RCEP to take effect by end of this year By ZHONG NAN | CHINA DAILY | Updated: 2021-01-19 07:30 Visitors check out cosmetic products from Thailand during the China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Nov 28. PENG HUAN/FOR CHINA DAILY One-third of China's foreign trade goods to be tariff-free after deal implementation The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement is expected to take effect by the end of this year, enabling more than one-third of China's foreign trade goods to enjoy zero tariffs in the next stage, a senior government official said on Monday. Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said the pact will drive the opening-up of services and investments, promote trade facilitation and improve the business environment in the country.