What is the RCEP and could it be signed this year?

On guard: Police officers standing close to the venue of the Asean summit in Bangkok, Thailand. — AP

BANGKOK: The sprawling Regional Com­pre­hensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is poised to become the biggest global trade deal, linking half the world’s people and marking Beijing’s dominance in Asian trade.

The long-awaited deal is expec­ted to be discussed at the Asean leaders meeting in Bangkok.