RCEP and the Future of Asian Free Trade Agreements: A Philippine Perspective
Katigbak, Jovito Jose P. | January 2017
Abstract
In December 2016, Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez expressed the country’s decision to put its full weight behind the Asian trade pact Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) after President Rodrigo R. Duterte criticized the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement by highlighting the restrictive nature of its provision on intellectual property rights covering pharmaceuticals. The decision to back RCEP can also be viewed as a vital component of the Duterte administration’s foreign policy objective which mainly focuses on realizing economic integration in Asia.
More importantly, the Philippine government’s willingness to enter into large trade deals like the RCEP with advanced Asian economies outlines two key insights on how it perceives the trajectory of free trade agreements (FTAs) in the region. Firstly, FTAs will expand to cover non-trade aspects of economic cooperation. Secondly, China will play a very critical role in determining the direction of Asian FTAs but fair treatment must be afforded to all member economies.
Citation
Katigbak, Jovito Jose P.. 2017. RCEP and the Future of Asian Free Trade Agreements: A Philippine Perspective. © Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies. http://hdl.handle.net/11540/6936.Keywords
Economic planning
Economic structure
Growth policy
Trade relations
Trade policy
Economic development
Trade Facilitation
Trade
Economic integration
Regional Economic Integration
Free Trade
Trade Agreements
Trade Policy
Economic Development
Economics
International Economics
Intraregional Trade
Regional economics
Economic forecasting
Economic development projects
Success in business
Business
Free trade
Business
Economics
Communication in economic development
Restraint of trade
International economic integration
Trade blocs
East-West
Foreign trade and employment
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