ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims to unravel the progress of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations and highlights key attributes. It reviews connectivity initiatives in the region and emphasizes the need to fast-tracking the growth of physical and digital connectivity infrastructure to obtain greatest economic benefits for the region in a post RCEP world. The book looks at the importance of and role of non-tariff barriers (NTB) in inhibiting trade. It discusses the nature of NTBs prevailing among RCEP economies and the challenges for RCEP in overcoming these. The book analyses various components of the Rules of Origin (RoO) with regard to the RCEP to examine if the RoO will facilitate RCEP members to become part of regional value chains or not. It provides an Association of Southeast Asian Nations perspective on economic and strategic rationales for RCEP.
