RCEP:特点、问题与前景

作为世界最大的自由贸易安排,RCEP所取得的突破不仅有利于改善区域贸易与投资环境、增强区域供应链、推动经济复苏,还为区域经济一体化、全球贸易自由化、基于规则的多边贸易体制注入了前行的动力。同时,它对中国贸易和投资的可持续发展、高水平制度型开放、实施自由贸易区提升战略、构建国内国际双循环相互促进的新发展格局也可以发挥积极作用。RCEP以市场准入、规则、合作为支柱,具有开放包容、全面、高质量、互惠等诸多特点,并突出东盟方式与东盟中心地位。RCEP的后续生效实施与适时升级,将面临成员差异性与利益诉求复杂性、外部因素牵制、既有FTA规则的多样性与整合的难度、区域身份认同与大国协调等现实问题的挑战,仍需要以渐进灵活的方式,不断推动其深化和拓展。中国应一如既往支持东盟的主导地位,推动RCEP尽快生效。既要助力东盟提升凝聚力、加强大国协调,也要加速推进中日韩FTA谈判、加快与东盟成员的FTA构建。应不断提高规则利用率,充分发挥FTA本应具有的效应,以制度型开放营造良好营商环境,持续推动区域制度性经济一体化。

RCEP: Characteristics,Challenges, and Prospects

The conclusion of RCEP as the world’s largest free trade arrangement not only helps improve regional trade and investment environment,strengthen regional supply chains,and promote economic recovery,but also gives further impetus to regional economic integration,global trade liberalization,and a rule-based multilateral trading system.An important milestone for China’s opening-up drive,the pan-Asian deal is expected to boost China’s trade and investment in a post-pandemic world as Beijing continues to upgrade its FTA strategy.Boasting wider market access,updated rules,and strengthened cooperation,the agreement is expected to further bolster the ASEAN way and ASEAN centrality.In the process of implementation and upgrade,RCEP is faced with several challenges,such as member states’competing interests,the influence of external factors,incompatible rules of existing FTAs,lack of regional solidarity,and great power politics.China should support the ASEAN centrality as always,and promote the early entry into force of the agreement.Beijing should also speed up the free trade talks with Japan,South Korea,Southeast Asian nations,and ASEAN members to create a better business environment through institutional opening-up.