RCEP establishes working group for Chile's accession

During the 5th RCEP Ministerial Meeting held in Manila, Philippines, member nations agreed to establish an ad hoc working group to facilitate the accession process for Chile, Bangladesh, Hong Kong China, and Sri Lanka to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

This decision marks a significant step in Chile’s application process, which began in 2024. A specific accession subgroup will be created for Chile to conduct technical evaluations regarding the agreement’s requirements and standards.

Paula Estévez, the Undersecretary of International Economic Relations, stated that joining RCEP offers Chile the opportunity to deepen its economic integration in Asia and Oceania, strengthening ties with dynamic economies and fostering closer relations with the ASEAN bloc. The move is viewed as part of Chile’s strategy to diversify export markets and enter a geopolitically significant economic space.