Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement meeting today

TODAY, May 10, the first public hearing on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), will be held by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties.

The RCEP is a regional free trade agreement between Australia and the countries of ASEAN, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand.

Committee Chair Mr Dave Sharma MP said, "RCEP is a significant agreement, covering almost a third of the world’s population and GDP. It is truly comprehensive, covering trade in goods and services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, promoting electronic commerce, and capturing the most recent advances in international trade in relation to intellectual property, competition and government procurement."

The RCEP is expected to enhance the economic benefits Australia already enjoys because of existing trade agreements with many of the parties to the RCEP, as well as open new opportunities for Australian businesses seeking to engage in the region.

Australian Government witnesses will speak at the public hearing in Parliament House. Further information on the inquiry can be found on the inquiry website.

Public hearing details:

Date: Monday, 10 May 2021
Time: 10am–1pm
Location: Committee Room 1R6, Parliament House

The hearing can be accessed online via the Parliament of Australia website.

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