Fifteen countries, including China, South Korea, and ASEAN, held 15 video conference summits to negotiate the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), aiming for a broad agreement to secure exceptions and avoid major market opening. The negotiations are expected to exclude India, and the government is discussing exceptions for important items like rice, beef, and pork. The RCEP negotiations, which started in 2012 with China, South Korea, ASEAN, Australia, New Zealand, and India, are nearing completion, with the goal to sign the agreement by the end of the year.