---
title: "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership — Definition"
description: "The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is a free-trade agreement among 15 Asia-Pacific states, forming the world's largest trading bloc since 2022."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is a free-trade agreement among fifteen Asia-Pacific states that entered into force on 1 January 2022, forming the world's largest trading bloc.
- Why did India withdraw from RCEP?
- How does RCEP differ from the CPTPP?
- When was RCEP signed and when did it enter into force?
- What is the significance of RCEP's unified rules of origin?

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## Timeline

1. 1 January 2022

   The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is a free-trade agreement among fifteen Asia-Pacific states that entered into force on , forming the world's…

2. 15 November 2020

   Negotiations were formally launched in November 2012 at the 21st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh on the basis of the ASEAN+1 free-trade agreements, and the agreem…

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Example

India formally withdrew from RCEP at the Bangkok Summit in November 2019, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing unresolved concerns over the trade deficit with China and inadequate safeguards for farmers and small industry.

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