MNI BRIEF: China Should Expedite Joining CPTPP: Researcher

China should prioritise joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, push to implement the Regional Economic Cooperative Partnership, and finish China-EU, and China-Japan-Korea free trade negotiations, Su Qingyi, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, an official think tank, wrote in a blog post published by the China Finance 40 Forum.

There is a strong possibility the Joe Biden administration may revitalise the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership pact with the EU and China-EU talks have become more urgent than China-Japan-Korea free trade negotiations, which are difficult and will bring only marginal returns, Su wrote.

The RCEP will also have limited benefits for China's market liberalisation drive and its making of institutional rules and is more restrained than the CPTPP in addressing aspects such as the opening of sensitive industries, state-owned enterprises, the environment, and labour, Su wrote.