There is an aspect of the US-China technology race that is more consequential than simply mining more data or developing better technology. It is writing the rules of the digital road. In this competition over standards, whichever nation first strikes a trilateral deal with technology leaders Japan and South Korea will secure a strategic chokepoint in the digital architecture of Asia.

Key recent IP developments and trends in Vietnam

The RCEP agreement creates a free trade arrangement between ASEAN and Asia-Pacific nations, providing new trading opportunities through tariff reduction, new rules of origin, and trade-facilitation measures.

The Thai Ministry of Commerce on May 17 said three State agencies of this country are speeding up issuance of related regulations to submit the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to the ASEAN Secretariat in October.

Once ratified by three-fifths of the 15 signatories – namely six ASEAN countries and three non-ASEAN countries, the RCEP agreement will enter into force in 60 days.

Japan's parliament approved Wednesday the world's largest free trade deal, signed by 15 Asia-Pacific countries including China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, raising the possibility for the pact to enter into force later this year.

The landmark Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade agreement signed last year will give the Asia-Pacific region more weight in the global economic landscape and facilitate a higher standard of trade and investment to fuel growth worldwide, according to experts and business leaders on Monday.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world's largest trade deal signed by China and 14 other economies in November 2020, is facing challenges as comprehensive China-US competition has taken shape, officials and experts said at a seminar during the 2021 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) on Monday.

The recently signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, which forms the world’s largest trade bloc, is expected to become a driving force for the economic recovery of the Asia-Pacific region from the unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Signed on November 15, 2020, the pact’s 15 members include the 10 countries of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Australia, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK), and New Zealand.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) sends a very powerful message of the region's commitment to open and liberal trade, an official of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.