ERIA Co-Hosts Roundtable on RCEP and the Future of Rules-Based Trade

Wellington, 17 March 2026: ERIA, in collaboration with the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research (EABER) at the Australian National University (ANU), convened a 1.5 Track stakeholder roundtable on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the future of rules-based trade. The event was held alongside the 12th RCEP Joint Committee Meeting in Wellington, New Zealand.

The roundtable brought together key policymakers from RCEP participating countries, including the Committee Co-Chairs, as well as government representatives and leading experts from think tanks, research institutions, and the private sector. Discussions focused on the evolving global economic landscape and priority areas for RCEP co-operation, with participants exploring practical pathways to advance regional collaboration.

The first session was moderated by Professor Peter Drysdale, Head of EABER, who guided discussions amongst policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders on RCEP's role as a cornerstone of rules-based trade, a platform for regional economic co-operation, and a mechanism for enhancing resilience amidst global trade uncertainties.

In opening remarks delivered on behalf of ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe, Mr Naoto Okura, Director General for Research and Policy Design at ERIA, highlighted the importance of strengthening regional co-operation through RCEP.

'As the world's largest regional trade agreement, RCEP provides an important platform for strengthening economic resilience across the region,' Mr Okura said.

Ms Anna Robeniol, Senior Policy Fellow at ERIA, emphasised the need for RCEP to evolve into a forward-looking and fit-for-purpose agreement - one that remains responsive to emerging regional challenges while continuing to support deeper economic integration.

The second session was jointly moderated by Professor Shiro Armstrong, Director of EABER, and Dr Yose Rizal Damuri, Executive Director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Discussions focused on regional priorities, strategies to future-proof RCEP, and emerging issues for the RCEP agenda, including its potential contribution to regional energy security.

During this session, Ms Robeniol noted that:

'The General Review should build on RCEP's existing achievements and lessons from past agreements, including the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, to strengthen the agreement's ambition and implementation.'

Insights from both sessions are expected to inform concrete proposals that can be advanced through the RCEP framework, supporting stronger regional co-operation and deeper economic integration.