RCEP Rules and Sichuan Exporters' Adaptation Strategies

Abstract

The RCEP framework redefines Asia-Pacific economic integration by establishing streamlined trade protocols, harmonized rules of origin, service sector liberalization, and robust investment safeguards. For Sichuan, this presents a strategic inflection point - the province stands to reinforce its position as a critical node in domestic-international dual circulation while catalyzing industrial transformation through deeper regional value chain participation. The agreement unlocks three pivotal advantages: preferential tariff structures that enhance competitiveness in electronics and advanced manufacturing exports, digital economy expansion anchored by Chengdu's innovation ecosystem, and agricultural trade growth through standardized regulatory alignment. However, structural challenges emerge in balancing industrial upgrading with compliance across RCEP's diverse regulatory landscapes. To capitalize fully, Sichuan must pioneer institutional innovations - optimizing cross-border data flows, cultivating specialized talent attuned to RCEP dynamics, and developing sophisticated dispute resolution mechanisms - thereby converting regulatory convergence into enduring competitive differentiation.