Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Mr Coulton represented Australia at the Sixth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Intersessional Ministerial Meeting held in Singapore on 13 October 2018.

Ministers welcomed the intensification of market access negotiations and emphasised the need for further improvements. The Ministers noted the progress in the negotiations of other chapters on rules, and urged parties to continue to exert all efforts towards meeting the targets set out in the package of year-end deliverables.

Ministers provided guidance on specific issues elevated by the Trade Negotiating Committee and exchanged views on the next steps toward the conclusion of negotiations.

The next officials-level meeting will be held from 18 to 27 October 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand. The next Ministerial meeting will be held in Singapore on 12 November, prior to a proposed 2nd RCEP Leaders Summit on 14 November.

Joint media statement: Sixth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Intersessional Ministerial Meeting [PDF 125 KB]