Supply Chain Research

RCEP negotiations continue this week and while Prime Minister Lee of Singapore is confident that a substantive agreement is “finally in sight” significant hurdles remain. Some impetus may have been provided by South Korea’s decision to pursue membership of the rival CPTPP trade deal. The biggest challenge likely remains the clash between China’s export policies and India’s tariff-driven protection of domestic industry. While China’s exports to India have been expanding, at 15% in the past 12 months to July 31 vs. 10% to the RCEP group overall, it is a less important counterparty so far t...