CN
JP
KR
fta
Effective 2026-01-01RCEP completes fifth annual tariff cut on 1 January 2026
Under the RCEP schedule, contracting parties reduced tariffs on an additional batch of HS lines from 1 January 2026. China-Japan trade now sees zero tariffs on approximately 86% of goods.
Fifth-year reductions affect electronics, auto parts, textiles, and select agricultural products. By end-2026, the cumulative coverage of tariff-free or reduced lines under RCEP exceeds:
- China-Japan: ~86% of goods at zero tariff (was 8% pre-RCEP)
- China-Korea: ~86% (was 50% under bilateral FTA)
- Japan-Korea: first ever FTA-style preference in operation
- ASEAN cumulation: parts sourced from any RCEP party count as originating
Exporters must continue to issue Form RCEP certificates of origin (or use self-declaration where authorised) and maintain origin documentation for at least 3 years.