November 15, 2016, http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2016/11/15/hsbc-says-china-led-rcep-in-focus-as-tpp-fades/
KUALA LUMPUR: The China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) should help boost trade volumes across Asia, especially Asean, although it has its limitations compared with the stalled Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), said HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd.
“The deal will be particularly advantageous for Asean as it will reduce the incongruity across pre-existing free trade agreements (FTAs) and thereby strengthen the appeal of the region as a production base.
“Moreover, by connecting the world’s three largest consumer markets – China, India and Asean, the RCEP offers a new ‘south-south’ template for growth that can partly offset subdued imports and investment in the West,” said its chief executive officer Mukhtar Hussain in a statement on Tuesday.
He said RCEP was important for Asean as it effectively allowed the convergence between the FTAs and should help attract foreign companies to base their production in Asean.
In addition to Asean’s outward FTAs, the region has plans for internal integration, namely through the Asean Economic Community.
It was estimated that the agreement would boost baseline gross domestic product (GDP) by 5% through 2030, thanks to a break-down in investment barriers and services liberalisation, particularly across financial services, he said.
“Upon full implementation, this new partnership could provide dynamic stimuli to revitalise trade and investment in Asia,” he added.
The RCEP includes Asean-10, in addition to China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
As the first pan-Asia free trade deal, it boasts a list of impressive statistics such as covering roughly half of the world’s population and nearly 30% of global GDP.
Meanwhile, the TPP involving 12 countries, namely the US, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Chile, and Peru, accounts for 40% of the global GDP. – Bernama
It’s women’s month!
“Support women every day of the year!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and Made-in-the-Philippines
Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
Mar 4— Employee Appreciation Day
Mar 15 — World Consumer Rights Day
Mar 18 — Global Recycling Day
Mar 21 — International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Mar 23 — International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
Mar 25 — International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Mar 27 — Earth Hour
