February 28, 2026

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest free trade agreement, was conceived amid global uncertainty shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, rising protectionism, geopolitical tensions, and an intensifying U.S.-China rivalry. In such a rapidly shifting landscape, existing theories on free trade agreements (FTAs) may fall short in explaining or predicting RCEP’s evolving impact. ‘Data-Driven Visual Analytics Platform: Exploring RCEP’s Impacts on ASEAN’s Trade in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic’, a Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Tier 2 grant funded from 2025 to 2028, brings together a multidisciplinary team led by Assistant Professor Wei Luo (NUS Geography & NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health), Professor Dariusz Wójcik (NUS Geography), Assistant Professor Sanjana Goswami (NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy), Assistant Professor Chen Liu (NUS Economics), and Dr Rui Dai (University of Pennsylvania).

The team aims to build the first near real-time, data-driven surveillance system for monitoring RCEP’s impact – an innovative framework that blends computational analysis with human expertise. This system will support more responsive, evidence-based policymaking across ASEAN at a critical juncture for the region. Central to the project is the use of advanced analytical tools to track trade flows and uncover the structural forces shaping economic interactions among RCEP member states.

The project has three core objectives. Firstly, it seeks to enrich the literature on FTA networks by incorporating the complex dynamics introduced by geopolitical shifts and liberalised trade regimes. Secondly, it aims to apply gravity models and other advanced techniques to examine the underlying drivers of trade flows, drawing on newly curated datasets that reflect real-time developments. Thirdly, it will analyse the broader macroeconomic implications of these trade dynamics, with a particular focus on post-pandemic recovery and regional integration.

To meet these goals, the researchers will gather direct trade data and relevant proxies to build an empirical framework that can capture the structural determinants of trade under the RCEP agreement. In doing so, the study fills a key gap in quantitative research on modern FTAs, offering actionable insights to governments, economists, and strategic planners.

Ultimately, the platform will provide practical guidance for ASEAN policymakers as they navigate the dual imperatives of deepening regional integration and managing external pressures. In highlighting the delicate balance between cooperation and protectionism, it seeks to position RCEP as a cornerstone of sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Southeast Asia.