectors such as finance, law, construction, and maritime transport have been improved to reach the highest level of the existing free trade agreement. In addition, the open positive list will be converted into a negative list within 6 years after the agreement comes into force. RCEP has set up many soft clauses in terms of transparency, customs clearance facilitation and other aspects. While giving exception clauses to some developing economies, it clearly requires that in the future, it can only further expand the opening up and not withdraw the promised opening measures. Huacheng Import and Export Data Observation Report.

As far as China is concerned, the Chinese nation has always possessed the feelings of the world and the international vision, and China can be said to be one of the most important countries that contributed to the entry into force of the RCEP.   We actively participated in all ministerial negotiations and 28 rounds of technical negotiations with a constructive attitude, and firmly supported ASEAN's leading role in the negotiations. We should take concrete actions to raise the banner of economic globalization, uphold the right path of multilateralism, and make progress and grow with the world. The fifth China International Import Expo is a good example. In this world's only export-themed exhibition with wide participation of the world, import and export are combined in both directions, and trade and investment are mutually promoted. As the first major international exhibition held by China after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, it is a window for China to build a new development pattern, a platform to promote high-level opening, and a global shared international public product, It fully reflects China's broader, broader and deeper opening-up.