Integrating RCEP with Cross-Border E-Commerce (CBE) Towards Accelerating Economic Recovery in ASEAN

Connectivity is the basis of e-commerce development. E-commerce reinforces connectivity and aims to promote a continuous stream of information, logistics, free cash flow, and so forth. A seamless connection between the virtual and physical parts of an e-commerce network could be demonstrated in Cross-Border Ecommerce (CBE). A region-wide e-commerce support environment with a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement would undoubtedly support economic stabilization. Notably, this model is positively in line with the restricted conditions during the COVID-19 outbreak (Anshari et al., 2021a). However, business actors should improve connectivity-derived services via technology and the internet in order to add more value to the successful implementation of CBE. Considering today's consumers are more complex, the COVID-19 economic turbulence has resulted in a severe bankruptcy storm for business areas worldwide (Hamdan et al., 2020). Hence, the study aims to identify the potential and opportunities of CBE, which will be explained in detail in this study. The determinants of the successful adoption of CBE remain complex. Therefore, our framework allows us to assess the extent of concerns about CBE opportunities and the potential for accelerating economic recovery during the pandemic COVID-19. In addition, CBE requires new regulations, and Asian nations must actively take part in rule-setting in order to achieve economic benefits. CBE can also provide new opportunities for local businesses where it can reach beyond their borders. 

Keywords: ASEAN, Cross Border E-commerce, Covid19, RCEP.