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An end in sight for RCEP trade talks?

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  Negotiations on the RCEP trade deal have dragged on for years - is the end in sight? Negotiations on the RCEP trade deal have dragged on for years - is the end in sight? Photo: Lynn Grieveson.

A major Asia-Pacific trade deal seems to have new momentum, after years of discussions dragged on. What is driving the action, and will New Zealand get the deal it’s after? Sam Sachdeva reports for Newsroom.

While New Zealand has been focused on the drastic ups and downs of the (CP)TPP free trade deal, another - larger - agreement has been bubbling away in the background.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, RCEP for short, is a proposed free trade deal between the 10 ASEAN members and Australia, New Zealand, China, India, Japan, and South Korea.

There have been 23 rounds of negotiations between the RCEP countries since 2012, a protracted process that has frustrated some countries and led to musings that India could withdraw. . . . .>