RCEP text and resources
Read the RCEP text, National Interest Analysis, summary of key outcomes, factsheets, economic modelling, Cabinet Paper, Q&As, press releases, and other documents.
RCEP Text
The legally verified RCEP text is here [PDF, 4.8 MB].
Consultation on RCEP
We called for public submissions regarding New Zealand's intention to join the RCEP negotiations during February and March 2013. A total of fifteen submissions were received. A total of fifteen submissions were received (including a submission from New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters association which included brief comments from its members). This was not a substantial number of submissions and fewer than those received for other FTA negotiations. In this context, we note the comment from the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions’ submission “that [RCEP] appears to be less intrusive into domestic policy than [other on-going negotiations]”. You can read the submissions we received here [PDF, 209 KB].
More recently, we consulted widely with stakeholders throughout the negotiations to provide the opportunity for New Zealanders to seek more information about the Agreement and to offer their views so that these could be taken into account throughout the negotiation process. This consultation included public engagement sessions in a number of regional centres around New Zealand, and regular briefings with interested stakeholders. You can find more on how consultation was undertaken in section 9 of the National Interest Analysis (link below) For details of public events (including upcoming dates and registration) and information about public consultation on all our negotiations, see our page on Public Engagement on Trade here.
National Interest Analysis
A National Interest Analysis (NIA) is required every time the New Zealand government signs a new significant international treaty. The NIA assists Parliament to weigh up the costs and benefits of New Zealand signing up to RCEP.
Read the National Interest Analysis [PDF, 2.4 MB]
Summary of key outcomes
MFAT outcomes document is available here [PDF, 421 KB]
Factsheets
General RCEP Factsheet [PDF, 334 KB]
Goods Market Access Factsheet [PDF, 224 KB]
Services Market Access Factsheet [PDF, 139 KB]
Investment Market Access Factsheet [PDF, 226 KB]
Economic modelling
MFAT commissioned international trade modellers, ImpactEcon, to estimate the economic effects of RCEP on New Zealand. ImpactEcon estimates that once RCEP is fully implemented, New Zealand’s annual GDP will be between 0.3 percent and 0.6 percent larger than it would have been if RCEP had not been concluded, equal to between NZ$1.5 billion and NZ$3.2 billion. The upper bound of $3.2 billion assumes India re-joins RCEP. Should India remain outside of RCEP, the economic benefits will be towards the lower end of the range (around $2 billion).
These modelling results are shown in detail in ImpactEcon’s report [PDF, 7.5 MB]
Cabinet Paper
Find out more in the Cabinet Paper [PDF, 3 MB]
Q&As
Find out more in the Q&As document [PDF, 308 KB]
Press releases
Significant progress on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) (external link) - 5 November 2019
O’Connor in Thailand to push for RCEP deal (external link) – 11 October 2019
O’Connor to Thailand for trade talks (external link) – 7 September 2019
Minister O’Connor to visit China (external link) – 1 August 2019
Substantial progress made on RCEP (external link) (external link) - 14 November 2018
New Zealand hosts RCEP round (external link) (external link) – 19 October 2018
Leaders' statements
Joint Leaders’ Statement, November 2020, Viet Nam [PDF, 255 KB]
Joint Leaders’ Statement, November 2019, Thailand
Joint Leaders' Statement - Final - 14 November 2018, Singapore
Joint Leaders’ Statement November 2017, Philippines (external link)
Leaders’ Statement launching the negotiations
Ministers’ Declaration on India’s Participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – 11 November 2020. [PDF, 281 KB]
Guiding principles and objectives
Guiding Principles and Objectives for Negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership [PDF, 275 KB]