Asia pacific nations including China set eyes on FTA to be signed on Sunday

Fifteen Asia-Pacific nations including China aim to clinch the world’s largest free-trade agreement this weekend.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which includes countries stretching from Japan to Australia and New Zealand, aims to reduce tariffs, strengthen supply chains with common rules of origin, and codify new e-commerce rules. Its passage may disadvantage some U.S. companies and other multinationals outside the zone, particularly after President Donald Trump withdrew from talks on a separate Asia-Pacific trade deal formerly known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Following the withdrawal of India from RCEP negotiations last year, the remaining 15 nations sought to announce the agreement by the