RCEP Ministerial Meeting

Tomorrow I will attend the Fifth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo to advance negotiations with Australia's major trading partners in the region.

Australia is working to secure the timely conclusion of a modern, comprehensive and high quality RCEP agreement.

Bringing together Australia, ASEAN, China, India, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand into a single agreement, RCEP will build on existing trade agreements and provide improved access for Australian businesses into the world's fastest growing region.

Of the 16 Indo-Pacific countries in the negotiations, ten are among Australia's top 15 trading partners and RCEP countries account for almost 60 per cent of Australia's two-way trade, almost half of the world's population and over 30 per cent of global GDP.

The RCEP negotiations send an important signal to the world that we are committed to opening new markets, free trade and the rules-based global trading system.

The Turnbull Government is pursuing the nation's most ambitious trade agenda and agreements like RCEP to create new opportunities for Australian businesses to sell more of their goods and services to the world. More exports mean more Australian jobs.