The Fifth RCEP Joint Committee Meeting, 29-30 November 2023

The Fifth RCEP Joint Committee (RJC) Meeting was held in Manila, the Philippines on 29-30 November, co-chaired by Indonesia and Australia. The meeting was co-hosted by Australia and the Philippines. Mr Ravi Kewalram, First Assistant Secretary, FTA and Stakeholder Engagement Division, co-chaired the meeting for Australia. Australia’s delegation was led by Dr Matthew Busch, acting RCEP Lead, FTA Policy and Economic Cooperation Branch, FTA and Stakeholder Engagement Division. 
 
Under Article 18.3 of the Agreement, the RJC considers all matters related to the implementation and operation of RCEP, including supervision of the subsidiary bodies tasked with the technical work necessary to advance RCEP’s built-in agenda.
At the meeting, the RJC continued discussions on Ministers’ priorities for RCEP implementation, including steps to establish an RCEP Support Unit in 2024.