In August 2012, 16 RCEP economic ministers launched the form of Guiding Principles and Objectives for Negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) among 16 countries: the 10 members of ASEAN (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam) and the six countries with which ASEAN has existing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) – Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand.

The 29th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) meeting was held on 20, 22 and 24 April 2020 via virtual video conference.

The Third Special Meeting of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Trade Negotiating Committee (3rd Special TNC) was held 3 – 4 February 2020 in Bali, Indonesia to discuss implementation of the Leaders’ statement and a work plan towards the signing of the Agreement in 2020.

The 7th Intersessional Meeting of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) and related meetings were held in Bangkok from 14-19 October 2019 to progress rules and market access negotiations.

The Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, represented Australia at the 9th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Intersessional Ministerial Meeting held in Bangkok on 12 October 2019.

The 28th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) meeting and related meetings were held from 19-27 September 2019 in Da Nang, Viet Nam. This was the final and full scheduled RCEP negotiating round.

The Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, represented Australia at the 7th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial meeting held in Bangkok on 8 September 2019.

The Sixth Intersessional Meeting of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) and related meetings were held in Jakarta from 19-25 August 2019.

The Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, represented Australia at the 8th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Intersessional Ministerial Meeting in Beijing, China on 2-3 August 2019.

The 27th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) meeting and related meetings were held in Zhengzhou, China from 22-31 July 2019.