APEC Chief Says Asia Trade Pact Wouldn’t Be ‘Very High Level’
- Finishing RCEP would send signal on trade, Bollard says
- APEC secretariat chief speaks in Bloomberg TV interview
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Talks on an Asia trade pact are unlikely to lead to a top-notch deal, according to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation secretariat chief Alan Bollard, even if wrapping it up quickly would send a message that nations still prioritize free trade.
The 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership being championed by China may be signed this year, “which would be a step forward but it’s not going to be a very high level agreement,” Bollard said Thursday in a Bloomberg Television interview.