The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), effective since January 2022, represents the world’s largest free trade agreement. One of its most significant features is the cumulation of origin provisions, which allows producers to count materials and processing from any RCEP member country toward meeting the origin requirements for preferential tariff treatment.
Unlike traditional bilateral FTAs such as the China-Korea FTA or China-Australia CHAFTA, RCEP’s cumulation rules offer greater flexibility for regional supply chains. For example, a Chinese manufacturer can use inputs from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and all ASEAN member states to satisfy the Regional Value Content (RVC) requirement for a RCEP Certificate of Origin, enabling zero-tariff or reduced-tariff access across the region.
The agreement provides multiple methods for determining origin, including RVC calculation, tariff classification change (CTC), and production process criteria. For professional guidance on RCEP CO applications, FTA preferential Certificates of Origin, and other export documentation services, please contact our team of trade specialists.