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President Moon Jae-in applauds the signing ceremony of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) by video at the Blue House on the 15th, while President Myung-hee Myung-hee, head of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energía (right) displayed the signed agreement. RCEP is the world’s largest multilateral free trade agreement (FTA) involving 10 ASEAN countries and 15 countries, including China, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. Reporter Jeon Young-han [email protected]“I chose the Dongju Gongje road (the same boat crossing the river together) instead of conflict and opposition.”
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (李克强) said this about the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) signed on the 15th. President Moon Jae-in also said it was a “historic moment” and that it “will contribute to the restoration of global multilateralism and the development of a free trade order “. However, with some observations that RCEP could serve as a shield for China against American checks, the Blue House opened the possibility of participating in the Comprehensive and Progressive Circle Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (CPTPP), to which the United States is considering going back.
○ China “significantly the participation of US allies.”
President Moon said of the RCEP signing at the 4th RCEP Summit, which took place in the video of the day: “Even in the global crisis caused by the corona (a new coronavirus infection), a huge economic community, which sounded an alarm for protectionism. ” He stressed that he has the optimal conditions to lead the era. At the RCEP signing ceremony, the head of the trade negotiations headquarters of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy Myung-hee Myung-hee signed the agreement for the fourteenth time after 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN and ASEAN), including Indonesia, Australia, China and Japan. The largest economic bloc in the world, surpassing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA, now replaced by the United States, Mexico and Canada agreement, USMCA), which was abolished in 2018 with a trade volume of $ 5, 4 trillion and a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of $ 2.63 trillion. Link. President Moon was also greeted with applause when he heard the agreement signed by Yoo’s headquarters. Blue House spokesman Kang Min-seok emphasized, “The importance of RCEP is that it can promote economic recovery through the expansion of economic territories through the world’s largest mega FTA and the expansion of trade and investment in the region. China, which has tried to diversify trade channels with RCEP, applauded. At the RCEP summit, Prime Minister Lee said: “The victory of multilateralism and free trade.” I didn’t. “China’s state media, Global Times, commented:” The participation of Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand shows that these countries oppose protectionism and economic harassment led by the United States. ” RCEP Summit Joint Statement ‘agreed by the leaders of 15 countries, including Korea and China, on this day, also included content that “again emphasizes that RCEP remains open to India.” India, which had participated in the RCEP negotiations, finally declared absent last year for fear of a trade deficit with China. If India participates in the RCEP, all key countries in the Indo-Pacific strategy that the United States has followed to contain China will participate in the RCEP .
○ 靑 “CPTPP can also participate if necessary”
The Blue House responded that “the RCEP is not a China-led negotiation” on concerns that Korea could be in a sandwich situation amid the conflict between the United States and China by joining the RCEP. A Blue House official said: “The US-promoted CPTPP and RCEP are complementary.”
In particular, the Blue House indicated that it could participate in the CPTPP. The official said, “The president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden, has not yet expressed his position to participate in the CPTPP,” and said: “If deemed necessary (Korea can also join the CPTPP).” It means that the government tide, which was initially negative for the Japan-led CPTPP membership, could change.
Meanwhile, in the second fact sheet (instruction) on the status and achievements of the new southern policy and Indo-Pacific strategy, announced on the 14th by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the US Department of State. ., The pressure policies of the Donald Trump administration on China are reflected, such as the ‘Blue Dot Network’. The move to join China’s check is expected to continue for now. Blue Dot Network is an infrastructure investment project launched last year by the United States, Japan and Australia, which are key countries in the Indo-Pacific strategy, targeting China’s One Belt and One Road (一帶 一路).
Hyo-mok Park [email protected], reporter Ki-jae Han
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