世界の３割、巨大自由貿易圏に　ＲＣＥＰ、豪とＮＺが批准

　【シドニー時事】日中韓や東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）など１５カ国が参加する包括的経済連携（ＲＣＥＰ）が、来年１月１日に発効することが３日までに決まった。工業製品を中心に９割を超える品目で関税を撤廃し、世界経済の３割を占める巨大な自由貿易圏が誕生する。
　オーストラリア政府が２日、同国とニュージーランドが批准したと発表した。これにより、発効に必要なＡＳＥＡＮ６カ国とそれ以外の３カ国による国内手続きが完了し、６０日後に発効することになった。日本や中国は手続きが終わっている。（2021/11/03-15:35）

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a free trade deal among Japan, China, South Korea and 12 other countries, is set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2022.
   The government of Australia said Tuesday that the country and New Zealand have ratified RCEP. All other domestic procedures needed for its effectuation had already been completed.
   RCEP will eliminate tariffs on more than 90 pct of goods, mainly industrial products.
   The 10 other RCEP countries are the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations members--Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The 15 nations together account for about 30 pct of the global economy in terms of gross domestic product.
   RCEP will take effect 60 days after ratification by at least six ASEAN countries and at least three non-ASEAN nations. The condition was met with the ratifications by Australia and New Zealand.