The Context of New Zealand as A Small State in The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
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Abstract
This research article examines 1) New Zealand's context as a small state under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and 2) the economic benefits that New Zealand will receive from the RCEP. The study is qualitative research, with New Zealand as the primary data analysis unit. The research method used a combination of document research and interviews with four key informants. The instrument was a survey of secondary documents. Relevant policy statements and interview forms contain the
following information: synthesized the collected data using content analysis techniques and presented the findings in a descriptive analysis.
The result of the research study revealed that 1) the context of New Zealand as a small state in the RCEP is positive, and this cooperation could successfully help New Zealand gained benefits for its economy; and 2) New Zealand had paid attention to three significant economic benefits from the RCEP, which are: (1) progress of New Zealand's strategic economic interests; (2) opening new markets with external partners; and (3) trade facilitation through the rule of origin. Four conditions supported these three significant economic outcomes: (1) the 21st-century international political economy phenomenon, (2) China's influence, (3) the influence of ASEAN members, and (4) New Zealand's government attitudes toward the RCEP. As a result, New Zealand's economic strength would develop within the RCEP, and this research could be an example model for studying small states' global
economic cooperation in the future.
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