Tokyo, Feb 24 (UNI) Japan's Cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill to ratify the world's largest free trade deal signed last year by 15 Asia-Pacific countries including China, reports the country's Kyodo news service.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, covering a third of global trade and population, will become the "foundation of trade in Asia," Trade Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama said at a press conference.

To establish a desirable economic order in the region through the steady implementation of this agreement, I hope that it will be approved by parliament at an early date," Kajiyama said, referring to the ongoing Diet session through June.

The trade deal, signed last November, will eliminate tariffs on 91 percent of goods and sets common rules on investment, intellectual property and e-commerce. It is expected to reinvigorate supply chains in the region and make it more effective for businesses.

It will be Japan's first trade deal with both China, its largest trading partner, and South Korea, its third-biggest, at a time when negotiations for their trilateral pact have yet to be concluded.

Besides Japan, China and South Korea, the RCEP consists of Australia, New Zealand and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The deal will take effect after ratification by six ASEAN members and three of the other countries.

A special arrangement was made to facilitate India's return, after New Delhi, despite being one of the founding members, skipped all negotiations since November 2019 amid concerns that its trade deficit with China would grow.

India is exempted from a rule barring new entrants to the framework for 18 months following the pact's entry into force.

UNI SRJ JAL 1539