Philippine APEC Study Center Network (PASCN)

2022 Research Area

The 2022 PASCN Research Area is on the key-issues in the APEC region and the Thailand 2022 APEC Theme "The Bio-Circular-Green Economy" (details below) which could be taken into consideration by the next administration. With this, all proposals may focus on, but are not limited to, these specific themes:

Bio-circular-green economy;
RTAs, mega trade deals and inputs to the Philippine offensive/defensive positions (including RCEP, CPTPP and others);
Digital trade and technology for the new normal; and
Supporting globalization of MSMEs.

2021 Research Area

The Philippine APEC Study Center Network (PASCN) together with the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) aim to strengthen the poll of researches focusing on the implications and impacts of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) specifically in different development sectors of the Philippines this 2021.

The Philippines, along with 14 countries in the Asia-Pacific, signed the world's largest free trade agreement on November 15, 2020 in the hopes of shoring up the region's economy amid the coronavirus crisis. Talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) were first initiated in 2012. The deal is now set to impact at least 2.1 billion people, equivalent to around 30% of the global gross domestic product (Rivas 2020).

In line with the 2021 APEC hosting of New Zealand with the theme "Join, Work, Grow. Together", one of its key policy priorities is the economic and trade policies that strengthen recovery [from the pandemic], with a focus on the right macroeconomic, microeconomic and trade policy choices of the region.

RCEP is an agreement to broaden and deepen ASEAN’s engagement with Australia, China, Japan, Korea and New Zealand. Most participating economies in RCEP are also members of APEC (except for Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao PDR).

The objective of the RCEP Agreement is to establish a modern, comprehensive, high-quality, and mutually beneficial economic partnership that will facilitate the expansion of regional trade and investment and contribute to global economic growth and development. Accordingly, it will bring about market and employment opportunities to businesses and people in the region. The RCEP Agreement will work alongside and support an open, inclusive, and rules-based multilateral trading system (ASEAN 2020).

PASCN and PIDS highly encourage experts and students to submit their proposal on or before 15 March 2021. For more information on RCEP, please visit https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/not-yet-in-force/rcep/rcep-text-and-associated-documents.