Japan won’t sign RCEP if India doesn’t join

Ahead of a series of diplomatic exchanges in the coming weeks that include a visit to Delhi by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan stated that it is not considering signing a Chinese-backed regional trade pact bereft India. “We aren’t thinking about that at all yet,” Deputy Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Hideki Makihara, stated.

China has sought to expedite the finalisation of the RCEP deal as it faces slowing growth from a trade war with the U.S. The deal would also lead to better integration with Asia.