RCEP Explained: 15 Countries, One FTA to Cut Your Duty (2026)

Explaining the RCEP: A strategic trade advantage with 15 member countries, including major economies like China, Japan, and Australia. The agreement aims to lower import duties and simplify trade with zero tariffs on 92% of goods, offering significant business opportunities.

One agreement now links 15 countries, nearly a third of the world's economy, into a single trade bloc. If you import or export anywhere across the Asia-Pacific, the RCEP agreement can cut your import duty, sometimes to zero, on goods you already ship. Yet most SME owners in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia still leave that saving on the table, simply because nobody explained how to claim it.

RCEP is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world's largest free trade agreement. It builds on the FTAs you may already use, like Form D and Form E, but with one shared rulebook across all 15 members. This guide breaks down what RCEP is, who it covers, and exactly how to use it to lower your landed cost.

What is the RCEP agreement?

RCEP is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a free trade agreement covering 15 Asia-Pacific countries. It is the world's largest trade bloc by economic size, accounting for around 30% of global GDP and population. RCEP lowers tariffs and sets one common set of trade rules across its members, so a business can trade preferentially across the whole region under a single framework.

For SMEs, the practical value is simple: cheaper access to a huge market. RCEP builds on ASEAN's existing agreements with its five FTA partners, so it broadens the preferential access you may already have. According to Enterprise Singapore, RCEP eliminates tariffs on about 92% of goods traded among its parties over time.

Which countries are in RCEP?

RCEP has 15 member countries: the 10 ASEAN states plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. That combines Southeast Asia's manufacturing base with four of Asia-Pacific's largest economies into one preferential trade area. For a Singapore, Malaysia or Indonesia SME, it means one agreement reaches suppliers and buyers across nearly the entire region.

• ASEAN (10): Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

• Plus five partners: China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

This membership is what makes RCEP powerful. It is the first agreement to bring China, Japan and South Korea into one shared FTA, opening preferential lanes that did not exist under earlier deals.

When did RCEP come into force?

RCEP entered into force on 1 January 2022 for its first group of members, including Singapore, alongside Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, China, Japan and New Zealand. It then took effect for other members on a rolling basis as each completed ratification. The agreement is now live across the region and available for your shipments today.

Timing matters for the cross-border SME. RCEP took effect in Malaysia on 18 March 2022 and in Indonesia on 2 January 2023. So a Singapore-Malaysia-Indonesia trade lane has been fully inside RCEP since early 2023, and any duty you have paid without claiming since then may have been avoidable.

How RCEP cuts your import duty

RCEP works by committing all 15 members to eliminate tariffs on the large majority of traded goods. Enterprise Singapore states RCEP removes duty on about 92% of goods traded among parties, phased in over the agreement's timeline. When your goods qualify and you present the right proof of origin, the importing customs authority applies the RCEP rate instead of the standard tariff.

The saving flows straight to landed cost. If you have never mapped this, it can reshape your pricing, so read our guide to landed cost calculation for Singapore importers. RCEP also adds preferential access for specific products in markets like China, Japan and Korea, which can beat the rate you get under an older FTA.

RCEP vs ATIGA vs ACFTA: which FTA should you use?

You often have a choice of agreement, and you claim under whichever gives the lowest duty for your product. ATIGA (Form D) covers trade within ASEAN. ACFTA (Form E) covers ASEAN-China trade. RCEP overlaps both but adds Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand, plus its own rules and rates. The best route depends entirely on your product's tariff code and destination.

Do not assume RCEP always wins. For some intra-ASEAN goods, ATIGA Form D gives a sharper rate; for China lanes, Form E under ACFTA can be better. Our wider certificate of origin guide shows how these agreements sit together. Compare all applicable FTAs before you file.

RCEP's biggest advantage: regional cumulation

RCEP's standout feature is regional cumulation across all 15 members. Originating materials sourced from any RCEP country count toward your product's origin, not just materials from one nation. This makes it far easier to meet the origin threshold, because inputs from across the whole bloc qualify rather than being treated as foreign.

For a regional manufacturer, this is transformative. A Singapore producer using Japanese components, Chinese raw materials and Malaysian parts can pool all of them as RCEP-originating. Under narrower agreements, some of those inputs would count against you. Cumulation is the quiet reason RCEP often qualifies goods that older FTAs would reject.

RCEP rules of origin explained

To claim RCEP, your goods must meet its rules of origin. A product qualifies if it is wholly obtained in an RCEP country, or produced using only originating materials, or if it satisfies the product-specific rule for its tariff code. That rule is usually a Regional Value Content threshold or a required change in tariff classification.

RCEP also applies a de minimis allowance. Generally, a small amount of non-originating material that fails the tariff-change rule can be disregarded if it stays within roughly 10% of the goods' value, with a separate weight-based test for certain textiles. Identify the exact criterion for your HS code before you file, because the wrong criterion voids an otherwise valid claim.

Proof of origin under RCEP: three ways to claim

RCEP allows more than one way to prove origin, which is a real convenience gain. For Singapore exporters, there are three proofs of origin recognised under the agreement. Each certifies the same thing, that your goods originate in an RCEP country, but they differ in who issues them and how much administration they involve.

1. Form RCEP: a preferential certificate of origin issued by Singapore Customs, available since 1 January 2022.

2. Declaration of origin by an Approved Exporter: a self-made declaration by an exporter authorised by Singapore Customs.

3. Declaration by exporter or producer: a fuller self-declaration route that Singapore is implementing at a later stage.

Choose the proof that matches your setup. Occasional exporters use Form RCEP; frequent exporters benefit from Approved Exporter status.

How to get Form RCEP in Singapore

Singapore Customs is the authorised body that issues Form RCEP, and it follows the standard preferential certificate path. You register your manufacturing, prove your goods meet the RCEP origin criteria, then apply for the certificate with your export permit. The process mirrors other FTA certificates, so if you have filed Form D or Form E, it will feel familiar.

1. Register your factory with Singapore Customs using the Manufacturer's Application Form.

2. Submit a manufacturing cost statement so Customs can verify your goods meet the RCEP origin criteria.

3. Apply for Form RCEP with your export permit via TradeNet, then present it to claim the RCEP rate at the destination.

Plan ahead of your shipment, since the cost-statement verification takes time that a rushed exporter rarely has.

The RCEP Approved Exporter Scheme

The Approved Exporter Scheme lets qualified exporters self-certify origin without applying for a certificate each time. Singapore Customs administers an Approved Exporter Scheme under RCEP, allowing authorised exporters who can consistently meet origin requirements to make their own declaration of origin. It saves time and removes the need to obtain a separate certificate for every shipment.

For a high-volume exporter, this is a major efficiency gain. You apply to Singapore Customs to become an Approved Exporter, and once authorised you simply declare origin on your commercial documents. The trade-off is responsibility: your self-declaration carries the same legal weight as an issued certificate, so your records must fully support every claim.

Back-to-back proof of origin under RCEP

RCEP supports back-to-back proof of origin for goods re-exported through an intermediate member country. When RCEP goods pass through a second RCEP country without further processing, that country can issue a back-to-back proof so the originating status carries through to the final destination. This suits Singapore's role as a regional distribution hub.

The discipline is documentation. The back-to-back proof must trace cleanly to the original certificate, and the goods must remain unaltered beyond permitted handling. Break that chain, or let the paperwork contradict itself, and the RCEP claim fails at the destination even though the goods genuinely originate in the bloc.

RCEP and your HS code

Every RCEP claim depends on the correct tariff code. Your HS code decides which origin rule applies, which RCEP rate the importer sees, and whether the claim withstands verification. A wrong code means the wrong origin criterion, which collapses the whole claim. Classification is the first step of any preferential claim, not a detail to rush.

If you are unsure how to classify goods, read our guide to HS code classification in Singapore. Then use Enterprise Singapore's Tariff Finder to confirm the RCEP rule and rate for that code. Two similar products can carry different codes, different rules, and very different duty outcomes.

Using RCEP when importing from China

RCEP gives you a second route for China trade alongside ACFTA. When you import from China, you can claim under RCEP or under ACFTA's Form E, whichever gives the lower duty for your product. RCEP proofs of origin from China are exchanged electronically, which speeds verification at the Singapore border.

Run the comparison every time. For some goods the RCEP rate beats Form E; for others the reverse is true. Pair this with our guide to importing from China to Singapore, and always ask your Chinese supplier which proofs of origin they can issue before you agree the price.

RCEP for Malaysia and Indonesia trade

The Singapore-Malaysia-Indonesia triangle now sits fully inside RCEP. With Malaysia in force from 18 March 2022 and Indonesia from 2 January 2023, goods moving across all three markets can claim RCEP preferential treatment. For the many SMEs running this corridor, that is a direct route to lower duty on established trade lanes.

Cumulation makes it stronger still, because inputs from all three countries, plus the wider bloc, count toward origin. If you run this lane, combine RCEP with practical routing from our guide on shipping from Indonesia to Malaysia. The duty saving often outweighs the paperwork once you set the process up once.

Common RCEP mistakes that cost you

Most failed RCEP claims come from avoidable errors. The frequent ones: assuming RCEP is automatically the cheapest option, using the wrong HS code, missing the origin criterion, or letting the proof of origin contradict the invoice. Each mistake either overpays duty or gets the claim rejected on arrival.

The biggest strategic error is not comparing agreements. Traders who default to one FTA often miss a better rate under another. Treat every shipment as a comparison, and fold the duty result into your other hidden shipping costs so you see the true landed price before you commit.

Record-keeping and verification under RCEP

An RCEP claim is a legal declaration you must be able to defend. Keep your supporting documents for at least five years, the minimum retention period, because the importing authority can raise a verification request long after the goods clear. Under Singapore's rules, goods claimed under RCEP remain governed by the Regulation of Imports and Exports Act.

A false declaration of origin is a serious offence, not a shortcut to a lower rate. If you self-certify as an Approved Exporter, this discipline matters even more, because you carry the certifying responsibility yourself. Keep clean, complete records for every claim, and the RCEP benefit stays safely yours.

Is RCEP always the best FTA to use?

No, and assuming it is can cost you money. RCEP is broad and powerful, but for a specific product on a specific lane, an older agreement like ATIGA or ACFTA sometimes offers a lower rate or an easier origin rule. The right answer depends on your tariff code, your inputs, and your destination market.

Treat RCEP as one strong option in your toolkit, not the default. The professional habit is to compare every applicable FTA for each product before filing, then claim under the best one. That comparison is exactly the work a good forwarder does for you, turning a confusing web of agreements into one clear duty number.

Frequently asked questions

What is the RCEP agreement in simple terms?

RCEP is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a free trade agreement between 15 Asia-Pacific countries. It lowers tariffs and sets shared trade rules across the bloc, letting businesses trade preferentially, often at zero duty, across nearly a third of the global economy.

Which countries are part of RCEP?

RCEP has 15 members: the 10 ASEAN countries plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. It is the first agreement to bring China, Japan and South Korea together into one shared free trade area.

How do I claim RCEP preferential tariffs?

You present a valid proof of origin. For Singapore exporters, that is a Form RCEP issued by Singapore Customs, a declaration by an Approved Exporter, or a self-declaration where implemented. Your goods must first meet the RCEP rules of origin for their HS code.

Is RCEP better than Form D or Form E?

Not always. RCEP covers more countries, but for a specific product ATIGA Form D or ACFTA Form E can give a lower duty or an easier origin rule. Compare all applicable agreements for your tariff code before you file.

When did RCEP take effect for Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia?

RCEP entered into force for Singapore on 1 January 2022, for Malaysia on 18 March 2022, and for Indonesia on 2 January 2023. The Singapore-Malaysia-Indonesia corridor has been fully inside RCEP since early 2023.

Do I need a certificate for every RCEP shipment?

Not if you become an Approved Exporter. Singapore Customs runs an Approved Exporter Scheme under RCEP that lets authorised exporters self-certify origin without applying for a certificate each time, which saves significant administration for frequent shippers.

Put RCEP to work on your next shipment

RCEP is the biggest trade agreement your business will ever touch, and using it well is a genuine competitive edge. Once you understand the 15-country reach, the cumulation advantage, and the three ways to prove origin, you stop overpaying duty and start pricing like an operator who reads the whole board.

That is the level I teach SME owners to reach. If you want to know whether RCEP, ATIGA or ACFTA gives your goods the lowest duty, talk to IFG Shipping's freight and customs team. Bring your product and your lane, and we will run the comparison and map the cheapest compliant route.

Written by Iman Yusoff, freight educator for ASEAN SMEs, IFG Shipping.

Content produced with SingRank. Editorial authority remains with Iman Yusoff and IFG Shipping.

This guide is general education, not legal or customs advice. FTA coverage, duty rates, origin criteria and procedures change and vary by product HS code, destination and date. Figures are indicative and current as of July 2026. Confirm your product's specific position with Enterprise Singapore, Singapore Customs, or a licensed freight forwarder before you file.