RCEP-EU Agri-Food Trade: Insights and Opportunities

Strategic Insights -

Research from the Poznan University of Life Sciences has shed light on the potential for cooperation and growth in agri-food trade between the European Union and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world's largest free trade agreement. Using a combination of trade structure similarity and intra-industry trade analysis, the study found stable and moderate competition in agri-food trade between the two parties, with potential for EU high-quality agri-food exports. The research emphasizes the importance of targeted trade policies to maximize trade benefits and optimize trade outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is the largest free trade agreement in the world, making it an attractive trading partner for the European Union.
  • The study employed trade structure similarity and intra-industry trade analysis to examine agri-food trade between the EU and RCEP, with a focus on uncovering opportunities for sectoral cooperation.
  • The findings indicate stable, moderate competition in agri-food trade between the EU and RCEP, with similarity indices ranging from 0.32 to 0.35.
  • Intra-industry trade remains limited due to geographic distance, but there is notable potential for expanding high-quality EU agri-food exports.
  • Targeted trade policies could enhance cooperation by leveraging the EU's export strengths to meet RCEP demand.
  • The study provides a strategic framework for future negotiations, emphasizing sectoral approaches to optimize trade outcomes and maximize trade benefits between the EU and RCEP countries.
  • Financial support for the research came from Narodowe Centrum Nauki.
  • The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the Poznan University of Life Sciences, led by Bartlomiej Bajan, with additional authors Joanna Lukasiewicz and Karolina Pawlak.

Statistics:

  • Similarity indices ranging from 0.32 to 0.35 indicate stable, moderate competition in agri-food trade between the EU and RCEP.
  • Intra-industry trade is limited due to geographic distance, with a potential for expanding high-quality EU agri-food exports.
  • The EU's export strengths in high-quality agri-food products could be leveraged to meet RCEP demand.

Sources:

  • Towards greater integration: Prospects for the development of agri-food trade between the EU and RCEP countries. PLOS One, 2025;20(7).
  • Public Library Science, 1160 Battery Street, Ste 100, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA.
  • Poznan University of Life Sciences Reports Findings in Science (Towards greater integration: Prospects for the development of agri-food trade between the EU and RCEP countries). Agriculture Week. August 7, 2025; p 312.