PSI Asia Pacific - Utilities - Electricity - Water & Local Government Network Bulletin Blog - The below items are published as an internal PSI Bulletin monthly or you can follow by each post by e-mail.
Thursday, 4 October 2018
RCEP targets and text still secret in leadup to October meeting
The public statement of RCEP Ministers from 16 countries following their meeting at the end of August advised negotiation targets would be achieved by the end of 2018, but gave no details on what those targets were for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
This is consistent with the secrecy and lack of accountability of these negotiations. The only hints of the issues were in media reports.
The Japanese daily Mainichi said that the package included four elements: market for goods, services, investment and intellectual property rights. It quoted anonymous officials from RCEP countries, who appeared to have different views of the package.
An official from an ASEAN country said the difficulties between China and India are the main stumbling block for the negotiations to be concluded. Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry said India has expressed concern as they continue to face some social challenges in terms of poverty as well as having a large population based on agriculture.
Negotiators from RCEP countries are due to meet in Auckland from October 17-24. Civil society organisations will attend a conference in Auckland on October 19-20 to discuss alternative progressive trade policies before the RCEP meeting.
Advice from AFTINET aftinet.org.au October Bulletin http://aftinet.org.au/cms/bulletins
