Published:  30 Oct 2025

Author: Jayant Menon

With the US backing out of multilateral trade deals, there is a possibility that the EU could link up with two expansive networks – the CPTPP and RCEP – to form a mega trading bloc.

The last week of October and the start of November 2025 will see leaders from around the region and beyond gather for summits associated with ASEAN, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). There is still a lot of work to be done, but as the EU sews up free trade deals with members from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), this could form the foundation for a mega bloc covering two-thirds of global GDP.

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The article was published by ISEAS.

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The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position or view of IRSEA