China says it’s ready to reduce tariffs when the Asia-Pacific trade deal Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or the RCEP, comes into force next year.
China expects the deal to significantly improve East Asia’s economic integration and wants full implementation as soon as possible, according to a statement of China Ministry of Commerce on Saturday. RCEP could fuel regional recovery, consolidate supply chains and promote economic development, it added.
In the statement, China confirmed that 10 nations including Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, New Zealand and Australia ratified the RCEP earlier this month, while the rest are accelerating the ratification process.