Expert: RCEP creates opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to deeply cultivate the Asia-Pacific market.

　　Chinanews Beijing, Oct 6 (Reporter Liu Wenwen) Against the current complex and volatile global economic and trade environment, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are generally faced with practical difficulties such as limited market channels, high cross-border costs, and insufficient understanding of international rules. Xu Ningning, an expert on China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation, said in a recent interview that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has continued to deliver tangible results, creating valuable opportunities for SMEs to explore the Asia-Pacific market.

File photo: On June 16, the 2026 China (Guangdong) - RCEP Member States Cross-border E-commerce Exchange Event and the launching ceremony of China (Guangzhou) Cross-border E-commerce Trade Fair was held in Guangzhou. The photo shows purchasers evaluating product quality in the supply and procurement matching zone.  China News Service Photo by reporter Chen Chuhong

　　Make full use of RCEP institutional dividends to lower foreign trade operation barriers

　　Xu Ningning analyzed that tariff reduction and cumulative rules of origin provide a powerful support for SMEs to optimize their cross-border supply chains. Enterprises can flexibly adjust the sourcing of spare parts, cut import, export and production costs, and improve the competitiveness of their products in the regional market.

　　All member states are continuously improving customs clearance measures. The fast customs clearance mechanism effectively shortens the goods circulation cycle, adapts to the small-batch and high-frequency foreign trade orders of SMEs, and helps products of fresh food, light industry and cross-border e-commerce steadily expand the Asia-Pacific market.

　　Relying on the digital trade clauses of the agreement, SMEs can directly connect with overseas purchasers through online platforms, streamline intermediate trade links, and fully tap the development potential of segmented markets in Southeast Asia and Oceania.

　　Focus on the new policy window and seize the opportunity of free trade zone upgrading

　　The upcoming China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Version 3.0 will set up an independent chapter dedicated to SME cooperation, making systematic institutional arrangements for information sharing, digital transformation and financing guarantee. Xu Ningning said that this design fully highlights the important value of SMEs in bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

　　At present, some SMEs lack sufficient mastery of the application for certificates of origin and overseas compliance rules, and information barriers restrict the release of policy dividends. Local commerce authorities and industry chambers of commerce and associations should carry out regular policy publicity and provide precise practical guidance services. All types of market entities should make advance arrangements for market research, clarify their development positioning, and seize the brand-new cooperation opportunities brought by the upgrading of China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation.

　　Xu Ningning believes that fully releasing the superimposed synergistic effect of RCEP and the Free Trade Area Version 3.0 and making up for shortcomings in supporting services can effectively stimulate the development vitality of SMEs and help them deeply integrate into the general trend of Asia-Pacific economic integration.

The article is sourced from Chinanews.com