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RCEP五周年：重塑世界经贸格局
RCEP Fifth Anniversary: Reshaping the Global Trade and Economic Landscape
China Today | Local Language | News | Dec. 2, 2025 | UndeterminedTrade Issues and Numbers
In November 2025, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) celebrated its fifth anniversary. Covering about one-third of the global population and economic output, RCEP has reshaped the East Asian and Asia-Pacific economic landscape, accelerated China’s integration with the global economy, and enhanced member countries' roles in global economic governance. Key events such as the 4th RCEP Regional Imported Goods Expo and the 2nd Hunan RCEP Trade Expo highlight growing trade cooperation among member states.
RCEP has accelerated regional economic growth by simplifying trade rules, particularly through unified origin cumulation rules that allow flexible supply chain organization across member countries. This has transformed production from linear to networked models, boosting economic development and supply chain resilience. Trade within the region reached US$12.6 trillion in 2023, accounting for 30% of global trade, and investment flows among member countries, especially in electronics and information industries, have surged since the pandemic.
The agreement has also improved living standards by lowering tariffs, thus reducing prices and expanding consumer choices for products like dairy, tropical fruits, home appliances, and cosmetics. Agricultural trade has advanced beyond basic exchanges to value-added processes, increasing incomes for farmers and job creation. Additionally, digital trade and cross-border e-commerce have grown rapidly, changing consumption patterns and broadening access to regional products, facilitated by improved logistics.
For China, RCEP signifies a shift from merchandise trade to institutional openness, with increased use of RCEP certificates reducing costs and expanding markets for Chinese companies. The agreement has deepened industrial chain cooperation between China, ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea, fostering growth in high-end manufacturing and new energy sectors. Chinese companies have expanded abroad, capturing significant market shares in ASEAN for products such as new energy vehicles and photovoltaic modules.
Despite these achievements, challenges remain, including development disparities among member countries, limited SME utilization of RCEP benefits, and the need for rule adaptations to emerging trends like digital trade, green trade, and supply chain security. Strengthening economic cooperation and improving institutional capacities in less developed member states are crucial for balanced growth. Future efforts should focus on digitalizing RCEP rules to facilitate broader participation and establishing mechanisms for supply chain security coordination.
Looking forward, RCEP is positioned to become a foundational platform for a higher-standard Asia-Pacific free trade area amid growing regional trade framework competition, such as the CPTPP and IPEF. By enhancing rule quality and maintaining inclusiveness, RCEP could further deepen economic integration and continue driving regional growth, stability, and openness. Over five years, it has become a pivotal institutional force in shaping the global trade and economic landscape amid increasing global uncertainties.