Asian trade mega-pact set to be signed this weekend

[muriel_volestrangler]

While Trump fucks around, a significant chunk of the world economy progresses:

It includes the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

The members make up nearly a third of the world's population and account for 29% of global gross domestic product.
...
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is expected to be signed on the side lines of the mostly-online Asean conference this weekend.
...
Although the RCEP was an Asean initiative, it is regarded by many as a China-backed alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed deal that excluded China but included many Asian countries.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54899254

It's not as close an agreement as CPTPP, but it still gives China a deal with significant economies.

[Klaralven]

1. They succeeded by ousting India and narrowly dealing with trade

RCEP brings together countries that have often had prickly diplomatic relationships - notably China and Japan.

Both Australia and China will also sign onto the deal, despite reports that China might boycott some Australian imports over a variety of political differences.

"You can both co-operate with someone and just loathe them, even as a human being. RCEP has done an impressive job of separating itself from other things," said Ms Elms.

[JI7]

2. So it pretty much does the opposite of what TPP was meant to do

which was to limit China's influence.

With this it looks like China will keep and expand it's power.