Asean has no reason to stop Hong Kong joining world’s biggest free-trade pact, says director of bloc’s secretariat

Asean has no reason to stand in the way of Hong Kong joining the world’s biggest free-trade deal, according to a director of the bloc’s secretariat who says accession will improve the flow of goods and services in the region.

Hong Kong officials have expressed strong interest in signing up to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), an agreement removing trade barriers among 15 countries including China and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Speaking in a personal capacity, Anna Robeniol, director of the market integration directorate at the Asean Secretariat, exclusively told the Post: “In my opinion, there is no reason why Asean will not support Hong Kong should it apply for membership in RCEP.”

On how quickly Hong Kong could become a member, Robeniol said: “As provided for in the RCEP agreement, any state or separate customs territory can accede to the agreement 18 months [after it comes into force]. This would apply to Hong Kong.”

The application is also subject to members’ approval and the RCEP joint committee will finalise details of accession procedures once it has formed. The deal still needs to be ratified by a number of member nations before it takes effect.

Hong Kong already has free-trade agreements in place with the Asean bloc, and Robeniol said having the city sign up to RCEP would consolidate those existing deals to allow a “smoother flow of goods and services within the region”.

The world’s biggest free-trade pact was signed on November 15 by China and 14 other Asia-Pacific nations but excluded the United States, thereby extending Beijing’s economic sway in the region.