This interview is discussing about the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a deal signed by fifteen Asia- Pacific states last year. Overall, RCEP will create the most populous trade area globally, and it joins together several of the world's largest economies, like China, Japan, and South Korea, arguably the largest trade deals in the world.

Is the claim of ASEAN's victory over this RCEP correct and acceptable? RCEP brings countries with different levels of economic development. An analysis stated that there are fiscal and cultural differences among those countries, which arguably promote more gaps that are difficult to bridge. How to ensure the output of this deal can equally be distributed? What are the benefits of RCEP to Indonesia’s economy? Will there be any risks given by this deal on Indonesia’s industries? why did India out from this deal?

I explored those questions with Dr. Donna Gultom, a Trade Expert and Board Member of Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS), former Director of Trade Negotiation for ASEAN at the Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade.