The Uruguayan government will formally request accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest trade agreement, which includes 15 Asia-Pacific countries.
The decision was taken after China gave its approval during the recent state visit to Beijing and Shanghai led by President Yamandú Orsi, together with ministers, authorities, business leaders and representatives of trade organizations.
According to El Observador, sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the move is part of the trade-opening strategy promoted by the new administration, in line with other initiatives such as progress in the accession process to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which also includes several RCEP member countries.
The RCEP agreement was signed in 2020 and entered into force in 2022. It is made up of China, Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and 10 Southeast Asian countries; together they account for nearly 30% of the world’s population and GDP, as well as around 27% of global trade in goods and services. The bloc regulates a wide range of issues, from tariffs and agricultural subsidies to intellectual property, services and communications.
Speaking at a press conference in Shanghai, Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin said Uruguay has been deepening its ties with Asia through cooperation agreements with Southeast Asian countries, a strong relationship with China and recent contacts with Japan, which allows the country to “think about a higher step” in its international integration. In that sense, he emphasized the need to “look ahead” and commit to greater trade openness toward a region he described as “decisive for Uruguay.”
